Sunday, August 30, 2020

Comment on Frank Quatrone’s Illegal Sick Day Payout and How Your Board Failed to Protect you…


Blatant Corruption by Sharon Salvacion, Nancy Cardone, and Lodi Police Chief Donald Scorzetti


All three have conflicts of interest that prohibit them from being involved in any superintendent matters.  An absurd “Doctrine of Necessity” was invoked that created a new conflict for Jeff Telep that was never used before or even mentioned before.  It should never have been used.  “Doctrine of Necessity” was not necessary and was a complete abuse.  By invoking the doctrine, the board basically let Frank Quatrone determine his own payout.  There is a reason why conflict of interest laws exist.  “Doctrine of necessity’ is supposed to be a last resort when completely necessary.  It’s not supposed to be used as  a scheme to flout conflict of interest laws.

 

Legal Malpractice by Matthew Giacobbe and His Politician Run Law Firm


Matthew Giacobbe advised not to pay Frank Quatrone any of his proposed sick payout.  He advised to force Quatrone to go before a judge and produce the agreement that he was unable to produce.  Matthew Giacobbe said he would be handling the matter.  For the next year, Mark Wenzcel billed for the matter.  The case was scheduled for the Office of Administrative Law this September.  In typical Frank Quatrone fashion, he used corrupt board members that he did favors (many quid pro quos) to save him right before the hearing and deliver him an illegal payout.  The Giacobbe firm should return all the money it received to supposedly work on the OAL case.  Its malpractice insurance should pay the settlement.  Giacobbe was billing for working on both sides of the matter.  You can't advise to go before a judge and then draw up a bogus doctrine of necessity and settlement.

 

CAC Initially Gave You Matthew Giacobbe.  Some CAC and Marc Schrieks’ puppets Preserved Matthew Giacobbe 


I didn’t want the Busch firm after it protected Quatrone and Capizzi by not turning over subpoenaed records to a deputy attorney general.  The Busch attorney took that action without ever discussing it with the board.  Not turning over subpoenaed records for an investigation should not be tolerated.

 

I also made it clear that I didn’t want “Cleary Giacobbe” after its unimpressive presentation in June 2019 and concerns I had with how it was attaining contracts. I preferred a school attorney who presented that wasn’t engaging in pay-to-play.  I raised my concerns individually with other board members.  Unfortunately, Al Mastrofilipo who did not attend the presentations had persuaded enough board members to choose two firms- Cleary Giacobbe and Busch.  Being I was by myself and seeing two firms as complete waste of money, I voted with four other board members to NEGOTIATE a contract with Matthew Giacobbe under certain terms.  A contract was never negotiated.  The board never voted on a contract.  I voted NO on every bill that came in from the firm.  I wanted the firm removed immediately after early red flags.  I was by myself.  CAC protected and preserved Matthew Giacobbe because some felt they would look bad by removing someone they chose. 

 

Matthew Giacobbe has been a complete disaster and the costliest mistake.  His actions with the Frank Quatrone settlement is just the icing on the cake.  All board members share responsibility for Matthew Giacobbe.

 

I saw no support as I challenged Frank Quatrone’s illegal Payout


If you attained closed session meeting minutes from 2019, you would hear me addressing multiple state statutes being violated. I had a large folder of documents. You would hear Donald Scorzetti cursing and Nancy Cardone screeching.  They wanted give Frank Quatrone the world because of all the favors he did for them and their relatives.

 

Board members did not take the matter seriously.  None took the initiative to bring their own research or findings to our meetings. 

 

I had multiple phone conversations and email exchanges with Joseph Zarra in which he admitted that he never reviewed Quatrone’s proposed sick day payout before he stamped the contract.  He advised that the district should thoroughly review it before anything was paid.  I attained records and opinions from other state agencies as well. 

 

There is no question that Frank Quatrone’s payout violates multiple state statutes.  The Lodi taxpayers were not represented or protected at all.

 

There should have been a hearing in court to address why Quatrone’s payout changed from year to year and day to day even though the law changed on June 8, 2007.  Everything was being made up as they went along. The questions could go on and on.  None were ever answered.  None were ever addressed in court.  Lodi wasn’t represented or protected from this blatant corruption.