NORTH ANDOVER — Town Purchasing Director Joseph Lydick faces charges of embezzlement and larceny for allegedly stealing profits from selling used town equipment on the Web site eBay.com, police said tonight.
Part of Lydick's job was to dispose of surplus equipment, such as police cruisers, firefighting and public works equipment, said Detective Lt. Paul Gallagher.
"We can't account for" some of the funds from the sales, Gallagher said.
Police are charging the 43-year-old Derry, N.H., resident with three counts of embezzlement by a municipal official and three counts of larceny over $250.
"Joe Lydick, the purchasing director of North Andover, has been placed on unpaid leave effective Nov. 13, 2009, pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation into allegations of fiscal improprieties," said Town Manger Mark Rees.
