Ousted Exec Seeks Board Seat At NYC Ethnic Credit Union

The ousted general manager of a prominent ethnic credit union in Brooklyn, N.Y., now wants to be a director.

Marcin Sar, who steered Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union from 1987 through May of this year, has mounted a campaign to be a candidate for one of four open seats on the nine-member board.

Mr. Sar said he has little confidence in the $414 million-asset credit union's leadership. He said the support of members and staff encouraged him to try to regain some influence in the institution.

"I just want to make sure that it's an efficiently run operation," Mr. Sar said.

The board election will be next month. Mr. Sar said he's already obtained the required 416 signatures - out of a membership of 42,000 - to be a candidate.

The institution hasn't hired a paid general manager since Mr. Sar was fired.

Mr. Sar's dismissal was presaged by discord between him and board member Zdzislaw Rutkowski, who was elected president last year.

"Without any doubt, the writing was on the wall since December that I was not welcome on the new team," he said. "I saw it coming."

In May, Mr. Sar - who did not have an employment contract - was fired. Mr. Sar said that at the time, the board would not gives reasons for his dismissal.

Mr. Rutkowski declined to comment on the reasons for Mr. Sar's termination or on his bid to become a director.

"The only thing I can tell you is that Mr. Sar was terminated at the end of May, and if you want to know more details, that's all I can tell you. That's the advice of our lawyers," said Mr. Rutkowski, who serves on an unpaid basis.

Rumors and allegations concerning Mr. Sar's conduct surfaced after he was kicked out.

For instance, according to Mr. Sar there were whispers that he had embezzled money from the credit union. But according to credit union correspondence, there have been no findings of embezzlement to date.

"Be advised that the board is unaware of any allegations of embezzlement as of this date," Mr. Rutkowski said in an Aug. 7 letter to Mr. Sar.

But in the same letter, Mr. Rutkowski accused Mr. Sar of violating the credit union policy by not giving it proper notice of a vacation trip to Aruba.

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