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LCCC ex-dean says he was falsely accused of theft, fired over reporting infractions.
WILKES-BARRE — A former associate dean at Luzerne County Community College has filed a whistleblower’s lawsuit against the college, alleging he was falsely accused of theft and fired because he reported wrongdoing of several college officials.
Peter Moses alleges he was targeted for termination after he tried to expose improprieties in the awarding of contracts and the hiring of an employee at the school.
The suit, filed by attorney Shelley Centini, cites problems with several no-bid contracts that were awarded under the tenure of former LCCC Board of Trustees President Ross Scarantino.
Scarantino, the former superintendent at Pittston Area School District, recently pleaded guilty to accepting kickbacks for influencing the awarding of contracts within the school district.
The school district and LCCC are among several government and school entities on which federal authorities have served subpoenas seeking records. No college official has been accused of any wrongdoing.
The lawsuit says Moses, who served as associate dean of administration and auxiliary services, attempted to eliminate wrongdoing and government waste.
“As a reward for this selfless efforts and courage, Mr. Moses suffered retaliation at the hands of corrupt yet powerful officials at LCCC” including Scarantino, the suit says.
According to the suit:
Moses tried to report problems with contracts awarded for heating and air conditioning, carpeting, security cameras, landscaping and for the hiring of a construction manager, but he was repeatedly rebuffed by college officials. He was also ordered to change the score of an employee who interviewed poorly because Scarantino wanted the man hired.
The suit contends those incidents led college officials to seek to terminate Moses. They found that opportunity in December 2007, when it was discovered that approximately $1,200 was missing from the college’s cafeteria.
The college referred the case to Nanticoke police, who in September 2008 charged Moses with stealing more than $17,000 and two computers from the school.
Moses adamantly denies he committed the theft. His trial in that case is pending in county court.
Tom Leary, president at LCCC, declined to comment on the suit. Frank Nocito, attorney for Scarantino, declined to comment on Monday.
Among the contracts Moses cites:
• A heating and air conditioning contract awarded in 2006 to Power Technologies.
Moses alleges the company was overbilling the college for parts and labor. When he reported that to Scarantino, he was told he was not a “team player” and was directed to pay the invoices in full. Officials from Power Technologies could not be reached for comment Monday evening.
• A security camera contract awarded in 2006 to Intellacom Inc.
Moses said he noticed that prices charged greatly exceeded the cost that had been estimated. When Moses advised Scarantino of this, Scarantino warned Moses that he would lose his job if he did not approve the contract.
A woman who answered the phone at Intellacom on Monday said no one would comment on the allegations.
• A carpeting contract awarded to King Glass in 2007.
Moses says King Glass submitted the lowest quote and was awarded the contract. After the work was complete, the company submitted a bill that exceeded the quoted price, as well as quotes submitted by other companies. Moses said he disputed the bill, but was ordered by Scarantino to pay it.
A man who answered the phone at King Glass late Monday afternoon said he could not contact anyone who could comment on the suit.
The suit also questions a landscaping contract awarded to Anthony Rostock, who served on the Pittston Area School Board under Scarantino’s tenure, and a construction manager contract awarded to Precept Associates and SamCar Group LTD.
Moses says he was told to “mind his own business” when questioned why Rostock was hired to supervise a landscaping project at the college, given that the plants had been purchased at a local company and were planted by the college’s maintenance staff.
Rostock could not be reached for comment Monday. In a previous interview he defended his work.
Moses also questioned why SamCar and Precept were hired to manage a major construction project, given the college had its own construction manager. The fee SamCar charged also far exceeded the industry standard. The college later renegotiated that contract.
Sam Marranca, owner of SamCar, did not immediately return a phone message Monday.
In addition to the contracts, Moses alleges he also witnessed impropriety in the hiring of John Adonizio, who was hired as a night-shift custodial supervisor. Adonizio served on the Pittston Area School Board under Scarantino.
According to the suit, Moses, who served on the committee that interviewed applicants, said Adonizio scored a zero out of a rating system from one to 10. Moses was advised to change Adonizio’s score because Scarantino wanted to hire him.
After Adonizio was hired, he was convicted of drunken driving and lost his license for a year. A second employee, Michael Oliveri, was directed to chauffeur Adonizio to and from work while his license was suspended.
Moses’ lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 in damages and reinstatement to his former position.