John Faso might be out the door at the SPCA of Niagara, but he’s by no means going quietly.
After being relieved of his duties as the organization’s executive director following a meeting of the board of directors on Monday, Faso spoke with WGRZ’s MaryAlice Demler, then he gave a scathing in-depth with our news partner, WLVL, on Donna Pieszala’s Niagara’s Talking show.
Faso said the entire board should resign — “every single one of them” — then said many were rarely involved in functions.
He said he stepped into a situation in 2009 where files had been shredded, where he was told the animal side of the shelter would be handled by others with more experience, and where the budget was on a loose-leaf piece of paper.
He also said he’s received dozens of death threats, and that he and his family have been traumatized by the events that have unfolded. Faso insisted that he came into the position primarily as a fundraiser, and his resume indicates that.
Previously, Faso worked largely as a facility coordinator, holding positions as the director of groups and conventions at Adam’s Mark and the general manager of the Conference & Event Center of Niagara Falls.
“I wasn’t trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes and convince them I had experience or knowledge that I didn’t. I had never run a kennnel before or an animal shelter. They said that was fine, they weren’t looking for that type of experience,” he said. “They were looking for someone to manage the building and that the veterinarian duties and animal care would be left up to the veteranarian who was on the board.”
Faso said he would have followed any operations manual on hand, but none were to be found when he started on the job. He also said board members Brandi Scrufari, a resident of the area below the falls, and Chris Carlin, a former county sheriff’s deputy who works with the U.S. Department of Labor as an investigator, knew there was little to work with when he arrived.
“What was left for me were 12 personnel files. That’s it. There were no financial documents, there were no operating procedures. There were no job descriptions. There was nothing. On the prior administration’s way out, one of the employees called a board member to report that documents were being shredded,” Faso said. “That report was made to Brandi Scrufari and Chris Carlin on several occasions, and they chose to do nothing about it. I don’t know who shredded them.
“When I got there, that shelter had been there for 25 or 30 years, I found nothing. No annual reports, no financials. The budget I inherited was on a loose-leaf piece of paper and typed. And that was in 2009.”
The Board is hoping by firing Faso, they can appease the community, and continue to do whatever they want!! I can assure you I will not rest until the entire place is with new leadership!! The whole board must go!! Any employees who wish to stay should have to reapply, and be reviewed by the new board and director!! These behaviors go on in most of the organizations in Niagara County!! Shame on them for what they did!!
I concur with the above comment however, what about the accontability of the Vet Dr. Gerber???? And the Vet Tech that administered the Heart Stick???? I was researching that method and it is outlawed in many states. Are any of our elected officials stepping in?
Yes, the Board of Directors should go but that by no means relieves Faso’s responsibility of being an extremely poor manager. He said in the Demler interview he though the board would “circle the wagons” around him. Not that he was concerned about the poor quality of the shelter, the mismanagement, the public relations disaster. He’s just angry because the “good ole boy network” turned on him. This is absolutely despicable (his detriment to the SPCA). In addition, it seems the Board of Directors is just playing games so let’s get rid of them too. Who has control over this agency? If not the County Legislature, then I think NF and Lockport should withhold payment until it is fixed. That or contract with Erie County SPCA instead.