Post by onthejob on Dec 19, 2011 18:19:35 GMT -5
OK on $1.5M in Nassau contracts
December 19, 2011 by CELESTE HADRICK / celeste.hadrick@newsday.com
Nassau Republican lawmakers Monday approved about $1.5 million worth of professional service contracts, paid from borrowed money, despite union complaints the consultants would be doing the jobs of members targeted for layoffs.
Jerry Laricchiuta, president of the county's Civil Service Employees Association, said the union had just seen the details on 12 contracts for "on-call" traffic engineering, construction management and landscape architect services.
"These are our jobs," Laricchiuta said. "It's despicable during a time they're laying off people."
The CSEA contends its contract prohibits the county from hiring consultants to do the jobs their members do.
Financial experts say borrowed money should only be used for long-term capital projects, not for routine maintenance and repairs.
"My kids will be paying for planting flowers right now," Laricchiuta said.
The legislature's Rules Committee voted 4-3 along party lines to approve 10 of the capital contracts. Two contracts for Nelson and Pope Engineers were held because Legis. Rose Walker (R-Hicksville) recused herself and Republicans did not have enough votes to pass them. Walker said later through a spokesperson that she had done some consulting work for that company.
Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) told Laricchiuta that he was making the complaints too late and he should take it up with County Executive Edward Mangano.
Laricchiuta suggested later that the contracts were divided among eight companies to encourage political contributions from the consultants.
Mangano aide Brian Nevin responded to the union allegations by saying, "These false accusations are nothing more than an attempt to avoid the inevitable concessions that are needed to protect taxpayers."
DOES NIFA DO ANYTHING BUT FREEZE WORKERS PAY? WTF
December 19, 2011 by CELESTE HADRICK / celeste.hadrick@newsday.com
Nassau Republican lawmakers Monday approved about $1.5 million worth of professional service contracts, paid from borrowed money, despite union complaints the consultants would be doing the jobs of members targeted for layoffs.
Jerry Laricchiuta, president of the county's Civil Service Employees Association, said the union had just seen the details on 12 contracts for "on-call" traffic engineering, construction management and landscape architect services.
"These are our jobs," Laricchiuta said. "It's despicable during a time they're laying off people."
The CSEA contends its contract prohibits the county from hiring consultants to do the jobs their members do.
Financial experts say borrowed money should only be used for long-term capital projects, not for routine maintenance and repairs.
"My kids will be paying for planting flowers right now," Laricchiuta said.
The legislature's Rules Committee voted 4-3 along party lines to approve 10 of the capital contracts. Two contracts for Nelson and Pope Engineers were held because Legis. Rose Walker (R-Hicksville) recused herself and Republicans did not have enough votes to pass them. Walker said later through a spokesperson that she had done some consulting work for that company.
Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) told Laricchiuta that he was making the complaints too late and he should take it up with County Executive Edward Mangano.
Laricchiuta suggested later that the contracts were divided among eight companies to encourage political contributions from the consultants.
Mangano aide Brian Nevin responded to the union allegations by saying, "These false accusations are nothing more than an attempt to avoid the inevitable concessions that are needed to protect taxpayers."
DOES NIFA DO ANYTHING BUT FREEZE WORKERS PAY? WTF
