A no-show for 12 years, worker in Norfolk still paid

The head of the agency refused to identify the employee but acknowledged in response to inquiries from The Virginian-Pilot that an employee was "on the board's payroll who had not reported to work in years."

Maureen Womack, the agency's executive director, said she fired the employee, informed the board that governs her agency and asked City Attorney Bernard A. Pishko to investigate the matter earlier this summer. Pishko's investigation is nearly complete and will soon be turned over to the Norfolk police, she said.

Womack also refused to divulge the employee's salary.

The council also was told in a recent closed meeting that at least one other staffer, a Community Services Board supervisor, is being investigated for alleged complicity.

Council members described the investigation as unbelievable and unprecedented.

"It's so astounding to me, I don't know what to say," Councilman Barclay C. Winn said. "I'm embarrassed."

Mayor Paul Fraim, who has been on the council for 24 years, said he has never heard of an employee of the city or any related agency being paid without showing up for work. The Community Services Board "does tremendous work in Norfolk," he said.