Metro-North supervisors were caught on the clock shopping for fishing supplies, hanging out in parks and having workers chauffeur them as they ran personal errands, The Post has learned.
The foremen were also busted for fudging their time sheets in a five-month probe of four crews at the railroad by MTA Inspector General Barry Kluger’s office.
Investigators found a disturbing lack of mid-level and upper-level management in a system that includes over 400 miles of tracks and 121 stations.
Foreman Samuel Giordano shopped at Home Depot and Lowe’s, dined at King Buffet in Peekskill and relaxed at different parks in Westchester while on the clock. He was paid over $95,000 in 2013, according to SeeThrough New YorkNY, a transparency-advocacy group.
On an April 18 shift, Giordano took off at about 11:20 a.m. in his company car to shop at Croton Bait & Tackle, visit the bank and eat lunch at Shop-Rite. He went back to the yard at noon, then returned home before 2 p.m. to hang out on his lawn for forty minutes — and had another worker pick him up so he could then swipe out of his shift at the yard.
Foremen and their crews were also caught driving in long, meandering routes to rack up the overtime pay, as well as taking trips to Pennsylvania to buy illegal fireworks and cheap cigarettes.
Kluger said Metro-North’s new president, Joseph Giulietti, and chief engineer have worked closely with his office on operations and management.
“There is definitely progress being made in this area, and the president is giving it the attention it deserves,” Kluger said. “This is a systemic issue.”
MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said the railroad suspended five foremen without pay and has sought to dismiss them.
“All Metro-North employees are expected to put in a full day’s work for a full day’s pay,” he said.
A sixth foreman retired before he could face disciplinary charges.
The foremen could lose their federal pensions.
After a worker is dismissed, Metro-North appeals to the Chicago-based federal railroad retirement board to ask that their pensions be forfeited, based on the circumstances of their job history.