New Rochelle Public Library “Unexpectedly Resigns” Operations Manager Anthony Maraglino in Wake of $300,000 Financial Error

Talk of the Sound has learned that Operations Manager Anthony Maraglino has been “unexpectedly resigned” by the New Rochelle Public Library. His last day was Friday.

Maraglino’s departure comes in the wake of the recent disclosure of financial mismanagement at the library, first reported by Talk of the Sound. Library officials are still not entirely sure what happened and continue to investigate but have acknowledged that several hundred thousand dollars thought to be in the library’s fund balance is not there. They have described the problem as an error in calculation and provided assurances that no money was stolen. Board members have been somewhat mystified about the source of the problem because as recently as June 9th, the library director Thomas Geoffino had reported to the board that the library spending was under budget, having expended 81% of its 2010-11 budget with 92% of the fiscal year lapsed.

The Board issued a statement last week:

The New Rochelle Public Library Board of Trustees has recently become aware of lower than expected cash balance for the library due to a series of accounting errors. These accounting errors reflect the need for increased internal controls for the library’s accounting process…accounting irregularities leading to the misstatement of our fund balance were likely occurring over a number years resulting in an over-reporting of the existing cash balance in the range of $300,000.

Library board member Bo Kemp provided a detailed explanation of the situation on Talk of the Sound Radio last Friday (jump to the 22 minute mark).

Reached for comment yesterday, a senior library official speaking on background confirmed that Maraglino had resigned but declined further comment, citing the incident as a personnel matter.

According to library records, Maraglino received a performance bonus just days before the disclosure of financial mismanagement to the board. Along with Director Thomas Geoffino and Community Relations Coordinator Barbara Davis, Maraglino was one of just three non-union full time employees of the New Rochelle Public Library. In June, according to Board Minutes, Thomas Leghorn recommended that Maraglino, along with Geoffino and Davis received a 1.5% bonus effective June 30, 2011 and a 1.5% pay increase effective June 30 2012.

Anthony Maraglino began working at the library as an Administrative Assistant to the Director and was later promoted to Operations Manager. NRPL Board Minutes indicate that Maraglino had responsibilities related to finance, grant writing and policy development at the library. He also advised board members on library expenses. According to his LinkedIn profile, Maraglino graduated from Pace University’s Lubin School of Business in 2004 with a B.A. in Finance and lists Geoffino’s daughter as a contact.

There have been heated verbal attacks among callers to the Bob Marrone show on WVOX as a result of speculation of a connection between the recent resignation of Thomas Leghorn from the library Board of Trustees and the ongoing financial mismanagement issues. Board President Greg Varian has stated that Leghorn’s departure from the board had been in the works prior to the disclose of financial mismanagement. The board minutes from the June 9, 2011 meeting, prior to board knowledge of the financial mismanagement issues, support Varian’s statement:

Greg Varian created a Nominating Committee consisting of Emery Schweig, Quentin Jacobs and Thomas Leghorn. The charge for the Committee is to recommend and present, at the July 2011 meeting, officers for the 2011/12 year as well as recommend a replacement for soon to resign Board member Tom Leghorn.

Leghorn served as President, ran the board’s Budget Committee and reviewed and made board recommendations for approval of spending by the library. Bernardo Nunez was approved to serve out the remainder of Leghorn’s term at the August board meeting.

The political implications for the library is significant as recent library budgets were submitted to voters based on erroneous financial information.

There will also be more serious questions for Bennett Kielson Storch DeSantis, a division of O’Connor. Davies Munn & Dobbins, the independent auditor for the library. The same firm has come under criticism by City Council members following the arrest of former DPW Fleet Manager Richard Fevang for financial fraud and for permitting highly questionable accounting practices by the New Rochelle Board of Education. The firm, which donates to Republicans and Democrats, is a major political donor in Westchester County and has contributed to, among others, the campaign of Mayor Noam Bramson.