Race Palace Bond documents covenanted by Nassau County. Just like Jefferson County?
NIFA: State should audit Nassau procedures
Photo credit: Howard Schnapp | A file photo of the NIFA board. (Dec. 30, 2010)
NIFA's vote on Nassau 2012 budget Galleries
Edward Mangano photos Members of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which took control of the county's finances last January, said they continue to receive complaints from charities about late payments for contractual services provided to the needy. The members also said they have yet to see contracts for outside lawyers who are owed millions of dollars for work already completed even though NIFA is required to review and approve contracts of $50,000 and more.
"Because of certain irregularities that have come to our attention," NIFA chairman Ronald Stack said at a public meeting in Mineola, NIFA requested that State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli look at the process, "make sure it has been done right" and recommend improvements.
More: Complete coverage: NIFA and Nassau
The request originated with Chris Wright, who was appointed to the NIFA board by DiNapoli. Although Wright could not attend the meeting, he submitted a statement saying it was "clear" a review was needed "by a party that is not involved."
Though she had not seen NIFA's letter, DiNapoli spokeswoman Jennifer Freeman said, "Requests like this are reviewed very carefully and an appropriate response is determined."
Brian Nevin, an aide to County Executive Edward Mangano, said, "There's no government that has more oversight than Nassau County, where all contracts are approved by a 19-member legislative body, the comptroller, Independent Office of Budget and Review, and NIFA prior to execution by the county executive. Additional oversight is always welcome."
While Stack said NIFA was not making any accusations, board member George Marlin said he was "appalled at the county's lack of transparency." He noted that NIFA had not received contracts for attorneys hired by Nassau to fight the board's takeover last January or used for a failed Coliseum referendum last summer.
The Nassau Legislature on Monday approved a $6.8 million budget transfer to the county attorney's office to pay outside contractors -- more than three times the $2 million budgeted. Most of the work had not been authorized by the legislature.
NIFA member Robert Wild, chairman of United Way of Long Island, said the charities with county contracts "need to be paid. They're taking care of our citizens," Wild said.
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