PELHAM — Local library trustees won't introduce the new library director, Bob Rice, until questions about purchases he made in a previous position are cleared up.
Revere, Mass., recently forwarded to the Suffolk County district attorney an independent auditor's report that cites $220,000 in questionable spending by Rice over three years — 2007, 2008 and 2009 — at the Revere Public Library, according to city officials.
Revere Mayor Tom Ambrosino said Rice resigned from the library post in January after the city's Finance Department brought forward allegations about questionable purchases at the library.
Revere library trustee and the library's acting director, Mark Ferrante, said Rice "abruptly resigned" after the Finance Department asked him about the purchases.
But Rice, 44, who worked at the Revere library for about 25 years, said claims about questionable spending are baseless. He said he made some purchases, but only after being instructed to do so.
Revere police Capt. Michael Murphy said there is "absolutely an investigation into Mr. Rice pursuant to purchases" made while he was at the library.
No charges have been filed, but there might be charges at the end of the investigation, Murphy said yesterday.
Jake Wark, press secretary for the Suffolk County district attorney's office, said the office is working with Revere police on the case.
"The financial investigation remains quite active," Wark said.
The Revere Journal reported last week that in addition to the $220,000 worth of questionable purchases, there were similar purchases made prior to 2007* outside the scope of an independent audit. The newspaper also reported the audit revealed some 200 items stored in the library that were questionable for library use. Those items included Red Sox baseballs, an antique Thompson submachine gun, a Rolex watch, four Elephant Man sculptures, and swords and armor.
Rice said this week his understanding was that the matter had been resolved in January. He said the allegations that surfaced recently stemmed from personal animosity and political motivation.
Ambrosino said he has no personal animosity toward Rice, nor was he up for re-election.
Ferrante also denied having any personal animosity against Rice.
Francis Garboski, chairman of the Pelham Public Library trustees, said earlier this week that the group supports Rice, but still wants the matter cleared up before it formally introduces the director at a selectmen's meeting.
Rice was scheduled to be presented to the town on Tuesday, but trustees asked that the agenda item be withdrawn, selectmen's Chairman Bob Haverty said.
Rice said earlier this week that he has hired a lawyer to defend him.
"A lot of the stuff there, I don't know where it came from," he said of the claims against him.
Rice said he informed the Pelham library trustees about issues he was dealing with in Revere before he was hired.
Garboski said the panel was satisfied with Rice's explanation.
Rice passed a criminal background check and the panel knows of no charges against him, Garboski said.
Garboski said he hopes Rice's lawyer presses for swift resolution.
The trustees are happy with Rice's performance since he started Oct. 20 and said he is well-liked by his staff. Rice is being paid $46,000 a year.
Ambrosino said the city has turned the investigation over to Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley.
"It will be up to the district attorney to pursue the matter," Ambrosino said.
No one from Conley's office returned calls for comment.
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