Nassau DA Madeline Singas seeks to press lawmakers on contracts

Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas wants to address county lawmakers next week in her push to get them to create an independent inspector general’s office to vet county contracts.

Singas, a Democrat, wrote to presiding officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) Wednesday, asking to “formally address” the County Legislature at its meeting on Monday.

She previously gave lawmakers contract reform recommendations and draft legislation, supported by legislative Democrats, that would create the new inspector general’s office with subpoena powers.

“Regrettably, the Legislature has not yet taken meaningful action to provide independent contract oversight,” Singas wrote to Gonsalves. “I hope that this will change.”

Singas’ office said Thursday it had not received a response from Gonsalves about the request.

Asked whether Singas would be allowed to speak, Gonsalves said through a spokesman that she “looked forward to hearing from the district attorney on Monday.”

Whether or not Singas is listed on the agenda, each meeting has an open public comment period. Elected officials typically are allowed to go beyond the three minutes allotted to other registered speakers.

Nassau’s contracting system came under scrutiny last May after then-State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) was charged in a federal corruption case that included influencing the award of a county contract to a company that hired his son, Adam. Dean and Adam Skelos were convicted in December and are appealing.

In July, Singas issued a report that called the county contracting system “a recipe for corruption” and suggested an inspector general.

Newsday also reported last year that Nassau since 2011 had issued hundreds of no-bid contracts at amounts just below the threshold requiring a legislative vote. Many went to political donors, records showed.

The county legislature subsequently passed proposals by County Executive Edward Mangano, a Republican, requiring vendors to disclose lobbying activities and political contributions to county officials.

A legislative committee recently passed another measure — up for vote by the full legislature on Monday — that would lower the threshold for legislative approval of contracts from the current $25,000 to $1,000. Mangano also is hiring a procurement compliance director who would create a public contract database and ensure rules are followed with each agreement.

Singas and legislative Democrats say the inspector general position, which wouldn’t answer to the county executive, is still needed.

The administration has said such an office largely would duplicate the county investigations commissioner’s duties, which are performed by County Attorney Carnell Foskey, a Mangano appointee.

By Paul LaRocco

paul.larocco@newsday.com@paullarocco

Paul LaRocco is a reporter on the investigations desk. Since starting at Newsday in late 2010, he has also covered Nassau and Suffolk county politics and government and the Town of Oyster Bay.