Granby Public Works Director Resigns After Police Investigation

By Bill Regan

There has been much speculation and discussion about the resignation of James Klase as Director of Granby Public Works. This article will help to clarify the events leading up to his resignation using portions of the official Police Report issued by Granby Police.

Both Town Manager William Smith and Police Chief Carl Rosensweig declined comment for this piece, and will “let the report speak for itself.” There were 11 DPW employees interviewed as part of the investigation as well as Thomas Tyburski, Director of Granby Department of Recreation and Leisure Services, who is both a friend and neighbor of Mr. Klase.

Red flags concerning Mr. Klase’s activities really began to appear as far back as August 2013 when TM Smith issued a written warning to Mr. Klase for ”using and abusing town cash and taking and using town items for personal use.” However this warning was ineffective as Mr. Klase “continued to mishandle cash and he sold some scrap metal from a town construction site only to reimburse the town when asked.”

TM Smith gave Mr. Klase another letter dated October 17, 2013, warning “...any further violations shall be the cause for his immediate dismissal.”

The interviews conducted with the DPW employee were all consistent with regard to suspicions of Mr. Klase’s illegal behavior. The final straw was the investigation into unaccounted fuel in January 2014. On several occasions between December 2013 and January 7, 2014, Mr. Klase was observed pumping diesel fuel into containers that were in the bed of his town issued pickup truck. The town fuel pumps are, according to the report, accessed by access codes issued to each employee, each having a different number. Mr. Klase’s code would not authorize him to pump diesel, as his truck runs on gasoline. He was able to pump diesel using either another employee’s access number or an unassigned key. Mr. Klase was using the diesel fuel to heat his home.

Mr. Tyburski was interviewed regarding Mr. Klase parking his town truck in his yard. “Tyburski stated that [he] could not offer any further information other than that he has seen Klase’s truck parked on Klase’s lawn. I [Granby Detective Christopher J. Poehnert] asked Tyburski if he had ever seen Klase using his Town of Granby work truck for personal reasons such as picking Klase’s children up from school. Tyburski stated he would rather not discuss this with me, and provided no further information.”

During this investigation, it came to light that two laptop computers (total value $673.10) were ordered using a fake Town of Granby purchase order and shipped to the Public Works garage attention James Klase. They were not in use at Public works, but rather had been purchased as Christmas presents by Mr. Klase.

There are other small incidents detailed in the report that are too numerous to mention — going as far back as 2012 — and that the Town Manager was informed of these by another DPW employee.

“On February 19, 2014, Granby Town Manager, William Smith informed me [Chief of Police Carl Rosensweig] that James Klase has made restitution and resigned. The Town of Granby does not wish to pursue this case further.”

So the question to be asked is this: Why did it take so long to bring this pattern of corrupt and illegal behavior on the part of Mr. Klase to an end? As a department head, Mr. Klase must set an example to those he supervises. Bad behavior has a demoralizing effect on all that come in contact with it and embeds a culture of deceit and immoral activity and by not acknowledging such actions, is negligence on the part of all who observe it.

An email from TM Smith on July 15, 2015 in response to questions concerning Mr. Klase and the position of Director of Public Works stated, “The position of DPW Director has not been posted or filled. At this time I have no anticipated start date.”

”Upon resignation, restitution was provided by Mr. Klase, which then closed the case.”

Also, TM Smith was asked about Mr. Klase’s salary and benefit package: “As you indicated in your last email — The position of DPW Director has not been posted or filled. At this time I have no anticipated start date.”

Per an earlier request for TOG Salaries, that position was salaried at $103,000 plus benefits, etc. This amounts to about 3.5 percent of the total DPW budget. We would anticipate that if no director is hired this year, the funds would be returned as a surplus.

TM Smith’s reply was “Correct, unused funds are returned as surplus.“ So we should keep an eye on this and make sure that is doesn’t disappear. It is imperative that a new precedent be established in order that the taxpayer’s dollars are invested wisely.

Letting Mr. Klase “off the hook” by not firing him and not pressing charges sends another message that his actions were tolerated.

This video from WFSB Channel 3, originally aired in April 2014, seems to contradict the sworn statement given by TM Smith in the official Police report.

This clearly shows that the administration is being less than honest with the residents. How many other situations have been covered over to preserve an image that may not be deserved? The taxpayers are owed transparency in governmental operations, and both elected and appointed officials must not obfuscate the truth. We must all demand accountability.

A full copy of the police report is available for a fee at the Granby Police Department. It is Case# 14-1-IV.