Library Workers Disciplined After Fox Report

PHILADELPHIA - Three Philadelphia library workers who were the subjects of a Fox 29 investigates report this summer will be disciplined.

We caught it all on tape as a library painter was working for himself on the taxpayer's dime. His boss was driving him around in a library van.

Our disturbing video caught the attention of the city's inspector general's office. It has closed the book on its investigation.

Now it's payback time for Philly taxpayers.

We caught Robert Adams painting at a Joseph a. Bank store in Chestnut Hill while he was supposed to be on the clock for the city.

We also saw his acting boss, John Gorman, drive him to the store in a library van and later pick him up.

On another day, we watched as the same man worked on the roof of his North Philly home

A Library mechanic, William Stahl, was giving him a hand.

Following our report, the Philadelphia inspector general's office launched an investigation. It reported their findings to the free library last month.

No one at the inspector general's office would comment on the investigation, and repeated calls to the library were not returned.

But according to a spokesperson for the mayor's office who contacted library officials, as a result of the inspector general's probe, all three workers in our report will be disciplined.

The library will suspend Robert Adams for two weeks without pay. He'll also have to reimburse taxpayers $117.57. That's six and a half hours pay.

John Gorman, who drove Adams to the Joseph A. Bank store, will be suspended one week without pay.

And William Stahl, who helped Adams work on his roof, will receive a written warning.

Last month,City Controller Alan Butkovitz blasted the library for allowing employees to "abuse and waste time." Butkovitz said the library needs a better way to keep track of its workers.