Since Library Board member David Barrett has commented here that these accusations are baseless and were refuted prior to the Hartford Public Library hiring Bridget Quinn-Carey as the CEO, I have offered to him the opportunity to post any documents he may wish to disclose to show that the Library Board exercised proper due diligence before hiring Quinn-Carey. As of this point, no documents have been provided.
The offer still stands, but the Comptrollers Audit Report seems to speak for itself. Although Quinn - Carey's behavior isn't quit as egregious a that of Bronx CEO Galante, it is still very troubling for someone to condone and also participate in the level of corrupt activity outlined in the allegations in the report
I have also submitted numerous FOI requests to the City to obtain further information on any background investigation or verification gathered before the hiring of Quinn-Carey as the CEO .
Stay tuned for more.
QBPL Investigative Report Final by on Scribd
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/03/23/the-deposed-king-of-queens-library-the-legacy-of-bad-nonprofit-leadership/
From "Non Profit Quarterly.org"
The investigation found that Galante and Bridget Quinn-Carey, the former library Chief Operating Officer (who subsequently served as the interim CEO and President), had used their organizational credit cards to make more than $310,000 in prohibited or inappropriate purchases during the 2012 to 2014 fiscal years.
http://gothamist.com/2015/07/08/queens_library_corruption.php
Thank you, Kevin, for posting the comptroller's report, so David Barrett and his colleagues on the Board could finally read it themselves.
ReplyDeleteGood work Kevin.
ReplyDeleteThis is without a doubt serious stuff. Bridget Quinn-Carey must go.
ReplyDeleteNY Comptroller characterized the misuse of funds as waste, fraud and abuse. Sounds just like a CT Comptroller to me.
ReplyDeleteKevin, you have reported here a scandal which equals to the Pedro Caviar scandal that you exposed a few years ago. How do they let this take place in Hartford?
ReplyDeleteAgree with 8:32 This is HPL "caviar" scandal. Lots of caviar.
DeleteGood work Kevin and since David Barret hopped his Jabroni A$$ on your blog and defended her knowing all this his integrity comes into question now too he should be gone
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable. Makes me ashamed that I didn't follow through when I first published links to the negative articles in an email expressing concerns to the Hartford City Council and others in July. I caved to the sentiments of some board members and politicians who accused me of "attacking" Bridget Quinn-Carey and said I was "making it personal" and "wrongly going after someone." THANK YOU, Kevin, for reminding me that when something really SMELLS you have to keep going to expose the ROTTING FLESH that lies beneath, i.e. the Hartford Public Library Board and executive management who are clawing to save unnecessary jobs and their wrong-headed leadership. I should have realized that certain political board members are creating giant smokescreens to defend their abject failure to LISTEN and act as true community stewards or perform BASIC fiduciary duties. That comptroller's report is a GEM. Love the line, "We relied on federal tax law to identify which credit card purchases should possibly have been reported as taxable income." Whoops! Not federal law!
ReplyDeleteIf I have to listen to board members Greg Davis or others talk about THEMSELVES and their past one more time, I am going to wretch. This is NOT about them. This is about the current Hartford community who wants libraries buildings OPEN. They don't care about how many awards the library received or that it has the "most program offerings in the state." Sure you do!! You're spending $1.3 million more yearly on 30 LESS employees than the very wealthy City of Stamford! Rather, Hartford residents care that either they or their children have a place to go and be safe and exposed to books, magazines, computers, media and to study or create.
Stay tuned folks, there IS a way to get this privately-controlled library under city and PUBLIC control so that Hartford can demonstrate to the region and the state that we do know how to take corrective measures and reign in municipal costs when confronted. We have every right to have a say in how $8.5 million in public dollars are spent annually.
Well said, Alyssa, very well said. I truly feel your pain; Hartford residents feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteThis Hartford Librarygate/Bridgetgate is beyond belief.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa, city control of the library in Hartford, a place where elected officials only control their self-enhancement, is not an answer. 550 Main Street would destroy the library. Also commissions and boards in Hartford are also worthless, because their recommendations and advocacy don't work. Hartford needs a more revolutionary approach that sweeps out the establishment entirely, especially DiBellas, Ritters, and every State legislator before this solution would have a chance.
ReplyDeleteBut the composition of the Library Board can change now -- with a revolution. It's important to note that two of the HPL Board members are quite literally creations of the Ritter clan, another is the son of MDC DiBella. And then there's David Barrett, the human curmudgeon. That's just four of them.
What DiBella got to do with libraries or education (except, being the son of the other DiBella)
DeleteResidents must take a stand. There is to much at risk to not be concerned. It is not acceptable that the Hartford Public Library Executive salaries are out of control.
ReplyDeleteKev, If HPL is offered another award and the foundation is based in Florida will Bronin and other "leaders"send ALL 111 employees down there on the taxpayers dime to accept it like Hartford's school administrators did early on in Bronin's inaugural year? Here's a true story ,I live in West Hartford and early on Bronin's quest for calls of regionalization I called West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor and stated that "even if it was only a librarian that we share with Hartford I would put a for sale sign on my front lawn". How funny is that?
ReplyDelete12:56 West Hartford resident:
ReplyDeleteNothing funny here, what we hear is sad, sad, sad. As you can see, the Ritters and DiBellas control every aspect of live in Hartford.
Wake up Hartford....Hartford Public Library Board of Directors are out of control. Huge salaries for CEO Bridget and "her" staff. That is Nonsense.....
ReplyDeleteSomeone better audit Miss Bridget but fast. Look at this bullshit description for the Chief Greeter. I heard some councilman was defending this crazy salary at a meeting. We cant afford to hire fire and police but Miss Bridget was ready to pay 122K with taxpayer dollars in a bankrupt city
ReplyDeleteCustomer Experience Officer, Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT
posted March 3, 2017 1:22 PM
Job Description:
We're looking for an exceptional person to join our team of transformational leaders as our Customer Experience Officer (CXO) during a historic time in the world of public libraries and at the Hartford Public Library. This CXO will partner with our creative and innovative leadership team to deliver an even greater level of service to a supportive and engaged community. He or she will ensure that HPL is delivering exceptional customer experience through impactful programs and services as one of the country's most innovative and diverse public libraries. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to blend leading-edge library services with the most successful retail and digital applications from a broad spectrum of related sectors, including education, business, government, non-profit, and cultural. The CXO will report directly to the CEO and lead all public service staff.
Application Instructions:
If you are this person, please contact us at 860-695-6374 or cpoehnert@hplct.org.
Salary range $97,000 -$122,000 annual
Kevin, Is it true that the the Walmart Greeter, I mean the Customer Experience Officer is the sister of former Councilman Luis Cotto? Isn't it funny how that works?
ReplyDeleteBridget Quinn-Carey brings home every day $450.00. That's every single day of the week, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. If the library is open or closed for any reason, Bridget still takes home $450.00 A day.
ReplyDeleteHer benefits are additional.
Outrageous.
I guess 4:30pm didn't add possible future misuse of even more funds.
ReplyDeleteOutrageous indeed.
Anonymous 4:21 - She is his sister. Was already at the library and reportedly got a $40k - $50 raise.
ReplyDeleteLuis Cotto's sister, Sandra Kee-Borges' boyfriend, Edwin Vargas' niece and many more. The big, fat salaries in Hartford - city hall, library - are for family connected only.
DeleteOne Happy Family.
In Hartford it's easier to hire a friend or a relative for an unnecessary job than hiring a police officer or firefighter.
DeleteHartford Public Library salaries for CEO and the Leadership Team is out of whack. One more reason Hartford is going under.
ReplyDelete9:48pm
ReplyDeleteAnd the qualifications are much lower and clearly no background checks
Let's not forget the animal control officer who conveniently killed dogs instead of finding homes for them.. Hello.
ReplyDeleteWait What??? Who did that?? There's a animal control Dr Kevorkian in our midst??
DeleteAbsolutely no qualifications! Remember Minnie Gonzalez daughter at Pedro Segarra "Mayor's office"? She had no qualifications. Zero. (not to forget Minnie Gonzalez son job at MDC after jail time and before his death of OD)
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that Bridget has been steeling and defrauding the library and the city without being arrested. Where is the police?
ReplyDeleteKevin, run for mayor, run for the library board, run for public schools board. Save us. Be the wind beneath our wings
ReplyDelete9:04am
ReplyDeleteJust to be clear, those allegations are from her time in NYC not since she has been in Hartford
Kevin Brookman @ 9:38am
DeleteWere you able to check Bridget's purchases/spending during her time HERE in Hartford.
Just so I am clear here Mr. Brookman, nothing gets posted here on your site until you okay the content, and then you publish it to the public, is that correct?
ReplyDelete9:36am
ReplyDeleteThe political system in Hartford is so broken and corrupt that anyone trying to make a difference has no chance. And the library board is not elected, they are appointed by the same corrupt politicians trying for their own self preservation
A can of worms is now open. "Hartford Qualifications" for jobs dose not matter. The
ReplyDeleteHartford Public Library's Annual Meeting is October 12, 2017 at the Downtown Library in the Hartford History Center. There is a reception 5:30 pm and a business meeting 6:30 pm, a guest speaker. HPL Board of Directors are honoring Stephen B. Goddard, Director Emeritus and John Alves, Corporator of Distinction. How much dose this HPL function cost?
Want to know how much the library's annual meeting costs? then go there and ask yourself. Take the floor, tell them all to shut up, and demand answers from each one of them. Nobody leaves otherwise. Continue Kevin's vendetta which is now becoming very personal. i'm sure this posting will not see the light of day
ReplyDeleteObviously you are wrong. And how does demanding accountability translate to a vendetta for you? How long have you been on the Library Board?
ReplyDelete1:01pm. Yes, we have the right to be at the annual meeting. Yes, we have the right to ask how much the event cost. Yes, we have the right to ask questions. Damon it, this is our tax dollars!
ReplyDeleteCurrently there is one $100k+ job two mid $90s jobs in the City of Hartford employment section. How can we stop that from happening!? Where is Councilman Deutsch when you need him!? Why has he been silent?
ReplyDeleteCouncilman Deutsch cannot do everything. The other eight Councilpersons have to be accountable too. I would recommend to the nine Councilpersons to get involved with the Hartford Public Library. Presently, the HPL there has many issues that need to be addressed. Including the hiring of CEO Bridget Quinn-Carey and the Leadership Team's hugh salaries.
ReplyDeleteLast month the Library posted a position for a staff attorney. For what?
ReplyDeleteAttorney needed to defend and protect Ms. Bridget in case a lawsuit is filed against her.
DeleteCouncilman Deutsch? What about the other 8 Council members? Where are those who are supposed to represent us?
ReplyDeleteSorry, It's not an election year
It pretty clear the Hartford Public Library needs a staff attorney. They love fancy people with fancy titles and fancy salaries.
ReplyDelete8:33 and soon there may be a fancy lawsuit against Hartford Piggybank Library. Definitely need a fancy staff attorney.
DeleteI was at the corn fest in Wethersfield Saturday and walked past The Wethersfield Library tent and the wise ass that I am asked if anyone there makes $165,000 ,this women pipes up and states that she worked with Bridget in NYC and that besides being a great person Bridget and her boss did " nothing wrong"..... Kev this is exactly what's wrong in our recent history as a society,,idiots like this lady think ,THAT AS LONG AS ITS NOT CRIMINAL THEN ITS OK TO STEAL TAXPAYER MONEY!!! WE SHOULD TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND HIRE "NOT SO NICE" PEOPLE WHO ARE HONEST !!! Maybe our friends in Wethersfield should make inquiries about this librarian they hired from NYC, just saying!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the person asking why HPL needs an attorney? Mary Tzambazakis the Chief Admin. Officer that gets paid $120,000 year is an Attorney. Sounds pretty fishy to me.
ReplyDeleteHere we go again another high paying position.
This Wethersfield lady just doesn't get it. She thinks Bridget and her boss did nothing wrong.
ReplyDeleteWell, you idiot, NYC Comptroller investigated carefully and concluded that Bridget and her boss did a lot of wrongs.
I'll go with the Comptroller.
Leave Deutsch alone. He's probably the best Councilman we've ever had in this City.
ReplyDeleteAnother high paying position, another waste, another round of closing library branches, another round of cutting library hours.
ReplyDeleteGet Ms. Quinn-Carey's P-card monthly statements, see what surprise you see there.
ReplyDeleteThe Hartford Pubic Library should be part of city hall's services. And part of the city budget. Hartford has many non-profits agencies. They provide services too. Literacy is one of many services. Hundreds of Hartford residents do not even use the Downtown Library. There are so many other places to go.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree Dr. Larry Deutsch is a fantastic Councilman. He deeply cares about residents who live in the entire City of Hartford. When a Hartford resident asks him a question he will go out of his way to address the concern. I cannot say that for present or former councilpersons.
ReplyDeleteMe too, I'd love to see her p-card statements, travel expenses, hotels, restaurants, drinks, gas stations. Everything. Kevin, could you get it for public review?
ReplyDeleteQuinn-Carey is in panic mode over p-card.
DeleteGet the monthly statements!
DeleteGet the monthly statements!
Get the monthly statements!
Kevin, my wish list is that expose each council member individually to shed light on all the nepotism,incompetence,favoritism,abuse of power etc. Council member Jimmy Sanchez defended Hartford's decision to layoff a " dog catcher" but I hear nothing from him on HPL scandal ,Dunkin Donut stadium boondoggle,HFD and HPD manpower shortage,etc.NOTHING NOT ONE WORD!! I wonder how he got a job at MDC??? It's a tall glass to fill but I'm willing to wait patiently .
ReplyDeleteI would hope the non-informed Court of Common Council will take their elected position seriously. Every one of them had an aide and never had plans to release them. What a joke!!!! Hartford is broke. Yet, the taxpayer paid aides to do what. Get with the program City Council. You ran and won. Now do your job. What do any of the Council Persons know about the Hartford Public Library? NOT MUCH.....
ReplyDeleteTime will tell if City Council gets involved with the Hartford Pulic Library. Presently, there are fifteen Board of Directors that distribute outragous salaries. Hartford is broke and broken. The Hartford Public Library is part of the problem.
ReplyDeleteConnecticut dose not have a budget. Hartford dose not have a budget. Yet, the Hartford Public Library runs wild with hugh salaries for the Leadership Team. What is this telling young people? Get a HPL job in the Leadership Team and you can live comfortably in the suburbs. Hartford on the Rise!
ReplyDeleteThe city hall fat cats eat well. Im going to call the library queen starting tom to ask how much is enough ? I want that 100k spot greeting people and throwing around fluff. It pays to know a greaseball like dibella ....
ReplyDeleteThe Hartford Public Library must be accountable to the Hartford residents In the '80's Councilwoman Geraldine Sullivan stated the closing of neighborhood libraries wood be devastating to residents. Presently, the HPL salaries Leadership Team are out of control and the closing of neighborhood library branches is serious. In 2017 staff Librarians, Assistants, Maintenance workers ect do not receive the increase in salaries that the CEO Bridget Quinn-Carey and Leadership Team do. Something is wrong.
ReplyDeleteKeep waiting 12:25 PM. Mr Jimmy Sanchez is protected by both Bill and Mark Dibella. In the same month he got made as a councilman, the MDC transfered Sanchez out of the sewer camera job to an expired job. Then they moved him from Murphy Rd to MDC Main St office with a coat and tie. No one knows how he got such a jump because before he had lots of problems with coworkers and the union. Thats why Sanchez cant say shit about the library cuz Mark Dibella is on the board and thats why Sanchez is making such a deal in public about his old friend from the hood Miss Cotto, who got a 35K raise at the library. They both got huge jumps in there jobs and they want no one to question them. If anyone can find out how these jobs happened its Kevin Brookman.
ReplyDelete10:30am
ReplyDeleteI think you answered your own question, this is corrupt Hartford politics at its worst. You left Angel Morales out of the MDC/diBella connection and don't forget how quick Angel Arce lost his job at the MDC when he stopped doing the Dibella's bidding and they led the attempt to remove him from the 4th District spot. Let's see if Councilman Sanchez has the guts to jeopardize his job and actually speak out.
The beat contiues at the Hartford Public Library. Hartford is rated 5th for poverty in the nation. And HPL spends more and more money on programs. HPL, work with the many Hartford outstanding non-profits. However,the largest Hartford anti-poverty non-profit is the Connecticut Renewal Team. CRT CEO Lena Rodriquez earns a salary and benifits more than Governor Dannel Malloy.
ReplyDeleteKevin, we can always count on you. Great reporting!
ReplyDeleteQ: You are new to the job. What are your impressions of Hartford?
ReplyDeleteA: People I have met are so proud to live and work here. It’s put a smile on my face. There’s a really good vibe here. I have never lived here, but I am familiar with Hartford. It’s a library system that’s been on my radar for a long time and it’s a thrill to be running this system. There are so many talented people who work here, and the library is beloved. This library is incredibly dynamic.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
606,000 adults lacked sufficient literacy skills to be productive in the 21st century economy – that’s nearly 20% of the State’s population. That fact is startling enough, but the adults who cannot read in Hartford, the capital of the richest State in the Union, represent an estimated 65-70 percent of the City’s population.
+++++++++++++++++++++
It would seem obvious that a city of illiterates needs fewer libraries than a city of people who both know how to read, and actually apply the skill to books. Librarian administrators, just as all bureaucrats, prefer a larger portfolio to a small one. If it were me, I'd get rid of most of the branches, focus on improving what is already a pretty good central library. If it were me, I'd discriminate against less serious patrons; maybe a subscription fee. Discourage the use of the library as an extension of the homeless shelter. Perhaps then there could be savings on security.
Sorry, the Downtown Hartford Public Library dose not need so many programs. It is very difficult to find a way to pay for transportation to Downtown Hartford. Walking is the source of travel for many Hartford residents. Homeless people do utilize the services in Downtown Hartford. Anyone can become homeless for various reasons. Always remember, money talks everyone else walks. The high salaries for the HPL CEO Bridget Quinn-Carey and the Leadership Team is out of control. The HPL Board of Directors need to be accountable to taxpayers of the City of Hartford before giving these hugh salaries.
ReplyDeleteThe Hartford Public Library and the issue of HPL Bridget Quinn-Carey salary would have never been blown open if the Hartford taxpayers had known about the twenty of so meetings about the HPL new approach. Linda Bayer and Hartford 2000 was part of the new HPL adventure. When is Linda Bayer going to move on? Enough is enough with Wethersfield resident Linda Bayer. She runs City Hall and the Hartford Public Library.
ReplyDelete