TIMES, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014 • 6 Library Boss Stays On Job Pols Turn Up Heat Over Scandal by Robert Pozarycki Despite mounting pressure from elected officials and several ongoing investigations, the Queens Borough Public Library’s board of trustees opted last Thursday, Apr. 3, not to remove its president and CEO from office—a vote that could literally prove costly to the nonprofit. The board was split 9-9 on a motion to force Thomas Galante into a leave of absence while investigations into the library’s finances continue. The library boss came under fire for having a nearly $400,000 annual salary and authorizing a six-figure renovation of his Jamaica office, even as the library cut staff and reduced services. Reportedly, Galante also faced criticism for accepting a second sixfigure salary for providing consulting services to the Elmont Union School District in Nassau County while still leading Queens Library. Through its deadlocked vote, the board rebuffed calls made last week by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz for Galante to step aside. Katz and other lawmakers held a press conference earlier last Thursday announcing legislation to institute greater oversight at Queens Library—but the nonprofit entity insisted it was carrying out reforms on its own. According to published reports, Queens Library’s Board of Trustees voted on Galante’s fate at the end of a five-hour meeting last Thursday night. Reportedly, the body waited for a member to arrive from Florida before calling the question. In a Mar. 31 letter to Gabriel Taussig, chair of the Board of Trustees, Katz indicated Galante’s continued leadership of the library puts the entire system in a precarious financial spot. Queens Library requested nearly $300 million in capital funding from the city for the 2015 fiscal year; it received more than $144 million in capital discretionary funds since the 2012 fiscal year. Katz told Taussig that “as an elected official charged with allocating taxpayer dollars, I must ensure they are appropriated wisely—and I cannot do that while -SEE LIBRARY ON PG. 62- Blaze At B’wick Bldg. Firefighters rushed to put out a blaze inside a former Bushwick warehouse on Sunday afternoon, Apr. 6, it was reported. According to sources, the inferno ignited at about 1:20 p.m. in the basement of a fourstory warehouse—which was converted into office space—located on Menahan Street near Evergreen Avenue. The blaze reportedly spread to the first and second floors. Among the units first to arrive at the scene were Engine companies 271 and 218, Squad Company 252, Ladder companies 112 and 124, Battalion 37, Division 15, Rescue 2, the 83rd Precinct and EMS units. No injuries were reported. (photo: Fred Bacchi) ©Times Newsweekly - 2014 - IS113 LIPSKY TAX SERVICES “Personal Attention with Professional Service” 67-07 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385 Phone: (718)-497-2883 • Fax: (718)-497-3514 www.LipskyTaxServices.com NEW CLIENTS $20 OFF Special offer Expires April 15th 2014 NEW CLIENTS Receive their first 3 months of Accounting, Consulting and Bookkeeping Services FREE ACCOUNTING Write-ups & Bookkeeping Financial Statements Compi lations Reviews Audits CONSULTING Health Insurance Retirement Planning Resolution of Tax Issues TAXATION Sales Taxes Payroll Taxes Personal Income Taxes Partnership Taxes Corporation Taxes Estate & Gift Taxes FREE ©Times Newsweekly - 2014- LIPSKY TAX CONSULTATION
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