ComLinks, based in Malone, may touch more North Country lives than any other independent non-profit in the North Country — but that fact hasn’t spared the organization a ton of chaos the last few years.<\/p>\n
Long-time executive director Nancy Reich was suspended in June 2009 and eventually let go, after growing accusations of mismanagement, favoritism, and improper record-keeping.<\/p>\n
Now state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has released one of the most scathing reports I’ve ever seen, describing an organization riddled with mismanagement, nepotism, favoritism, and poor financial oversight.<\/p>\n
Here’s DiNapoli’s summary:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened at ComLinks was awful \u2013 on so many levels.\u00a0 When\u00a0 you\u2019re charged with helping people who need it, you don\u2019t take\u00a0 the money meant for them and stick it in your pocket.\u00a0 These are\u00a0 taxpayer dollars meant to deliver services to those greatly in\u00a0 need.\u00a0 These things happened either because someone was asleep at\u00a0 the switch or people let the executive director do whatever she\u00a0 wanted with a wink and a nod. She had a license to do whatever she\u00a0 wanted.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
As part of the report, ComLinks board president Marc Lashomb offers a lengthy written response,\u00a0 in which he still praises Reich for her leadership and vision.<\/p>\n
He declines to speak in detail about the allegations because of the likelihood that the case will be investigated by Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne.<\/p>\n
When I spoke this afternoon with current executive director Brian Cassinni, he declined to speak about the report until he had reviewed it more closely — but he said it will be the subject of a board meeting tonight.<\/p>\n