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NORWALK, Conn. – The investigation into the possible misappropriation of money from the Norwalk town clerk’s office could potentially amount to thousands of dollars, according to officials.
The exact amount has not yet been determined, said a source with knowledge of the investigation who requested anonymity. The problems may go back several years and involve multiple accounts.
“It could be a substantial amount of money,” the source said.
An employee in the town clerk’s office, whose identity has not been publicly revealed while the investigation is under way, was placed on administrative leave with pay in late January while city and police officials conduct the probe, the city has confirmed.
The investigation began late last year but only recently came under public scrutiny after The Hour newspaper first reported the investigation this month.
Since then, many media outlets have reported on the case, but city officials have been close-lipped about the details because the probe involves personnel matters.
Mayor Richard Moccia declined Tuesday to comment on the specifics of the investigation but said he wanted to clear up one misconception.
“The way some articles portrayed this situation gave the impression that Town Clerk Rick McQuaid was somehow involved, or was the subject of the investigation,” Moccia said. “That is not true. He uncovered certain issues, which he brought to light.”
McQuaid, who has spoken to the press but avoided specifics, issued his first full statement on the matter Tuesday.
“A year into my tenure as town clerk, changes were being implemented in the office,” he wrote in the statement. “These changes brought to light some discrepancies in revenue. I noted certain abnormalities that suggested that at certain times revenue was not being reported as required; my investigation indicated that the revenue reporting issue had been occurring prior to my election.”
McQuaid continued, “Taking that matter very seriously, I advised the Norwalk Police Department and Norwalk city officials of my concerns and an investigation was promptly commenced and is ongoing. Because this is an ongoing investigation, I am not at liberty to provide any further details, except to note that the current active employees of the town clerk’s office have been fully cooperative and remain committed to diligent and honest service to our community.”
Comments (4)
This is an insult to taxpayers, and beyond imagination, as a taxpayer paying well over 10,000 a year with an upcoming assement, I want to know why the city is paying for the person who is suspected to have to taken the money to be able to continue getting paid during the investigation, furthermore while the investigation continues in the Town Clerks Office, I have first knowledge that she was on vacation, on taxpayer money. if your a taxpayer, you should be demanding as I am, a explanation to the varibles, surrounding this investigation, we have a right to know where our tax money is being spend and how. It has been devluged to me that this person has been out of work for over 3 months with a salary well in the 60 digit mark, I'm outraged!
I personally would like to know as many others, What is personnel doing in their department giving away time as if it didn't cost the taxpayer anything. I suppose that because the Personnel director doesn't live in the town of Norwalk, he could care less that this money is being spent in the fashion of supporting a suspected criminal.
I also suspect that the finance Director will cover this spending as he has his own sexual harrasment case to deal with, which once again, got lost somewhere in the halls of the City Hall, I have to wonder if this incident too, will be paid off by the City Of Norwalk. As a resident, and a taxpayer, I also would like to know if Andy Garfunkel might had been involved in the thousands of Dollars missing in the Town Clerks Office, why did he not find this before McQuaid found this discrepancy?
I urge those who support Andy's candidacy to think again. My inside knowledge of what occurs in and around City Hall, tells me that there is more corruption and "Good Ole Boy" dealings than any resident could imagine.
Its a election year, and now I suspect that all the indescretion will be swept under the rug until it's over, and even then, all those newpaper articles that stressed the corruption in City Hall will remain quiet. And you the taxpayer will continue to support these actions.
It's a shame that Rick McQuaid had to get heat over this, and that he was a target, since he seems to be the only one who disclosed the truth and the rampant trash that seems to infiltrate City Hall. If you want to want someone to run this town like it should be, I would want McQuaid to do the job.
Besides it's about time we retire people who seem to have more controversy in their position than solutions.
This is really troubling but fortunately, it's been uncovered. I'm intrigued to see how this could have gone on for "several" years. Lots of people call for new people in local government. Regardless of party affiliation, I can support the call.
If you think this is troubling, I have inside knowledge of what goes on in the City Hall, it's criminal, you have know idea how much money is being spent on cover ups, ask yourself, what happened to the fellow who was questioned about his airplane parts being paid for by City Hall, or the fellow wo is being paid by City Hall to obtain his Visa, ask about the finance Directors sexual Harrasment case, what ever happened with that, and then ask yourself if this is the type of government that is in charge if your money. It's a disgrace to hear what goes on in City Hall and I have shut my mouth long enough. I know several people who work there, and they tell me everything that's going on, and the public doesn't know half of what happens there. Furthermore, most people who work there aren't even Norwalk Residents. I'm disgusted and am going to start blowing whistles! I know names places dates and all the dirt, and am tired of paying for this city and it's dirty little secrets. I'm entertaining moving out of here before City Hall raises our taxes to support all of this trash, I suggest you ask questions. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK. FOI, Freedom of Information Act. I suggest we all start ASKING!