Nassau legislator "can not be involved" in lobbyist's contracts
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| Nassau Legis. Laura Schaefer |
The legislature's Rules Committee on June 6 tabled a proposal to extend Transdev Services Inc.'s contract, which was scheduled to expire at the end of 2021, through 2023.
Republican and Democrats on the 7-member committee, including Schaefer, had questions about the reason for an extension rather than a request for new competitive proposals.
Then, without any discussion, the legislature voted unanimously on Aug. 3 to approve the extension as part of a block vote of 25 different ordinances and resolutions, records show.
It is unclear why the contract extension was done by ordinance, rather than a simple contract vote by the Rules Committee, which usually has final say on all contract approvals.
Last week, Newsday reported in a one-paragraph blurb on its business page that Schaefer had been hired as senior associate counsel at McBride Consulting and Business Development Corp. in Melville.
It is unclear why the contract extension was done by ordinance, rather than a simple contract vote by the Rules Committee, which usually has final say on all contract approvals.
Last week, Newsday reported in a one-paragraph blurb on its business page that Schaefer had been hired as senior associate counsel at McBride Consulting and Business Development Corp. in Melville.
McBride Consulting is a registered lobbyist in Nassau County. This year the firm's registration says McBride represents Transdev Services and Standard Valuation Services, the
company that did the residential reassessment of
the county, along with other firms.
The firm acknowledged that it has lobbied the county legislature, County Executive Laura Curran and various county officials, such as Deputy County Executive Mike Santeramo.
Republican spokesman Chris Boyle last week said, "When considering outside consulting work, Legislator Schaefer obtained an opinion by the Nassau County Board of Ethics which confirmed the absence of any conflicts of interest as she will not take part in lobbying any Nassau County official or vendor vote on any contracts related to her consulting relatonships."
Boyle did not respond to a request for a copy of the ethics decision, when Schaefer asked for it and when she started working for McBride.
Paul Sabatino, a former chief deputy Suffolk County executive and longtime former counsel to the Suffolk county legislature, said today that Schaefer's start date is important for questions about possible conflict of interests.
"If the vote took place on or after she was working for this consulting firm, that's a clear violation...You can't be on both sides of the transaction," he said.
If the vote came before she was working for McBride, "that's more of a perception question," Sabatino said.
From her starting date forward, he said, Schaefer must "start recusing herself on a regular basis" on votes for any contract for which her employer lobbies the county.
Sabatino said she also cannot participate in discussions about contracts or other issues involving her employer.
The firm acknowledged that it has lobbied the county legislature, County Executive Laura Curran and various county officials, such as Deputy County Executive Mike Santeramo.
Republican spokesman Chris Boyle last week said, "When considering outside consulting work, Legislator Schaefer obtained an opinion by the Nassau County Board of Ethics which confirmed the absence of any conflicts of interest as she will not take part in lobbying any Nassau County official or vendor vote on any contracts related to her consulting relatonships."
Boyle did not respond to a request for a copy of the ethics decision, when Schaefer asked for it and when she started working for McBride.
Paul Sabatino, a former chief deputy Suffolk County executive and longtime former counsel to the Suffolk county legislature, said today that Schaefer's start date is important for questions about possible conflict of interests.
"If the vote took place on or after she was working for this consulting firm, that's a clear violation...You can't be on both sides of the transaction," he said.
If the vote came before she was working for McBride, "that's more of a perception question," Sabatino said.
From her starting date forward, he said, Schaefer must "start recusing herself on a regular basis" on votes for any contract for which her employer lobbies the county.
Sabatino said she also cannot participate in discussions about contracts or other issues involving her employer.
"You can't be involved," Sabatino said.
Schaefer provides the fourth Republican vote on the 7-member Rules Committee.
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