Drama At The Town Dump: Employees Accused Of Pocketing Money

The Guilford Police Department has arrested and charged two long-time employees of the Madison-Guilford Transfer station with pocketing money from the operations. 

Frank Cole, 56, the foreman and an employee for 17 years, and Philip Hunt, 41, a 15-year-employee were arrested and charged with second degree larceny. Both are Guilford residents. Hunt lives at 1011 Route 80 in Guilford. Cole lives at 185 Middle Road in Guilford. 

Starting May 6, there will no longer be any cash transactions at the transfer station. Only debit cards, credit cards, checks, and town-issued coupons will be accepted.

The coupons can be obtained at Guilford town hall and Madison town hall. Guilford town hall is at 31 Park St, Guilford, CT. The phone at Guilford town hall is (203) 453-8001. Madison town hall is 8 Campus Drive, Madison, CT, off of Duck Hole Road, which is just north of the Hammonasset Connector. The phone number for Madison town hall is (203) 245-5600.

"Temptation is everywhere"

"This shows temptation is everywhere," said Madison First Selectman Fillmore McPherson. 

Guilford First Selectman Joseph Mazza said during a press conference Tuesday morning that the town of Guilford received a tip from a citizen several months ago. The transfer station is located in Guilford and is run by the town of Guilford. Both Madison and Guilford residents can take their trash there because the town of Madison pays a fee to Guilford.

Employees from the town of Guilford Public Works Department are now supervising the transfer station, said Mitchell R. Goldblatt, Guilford's director of human resources. Also on Tuesday morning, the Guilford Police Department had a police officer stationed at the transfer station, to help supervise the transition. 

No charges against third employee

There were three employees at the transfer station. A third employee, who was not arrested, has been placed on paid administrative leave on the advice of the town attorney, said Mazza. That third employee has worked at the transfer station for about 10 years. 

The transfer station has been in business for about 30 years and serves as sort of an informal community gathering place on the evenings and weekends, when people stop by to drop off their debris. The employees made an effort to keep the place tidy and organized, and in the past sometimes even played classical music to add to the ambience.

Mazza said the two employees who were arrested also have been placed on paid administrative leave at the advice of town attorney. 

Guilford Police Chief Thomas A. Terribile said the investigation is ongoing, but that it is too early to tell whether additional people will be implicated or arrested. He said the investigation will include an audit of town books and accounts. 

Too early to tell how much money involved

When asked, Chief Terribile said it is to early to tell how much money was taken. He said that the charge of larceny 2 involves amounts in excess of $2,000. 

Guilford Finance Director Sheila Villano, who is working in cooperation with the police department on the investigation, said that the transfer station's income is approximately $700,000.

That includes $100,000 each from the town of Guilford and Madison. Of the remaining $500,000, some of that is from cash from people in Madison and Guilford, and some of that comes in the form of checks from commercial users of the transfer station, she said. She too said it is too early to tell how much money is involved. 

"This gives us a lump in our throats"

Mazza said the investigation, prompted by a citizen tip, has taken about six months. He said the investigation was hindered by a fire at the transfer station a few weeks ago that is unrelated to the case against the two employees. Mazza said the information that led to the charges of theft, and the results of the investigation, were a shock to the town. 

If the charges prove true, "this is a betrayal of town citizens," he said. "It would be like taking money out of the everybody's pockets. We pride ourselves on have good, very good, dedicated employees. This gives us a lump in our throats."