More problems at the Tax office

The New Haven Register reports on more problems at the West Haven tax collector's office... Revenue Collection Clerk Kristy Gargiulo was suspended without pay for 5 days for removing what apparently she perceived as a large sum check (> $2 million) from the city vault without proper supervisor authorization back on November 1. Apparently, she had removed what turned out to be a copy of a check deposited back in 2005 to bring it to the attention of the mayor's office and the finance office, because she thought it was undeposited. Tax Collector Christopher V. Valente now wants her fired because he feels "I can’t trust her".

The article makes this sound like perhaps it is a witchhunt. The Mayor's office had a meeting on Nov 2 where it was determined that it was a copy of a check, not an actual check. On Nov 3, Valente "documented the issue with the police", but there is no formal investigation by the police on this matter. Not surprisingly, the Union which represents Ms. Gargiulo is filing a greivance.