ANTHONY DELMUNDO FOR THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Sources say MTA subway supervisor David Varlack was supposed to be managing train crews that maintain train signals, but instead was going on shopping sprees and visiting no-tell motels. He's been the target of an investigation and could face charges.
A six-figure subway supervisor spent hours cruising the tri-state area in his BMW, going on shopping sprees and visiting a no-tell motel — all while on duty, sources said.
David Varlack’s job is to manage MTA transit crews that maintain train signals in a section of the north Bronx.
Instead, he spent “many hours traveling around” the last six months, one source said. “He was all over the place. He was really off the reservation.”
For several months, Varlack, 48, has been the target of an investigation by the MTA inspector general’s office and the Manhattan district attorney’s office, sources said. Criminal charges could be levied against him, sources said.
He didn’t loot the farebox but stole time by getting paid for hours he didn’t work, sources said. He even had the gumption to put in for significant amounts of overtime, sources said.
“It was pretty extensive,” one source said. “There were days when he was gone for hours and others when he was gone for just about the whole day.”
Varlack earned about $113,000 in 2010, including $25,205 in overtime, according to MTA records. His 2011 salary and overtime earnings weren’t available.
Supervision of the supervisor was anemic, according to sources. But a tipster dropped a dime on Varlack and told
Inspector General Barry Kluger’s office that he regularly was missing in action, the sources said.
“Nobody was up there watching over him,” one source said. “He was pretty much a free agent.”
One of Varlack’s on-duty destinations was the Apple Motor Inn. It’s miles from the nearest subway station. It’s not even in the city but located in Ardsley, Westchester County.
The Apple has reasonable rates for that special, short-term getaway: $45 for three hours. There are certain rooms set aside for the day trippers. Each has a hot tub and a mirror above the bed.
An Apple Motor Inn employee declined to say whether a short-term guest seeking company can call room service.
“Guy, you are asking a lot of questions,” the employee said. “You know I'm not going to answer that.”
The allegedly wayward trackman also frequented Bloomingdales in White Plains, retail outlet Woodbury Commons in Central Valley, N.Y., and malls in New Jersey, according to sources.
The inspector general’s office refused to comment. Sources were unable to quantify the theft.
Varlack didn’t return messages seeking comment.
“He’s not available,” said a perturbed woman who answered the telephone at his suburban home. “He’s working.”
pdonohue@nydailynews.com
