NASHUA POLIGE
DEPARTMENT SSB Shes Ol i ad Mt, ated January 8, 2020
Intradepartmental Communication
Ta: Csplain Kerry Baxter
From: Lieutenant Daniel Mederos
Subject; Nashte Assessing Department Investigation (19-46336-OF)
Captain,
In June of 2019 Nashua resident Laurie Ortolano along with Nashua resident a Laura Colquhoun came
forward to the Nashua Police Department to report concerns regarding illegal activity within the Nashua
Assessing Department, specifically fraudulent mileage reports, theft of wages and possible bribery/improper
assessing practices involving employee Greg Turgiss and possible witness tampering/intimidation involving
Administrative Services Director Kim Kleiner.
Ortolano explained that she raised concems regarding operations in the Nashua Assessing Department in the
Fall of 2018. She advised that as a result of the information that she was able to gather, the City
commissioned. an audit of the Department which was conducted by John Griffin (Chief Financial Officer)
and Kim Kleiner (Chief of Staff). ‘Ortolano stated that she is not satisfied with the results of the audit, does
not detieve that it was “independent” and does not believe that her concems have been adequately
addressed. Ortilano explained that as a result of the audit, the Chief Assessor position was eliminated and
Kim Kisiner, was placed in charge of the Department as the Administrative Services Director. According to
Orolano,. Kisiner’ ‘has no experience as an assessor and'was simultaneously placed in charge of Purchasing,
IT, GIS. Risk: iianagement and Human Resources, ere inhibiting her ability to monitor the activities of
th: , Assessing Department. Et Cie “1
Onpiana reported specific concerns with regards to Greg Turgiss' s activities. Ortolano‘explained that
according to now former Assessing Department: employee: Cheryl Walley, Turgiss has a history of filing
fraudulent/incetrect ‘mileage reports, has been spoken to,about t those reports:in the past but continues to file
fravdulent/incorrect mileage reports. She had concerns with regards to Turgiss' work activities and whether
he has been and ss misrepresenting what he is doing’ while at:work. ‘She explained she hired a private
investigator to follow Turgiss and that the resultsiofithat investigation were extremely concerning. Ortolano
advised that she discovered a number of abatements that occurred in October:2018 that'she believes may
have been the result of "favoritism". Ortolano had complied, large sours of of documentation supporting her
concems through Right to Know Requests from: thie See, Department.
Ortolano explained that as a result of the.concerns. that ishe has: raised regarding Turgiss’ activities the City
as retained Attomey Mark Broth to conduct an independent investigation into Turgiss’ mileage reports and
work logs. Ortolano advised that she will-be. attempting | to meet-with Aftomey, Broth iniorder to discuss her
concems but believes that the scope of his’ mvestigaiion will be t90 narrowly;focised,
Ortolano also explained that she believes that Kleiner may have engaged in. witness 3s ininidationvtampering
She stated that'frior.to. Attorney Broth meeting: with’ any mentibers of the: ‘Asseshing t DepartmentKieiner
conduciéd a a staff meeting and that, although Ms.: ‘Kleiner encouraged the staff to be Honest: ‘and,
strai ightfa rward, at some point Kleiner relayed'a persenal anecdote ‘in whichshe explained that honesty 1 in
intemal inyestigations does not always reat in career ‘benefit. “Ms. Ortolasio peace that this was ahi effott
by Kleiner to impede the invest'gatiaa. ey
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@rtolano RTK - 0077
