Queens Library President Thomas Galante has come under fire this week following reports that he collected a $391,594 salary last year, when the library shed jobs. Over the past five years, the Queens Library has lost more than 120 full-time positions, according to a library spokeswoman. File photo
A news report singling out the Queens Public Library president for enjoying a lucrative salary amid widespread layoffs left borough representatives calling for a full-fledged audit of the system.
City Council members Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and majority leader Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) were harsh critics of the report in Monday’s Daily News, which said Queens Library President Thomas Galante earned his $391,594 salary while overseeing more than 100 layoffs and nearly $140,000 in renovations, including a private outdoor smoking patio at the Jamaica Central Library.
The representatives called on City Comptroller Scott Stringer to take a closer look at the numbers, who on Wednesday announced he would.
“The city can hardly afford the annual operating costs of running three separate library systems, let alone foot the bill for expensive salaries, extravagant renovations and other wasteful spending,” Ulrich said. “I believe that one central citywide library system would save millions of dollars annually by reducing the bureaucracy and streamlining library services throughout the five boroughs”
Ulrich said he applauded Van Bramer’s calls for scrutiny in his first week as majority leader in the Council. In a statement, Van Bramer said he and Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) wanted an immediate oversight hearing on the institution.
Van Bramer’s calls were quickly answered when Stringer sent an audit engagement letter to Galante himself, calling for an expansive audit not only the Queens Public Library, but also the New York Public Library in Manhattan and the Brooklyn Public Library as well.
“Our public libraries are vital resources for New Yorkers and taxpayers deserve to know that public money is being used appropriately,” Stringer said. “My auditors will assess whether the spending practices of our library systems follow applicable rules and prudent business practices. We want our libraries to maximize the value of the public funds they receive while finding ways that they can be more efficient and effective from top to bottom.”
The library’s Board of Trustees defended Galante’s salary in a message to patrons on its website.
“We need excellent leadership,” said Gabriel Taussig, chairman of the Queens Library. “Compensation for the President and CEO was set by the Board of
Trustees in 2005, after careful consideration, market study, and due diligence at the average for New York City non-profit CEOs – not more and not less – with an annual cost of living adjustment so the compensation would stay current.”
The library also responded to the Daily News’ claims that it nixed nearly 130 full-time jobs, with a library spokeswoman referring to that as an after-effect of natural attrition over recent years due to budget cuts.
“Transparency and responsible spending are our obligation and an integral part of the way Queens Library does business,” a library spokeswoman said in a statement. “Queens Library will be providing the City Council with all the testimony necessary to understand our operations.”
Subsequent reports scrutinizing the finances of the Queens Library system also spurred Galante to comment on a recent cleaning contract he outsourced, defending it by saying “I was paying $35 an hour to janitors to mop floors, and now we’re paying $15.”
Following an outcry over the remarks, Galante backtracked.
“I want to apologize for comments that I made recently that were insensitive,” Galanate said in a statement. “I am deeply appreciative and proud of the work done by the hard-working employees of Queens Library at all levels of the organization and especially our custodial team who keep our libraries safe, clean and running smoothly day after day. They do a great job serving thousands of people every day.”
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said she stood behind Van Bramer’s calls for oversight, adding that she would take another look at funding her office helped allocate to various capital projects and programs over recent years.
“The millions of Queens Library users, along with the taxpayers of New York City, are entitled to transparency surrounding the operation of the Queens Library, which receives the majority of its operating expenses from the City of New York.,” Katz said. The public has a right to know the Library’s process for making spending decisions.”
By Phil Corso
