Nassau OK on $1.5M in contracts irks CSEA

Nassau Republican lawmakers Monday approved about $1.5 million worth of professional service contracts, paid for with 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 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 its members do.

Financial experts say borrowed money should only be used for long-term capital projects, not for routine maintenance and repairs.

But Deputy County Executive Rob Walker later told the legislature that the county will not lay off 26 engineers, inspectors and landscape architects who could do those jobs, but will instead charge their salaries to capital projects -- not operating expenses.

It was unclear Monday night exactly whether county workers or outside consultants were going to be doing the jobs in question.

Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick) asked Walker why they just approved $1.5 million in outside consultants if county employees are going to do the work. Walker said he'd have to look into it but added that the projected layoff list "changes daily."

Laricchiuta said the county had notified him of the plans yesterday morning, but he had nothing official except Walker's testimony.

"When we see it, we'll believe it," said CSEA vice president Ron Gurrieri.

Two people in the audience who were scheduled to be laid off said they were surprised that their jobs had been retained.

The rules committee, which has the power to act on contracts, voted 4-3 along party lines to approve 10 capital contracts. 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."