When will the corruption end?

[onthejob]

Nassau panel approves agreement with outside pool operator
February 10, 2014 by PAUL LAROCCO / [e-mail]

A former manager of Nassau's aquatics center, who resigned during a probe of his finances in 2003, is poised to receive a new contract to run a private pool in a public park.

The Nassau Legislature's Rules Committee, in a 4-3 party-line vote, Monday approved a permit agreement between the county and David Ferris' Long Island Swimming Ltd. for the nonprofit to build and operate an Olympic-size "auxiliary" pool next to the county aquatics center in Eisenhower Park.

Under the 20-year agreement, Ferris would spend $1.3 million to install and maintain the prefab indoor/outdoor pool and pay the county annual license fees of between $45,000 and $90,000. His company, the project's only bidder, would then split any facility sponsorship revenues with the county.

Chief Deputy County Executive Rob Walker told lawmakers that the new pool will open up lanes at the current aquatic center, where Ferris' swim club now trains. By booking more local swim groups at the public pool, Walker said, the county will get more revenue, and may soon have enough space to host regional swim meets that would bring in even more.

"It's space in the park that's not being used at all, and isn't generating one bit of revenue," Walker said of the property for the private pool. "And it comes at no cost to taxpayers."

But minority Democrats on the committee said the county would be better off funding an auxiliary pool from public funds, and keeping all revenues. They also questioned if the agreement didn't amount to a lease, which requires state legislative approval as alienation of public parkland.

"Ironically, the rubber-stamp [Republican] majority didn't even allow the parks or environmental committee to vote on this alienation," Legis. Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) said after the meeting, noting that a permit agreement requires needs only the approval of the Rules Committee, and not the full legislature.

Other lawmakers raised concerns about Ferris. He resigned as aquatics center manager after Nassau's investigations commissioner sought his financial records to probe allegations that parents felt pressured to purchase equipment from one of Ferris' companies in order to ensure their children were included in meets.

"There was never an indictment, there was never an accusation," Ferris said. "Everything was dropped, and I can only tell you that if there was something there, they would have gone after me."

Since 2010, Ferris and his companies have given a combined $14,000 to Republican County Executive Edward Mangano's campaign, state election board records show. When a lawmaker asked him if that was why he received the pool contract, Ferris replied: "Swimmers are from both parties. This is not a political thing. This is doing something good for the community."

Mangano spokesman Brian Nevin called Democrats "liars" for implying that Ferris received the publicly bid contract due to his campaign donations.

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHY NIFA ALLOWS THIS TO HAPPEN. WE WILL BE FROZEN FOREVER AS LONG AS MANGANO CONTINUES TO HAND HIS FRIENDS BULLshvt CONTRACTS. ANOTHER POOL? WTF?

[overthecap]

It's all good.

www.elections.ny.gov:8080/plsql_browser/CONTRIBUTORA_COUNTY?ID_in=C20966&date_From=01/01/2012&date_to=02/10/2014&AMOUNT_From=1000&AMOUNT_to=25000&ZIP1=&ZIP2=&ORDERBY_IN=N&CATEGORY_IN=ALL

[Deleted]

Controversy over former Assemblyman's parks job in Nassau
February 12, 2014 by CELESTE HADRICK / [e-mail]

Former GOP Assemb. Robert Barra, the full-time Valley
Former GOP Assemb. Robert Barra, the full-time Valley Stream village clerk, also earned $33,586 from Nassau County last year as a part-time golf attendant 1 -- $10,000 more than the salary of a full-time attendant 1 whose pay has been frozen for three years, records show.

Barra, 54, who also earned $114,600 from the village last year, said he didn't set the salary for his $45-an-hour part-time position with Nassau. "I was hired on to do a job which I do completely to the best of my ability," Barra said.

But Civil Service Employees Association president Jerry Laricchiuta, whose members have been under a pay freeze imposed by Nassau's financial control board since 2011, said, "It's obviously not fair. It's totally wrong. They found a loophole around the wage freeze that somehow pays this guy more than my guy who is stuck for three years at $23,000."

Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick), a frequent critic of the Republican administration of County Executive Edward Mangano, said, "On paper, this is cronyism at its worst. To pay more for part-time work than for a full time union employee makes no sense."

Deputy County Executive Ed Ward said, "Golfing is one of the most important revenue sources for the county. You need people who have golf course experience to manage and maintain the county's golf courses. Bob Barra serves an important function in this area."

Ward added that Nassau saves thousands of dollars by having Barra work part-time because the county does not have to pay some benefits including health insurance, which are paid by Valley Stream. "So as it equals out the full-timer costs the county more than the part-timer," Ward said.

Laricchiuta said the Barra example points up why the union is seeking ways to lift the wage freeze, which expires next month, before the Nassau Interim Finance Authority extends it for another year.

NIFA members expressed concern about salaries and requested more budget data after Newsday reported last month that county elected officials gave out raises to 57 nonunion appointees last year despite the wage freeze. NIFA chairman Jon Kaiman said the freeze was intended to cover all employees.

Valley Stream Deputy Mayor Dermond Thomas, a NIFA member who voted for the freeze, did not return a call for comment.

County comptroller records show that a full time golf course attendant 1 was hired in February 2011 at a trainee salary of $23,540. The wage freeze was imposed a month later and the employee has never moved to the first step pay of $34,600. He could not be reached.

Records show that Barra, who chose not to seek re-election to the Assembly in 2010, was hired by Nassau in August 2012 for the part-time position. Laricchiuta acknowledged that the county can set the pay level of part-timers.

"I do whatever they want me to do," Barra said. Mostly, he said, he works at Grant Park in Hewlett. "I oversee the whole park. When I work, I usually work alone at night in the summer."

He said he works until 4 p.m. in the village and then goes to work at Grant Park at 4:30 p.m. "I'll open and close the place if I have to. I'll do whatever I have to do," he said.

Although Grant Park does not have a golf course, Ward said Barra can be stationed out of any park and go where needed.

Asked if it was fair that he earns more than a full-time golf attendant 1, Barra said to ask Mangano's chief deputy, Rob Walker. "I don't figure out anybody's salary."


Its becoming a daily occurrence that we hear how well other workers are treated except the unionized positions. When is enough, enough?

[tywebb]

How disgusting... When will this end? Oh, never... The lawyers /politicians make the laws...

[k9packerspd]

Glad they have money for that...i bet that contract isn't broken in to! Scumbags...