WORKING TO REDUCE MONETARY WASTE,
ABUSE, AND CORRUPTION IN NASSAU'S
SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS
Special Taxing Districts | Sanitary District 1 | Sanitary District 2 | Sanitary District 6 | Sanitary District 7
• Exorbitant Consultant Costs
The Board of Commissioners hired a “computer consultant” for $35/hour based on a letter, no resume or statement of qualifications, for services of an accounting clerk. As defined by IRS qualifications her role is that of an employee but she is treated as a consultant for IRS reporting purposes – resulting in no health benefits.1
• Expensive Monthly Retainer Costs
Sani 6 has paid its former secretary to the board a $300 monthly retainer since 1985 to consult on “district business.” This translates to roughly $72,000 over the past two decades without any documentation to support this arrangement.1
• Health Benefits for Employees Who No Longer Work for the District
Sani 6 paid $5,000 in health benefit premiums to an employee who no longer works there. Plus, Sani 6 paid Medicare reimbursements to spouses who had withdrawn from the plan and were therefore no longer eligible.1
• Part-Time Work at Full-Time Pay
The District’s employees work a 25-hour work week, instead of 40 – but get full-time pay. This translates to sanitation workers making $36/hour and supervisors $52/hour. The district doesn’t require employees to record work hours even though they are hourly employees. In addition, there is no written policy on how to process overtime payments. Because of this there is no documentation to justify 50% of overtime pay given to the general supervisor.1
• $12,000 Yearly Fee For Lobbyist
Sani 6 pays a lobbyist $12,000 a year without documentation to support its purpose or evidence of any work product.1
• Purchase Orders Missing
Purchase order books from May 7th – June 10th, 2003 have gone missing. In addition, purchase order descriptions are vague and pricing information is not required.1
• Vehicle Usage Waste
General supervisor Michael Petrocelli was given a 2008 Ford Escape (to take home) to “follow garbage trucks and drop off containers.” The Port Washington garbage district Commissioner Douglas Augenthaler opposes this practice stating, “If there’s a problem, I hear about it. I’m not aware of any (private) company out there that pays for people’s commutes.” 2
1 Nassau County Comptroller Audit, Financial Audit of Sanitary District No. 6–Town of Hempstead, 12 October 2005
2 Peddie, Sandra. “Special Districts No One’s Watching: Quietly Spending LI Tax Dollars.” Newsday December 9, 2007
Connect with us on 