Lawmakers have introduced a bill to prevent a sequel to the page-turning drama of the Queens Library.
The state legislation, which will be proposed Thursday, aims to curb runaway spending in the borough’s library system — as epitomized by embattled head Thomas Galante.
The call for more oversight and transparency is unlikely to affect Galante, who faces the possible final chapter in his employment Thursday night, said state Sen. Michael Gianaris, co-sponsor of the bill.
“Events on the ground are moving faster, and I suspect this situation will be addressed before this becomes law,” Gianaris told the Daily News.
The Queens Democrat said the bill will not just focus on the head of the system — even if his salary is a staggering $ 392,000 a year.
“A lot of attention so far is with the individual at the center of this,” Gianaris said. “We’re aiming at systemic reform so we don’t have to deal with this in the future.”
Gianaris, along with Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry (D-Queens) and Borough President Melinda Katz, will announce the new legislation just hours before a scheduled Thursday library board of trustees meeting.
Katz, in a harsh letter sent this week to the board and to Galante, called for the library executive to be suspended at the meeting.
The bill, with support from most of the borough’s legislative delegation, would require financial disclosure from key employees and approval for outside work; create an audit committee to track spending; and establish conflict of interest guidelines.
The bill, produced after six weeks of work, would also reduce the terms of trustees from five years to two years.
“This is important when an institution is funded 85% from the city and state,” Katz told The News. “The tax dollars of our constituents are going into the library system. There needs to be faith in the institution.”
The News, in a series of stories, exposed Galante’s huge salary and perks — including a $ 140,000 renovation of his office, highlighted by the construction of a $ 27,000 smoking deck. In addition to his Queens cash, Galante recently earned $ 114,673 while simultaneously working for the Elmont school district on Long Island as a business consultant. His annual $ 37,000 car allowance allowed Galante to zip around in a Nissan 370Z sports car.
As Galante was living large, two Queens library branches damaged during Hurricane Sandy remained shuttered.
“The news of the last couple of months has been surprising to all of us,” said Gianaris. “We’re trying to make sure that the library system serves the public, and not someone’s personal interest.”
The FBI and the city Department of Investigaion are probing construction contracts tied to the Queens library.
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