Legislative leader calls for oversight of county oversight board

                                                                           

Rich Nicolello

The Nassau Legislature's Presiding Officer Rich Nicolello yesterday said that the county's financial control board -- created by the state 22 years ago to oversee Nassau finances -- needs its own financial monitoring after he learned it had paid $925,000 over the past three years to a labor counsel rejected by the legislature.

That's $925,000 from Nassau's sales tax collections.

During questioning about a proposed settlement over union longevity payments, Nicolello, a New Hyde Park Republican, asked the legislature's Budget Review Director Maurice Chalmers if, in fact, lawyer Gary Dellaverson had racked up  $925,000 in legal fees since he was hired by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority.

Chalmers confirmed Dellaverson had been paid $925,000 to date.

Chalmers had mentioned the amount in a report last week that analyzed the settlement that ends six years of litigation over longevity..

Dellaverson was hired by NIFA in December 2018 for a $25,000 a month retainer to be its labor counsel after the legislature's Rules Committee voted unanimously against hiring him because his fee was too high.

When Nicollello objected to the hiring, NIFA Chairman Adam Barksy said Dellaverson was "the best."

Since then, two new county union contracts have been approved by the county, the union and NIFA, but three of the county's five major unions have been working without ratified contracts.

Chalmers also acknowledged that Dellaverson had not participated in the longevity settlement negotiated by Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

"Mr. Dellaverson's fee as of now, paid by NIFA with Nassau County taxpayers money, is almost a million dollars. He's continuing to be paid $25,000 a month," Nicollello said.

"I believe NIFA needs an oversight board," Nicollello said, prompting applause from the audience.

"This is a no-bid contract," Nicolello continued. "They appointed him. There is little oversight. We are going to be seeking copies of the hours and time sheets he's put in for almost $1 million."

Nicolello said NIFA's board members "make almost all of their decisions in executive session. They come out and it's a performa vote. There is no public comment."

"It's astonishing that a governmental body in the state of New York can get away with this but they do."

A NIFA spokesman declined comment.

A spokesman for the Democratic minority on the county legislature did not respond to a request for comment.

Democrats voted with Republicans in 2018 to reject hiring Dellaverson to represent the county administration in union negotiations. Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) yesterday also objected to the no-bid aspect in a different settlement that ultimately was pulled by Blakeman from consideration.

The longevity settlement still must be approved by NIFA, whose seven non-paid board appointees are mostly Democrats or Democratic donors.