Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced an executive order on Monday establishing a zero-tolerance policy for gifts given by vendors to county employees.
She also announced a new program to promote standards of ethical contracting in the procurement process.
“A lack of transparency and self-dealing have not only led to corruption but prevent an open, fair and competitive marketplace,” she said. “My administration is dedicated to promoting a culture of transparency and accountability, free of corruption and fraud.”
Curran rattled off some examples of gifts that county employees handling contracts and procuring can no longer accept: meals, holiday gifts, holiday baskets, gift cards and tickets to golf outings or sporting events. When asked later if employees can accept a cup of coffee from vendors, Curran said “pay for your [own] coffee.”
The previous standard barred gifts worth $75 or more.
Vendors that do business with Nassau must disclose if they have any family members working for the county government, Curran said.
“We view this as one effective tool in our battle against entrenched special interests, political insiders and unscrupulous vendors,” she said.
Curran announced several other changes as part of a broader contracting reform package. Instead of having one person at the executive level approve all contracts, the deputy county executives will have oversight. The county is working to implement electronic filing for vendor disclosure forms. And all contracting officers will be required to take annual compliance training.
“These measures, taken together, serve as another level of checks and balances on a county contracting and procurement process that oversees more than $1.3 billion in annual contracts,” Curran said.
The policy announcement comes after Rob Walker, chief deputy county executive under former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, was charged last week with making false statements and obstructing justice over a $5,000 payment he allegedly received from a contractor. And Mangano himself is to appear in court over charges that he received kickbacks in exchange for county contracts.
Curran said the timing was a coincidence.
As for what the punishment will be for those who accept gifts, Curran said that there would be “serious repercussions.” John Chiara, deputy county executive for compliance, said punishments for each violation will be up to Curran’s discretion.
Curran was asked whether the reforms would make the contracting process even more cumbersome than it already is. Curran said she was trying to strike a balance.
“That is always the dance, putting in reform while not increasing the bureaucracy and the hoops people have to jump through,” she said. “That’s something we’re very, very mindful of, to make this as efficient as possible.
