Nassau Legislature kicks off under GOP leadership Monday

The first full session of the 2010 Nassau County Legislature under Republican leadership Monday is expected to include some challenges to confirming administration appointments, including its new head of information technology.

Democrats, who are an 11-8 minority, at a committee hearing last week expressed concern over IT nominee Edward Eisenstein, and whether the county post would be in conflict with the Farmingdale-based IT company he still owns.

"If you're still an owner and as commissioner you are awarding contracts to clients of your company, that would seem to be a clear conflict of interest," Leg. Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) said Tuesday.

Eisenstein did not return calls.

The Democratic Caucus counsel, David Gugerty, asked county attorney John Ciampoli to request a formal opinion from the county Board of Ethics.

Gugerty asked if Eisenstein's company, United Network Associates, Inc. "or any of its customers or clients conduct business with the county?" He also asked if it's appropriate for Eisenstein to remain as an officer, employee or shareholder of UNA while serving as IT commissioner.

The query was hand-delivered Wednesday, with a request for a response before Monday's meeting.

Ciampoli did not send the request, his office said, because the Board of Ethics is not meeting any time soon.

Other probable confirmation discussions will be on the appointment of the three replacement members to the board of the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation.

The OTB board appoints the president of the agency, which has long been a patronage stronghold for the party in power.