Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Bernard F. Lynch, City Manager Phone: 978-674-4000
Email: citymanager@lowellma.gov
Lowell, MA (June 19, 2012) – As of June 18, 2012, Parking Director Charles Carney was terminated from his employment with the City of Lowell. Last week, City officials learned for the first time that approximately $40,000 in parking revenue had been stolen by a former Central parking employee.
Although the matter was brought to the attention of the City Manager, the City Auditor and the City Council by an unknown but concerned citizen, the City is grateful to have been made aware of the missing funds. The City of Lowell, its outside auditors, as well as the Lowell Police Department will continue with their investigation into the stolen parking revenues and will work to ensure that the City is made whole. Central Parking administrators who were equally unaware of the missing funds have reached out to the City and pledged their full cooperation and support.
At this point, no further comments will be made pending the conclusion of the investigation. At such time or at appropriate intervals further information will be provided as it becomes available.
Expect an editorial from the Blog of Record, soon enough. It will parrot the “concerns” of C.Mercier, C.Elliott & C. Kennedy. It will read like this, …
The City Manager did what we wanted, BUT…
LOL always the cynic Jack…Manager handled this in a swift and fair manner.
“cynic” absolved!
Councilor Rodney Elliott argues Lynch should have at least suspended if not terminated Carney much sooner. He said Carney’s “political connections” may have been the reason for Lynch’s delay.
“I don’t think the manager has handled this well from the beginning,” Elliott said. “As soon as he knew that Mr. Carney covered this up for months, he should have removed him from his position. Even in the last few days, a lot could have happened to cover up the theft further.”