Commission hears report that Harriet Tubman Museum was burglarized; museum to beef up security

The commission chair reported during the meeting that the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center had been burglarized: "Someone broke in and found our cash box, which should not have been there," the chair said, and added that about $3,500 in damage was done to the museum's rear door.

The chair said police were on the scene and noted that a former employee was contacted quickly after the break-in, prompting questions about how the list of names used by the caller had been obtained. The chair said pledges and donations have been received and that the money is already in the bank. A contractor has assessed the door and placed a temporary fixture pending a permanent repair, and the chair said the museum will improve exterior camera coverage so the current two cameras better cover needed areas.

The chair said the museum will not leave cash on site overnight in the future. No formal action or vote on funding for repairs was taken during the open session; the commission later adjourned to a closed session to consider unrelated personnel complaints.