Island trail association settles with ex-employee
The Maine Island Trail Association, based in Portland, has settled with a former employee accused of embezzling more than $100,000 from the nonprofit.
The association maintains more than 350 miles of a recreational water trail from New Hampshire to Machias Bay, and its 4,000 members are permitted to stay at the trail's 191 island campsites. In an e-mail sent to members, MITA Board of Trustees Chairman Rod Vogel said the group reached a private settlement with former business manager Patricia Dano, the Bangor Daily News reported. Dano allegedly stole $117,000 from the association by using an association credit card and other funds for personal expenses and forging the signature of an MITA official on checks. The alleged theft was discovered after she was let go in February for an unrelated reason, and MITA filed a civil suit against her in March.
Vogel did not release details of the settlement, but did say it included restitution. MITA Executive Director Doug Welch told the paper some of the stolen money has been recouped. The association has instituted new financial procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Its annual budget is about $500,000.
Meanwhile, the case against Dano has been forwarded to the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office for possible prosecution, but Dano's lawyer told the paper that she did not face any criminal charges at this time.
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