By Madina Toure
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said she has confidence that the Queens Library’s board of trustees will consider the library’s “best interest” following the results of a blistering audit of the system’s previous spending practices by City Comptroller Scott Stringer.
“The board of trustees is taking the comptroller’s audit findings and recommendations very seriously while it ponders the future of the library’s leadership,” a borough president spokesman said. “Borough President Katz has every faith that the trustees—appointed by the borough president and the mayor—will do what is in the best interest of the library and furthers its educational purpose.”
Last week, Stringer released an audit during a news conference that revealed that former Queens Library CEO Thomas Galante and Interim President Bridget Quinn-Carey spent more than $300,000 on prohibited items, such as alcohol, dinners, entertainment and other personal expenses.
Stringer referred the results of the audit and investigation to the IRS and law enforcement authorities. A spokesman for Stringer said the office could not disclose which law enforcement authorities were involved.
The IRS declined to comment on its role in the investigation.
Monica Klein, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s deputy press secretary, said Stringer’s audit highlighted previous challenges that the new board of trustees has addressed.
“Mayor de Blasio’s appointment of three new board members reflects his pledge to provide the Queens Library with an effective and honest board that safeguards our library’s resources—and the new board members’ commitment to transparency was made clear when they authorized and welcomed this audit,” Klein said in a statement.
After an analysis of fiscal year 2012-2014 credit card purchases by Galante and Quinn-Carey, the investigation revealed that senior executives used their Queens Borough Public Library credit cards for more than $310,000 in prohibited expenses.
Of the amount, Galante spent nearly $260,000. Quinn-Carey, who was the chief operating officer at the time, made purchases totaling $48,000, the audit said.
State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria), who co-authored a law with Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry (D-Corona) that regulates the activities at Queens Library, said he is proud of the law they introduced under Katz’s leadership.
“The results of the audit are exactly the reason we changed the law: to allow that information to become known,” Gianaris said. “It raises serious questions about the administration of the library and I’m glad the comptroller saw fit to conduct the investigation.”
City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Glendale) introduced a bill that would require conflict-of-interest disclosures from officers of city-funded non-profit organizations in light of the audit’s findings.
“Now that we know more of the discrepancies committed by library executives, it’s important that going forward, we ensure this corruption is stopped before it can begin,” Crowley said. “We the public should be aware of all sources of income and benefits of each executive and close family member.”
In a statement provided by Galante’s lawyer, Joseph Martini, Galante said the library has been audited by city, state, federal and annual independent auditors for many decades, including more than 30 times during his tenure.
He maintained he has not violated the law or been involved in any improprieties and said Stringer never sought information from him during his audit.
“This city comptroller has made serious allegations that should not be made by persons who have access to all of the facts, as the comptroller surely had,” Galante said. “There are factual errors and omissions in the audit report.”
Galante said he could not comment further publicly due to a confidentiality provision in his employment agreement with the library.
Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtour
