Press Center

October 20, 2009

 

Brookhaven Ethics Board:
Lesko Wrongly Steered Contracts & Taxpayer Dollars to Democratic Contributors & Operatives
Lesko First-Ever Sitting Supervisor to Have Ethics Opinion Issued Against Him

Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko wrongly steered a public contract for the town’s amphitheater to Democratic political operatives and contributors who were employees of the Town during the Foley administration. It is the first time an ethics board decision has ever been issued against a sitting supervisor for actions taken while in office.

"This is a dark day in Brookhaven, when an ethics opinion admonishes a sitting supervisor for using taxpayer dollars to reward his own contributors and political operatives," said Martin Haley, the Republican/Conservative candidate for town supervisor. "In just six short months, Mark Lesko has failed the office of Town Supervisor. He came in bragging of his legal background, while acting as if he is above the law. Mark Lesko has cast a dark shadow over the Office of Town Supervisor."

Brookhaven Ethics Board Opinion #168, issued in response to an inquiry filed on October 7, addresses the hiring of Sidney Bowne Management under the principals of Jack Schnirman and Thomas Melito, former employees/consultants of the Town of Brookhaven.

Their firm was hired under a Professional Services Requisition (PSR) for work on an amphitheater project by the Supervisors office, despite other firms having more experience having already been approached to perform the work. The PSR by the Supervisor’s office was for just under $5,000 - the threshold amount which would have required a resolution to by passed by the entire town board at a public meeting.

The opinion was rendered at the last meeting of the ethics board.

"It's because of actions like this that our residents and taxpayers continue to lose confidence in our government," said Richard Johannesen, a past chairman of the Suffolk County Ethics Commission and co-author of the Town Ethics Code that tightened ethical conduct in Brookhaven. "It is deeply troubling that a sitting supervisor would engage in the very behavior that the code was amended to prevent.”



The ethics board found that hiring Sidney Bowne Management would be a violation of Section 28-9 A&B of the Town Code, which prohibits former employees and consultants from working on projects which they personally participated in while employees of the Town.

The Brookhaven Ethics Committee is controlled by a majority of appointments under the Democrat-controlled Supervisor's Office, including the appointment of the Ethics Board Chairman.

Over the course of the last several years, Schnirman and Melito have contributed almost $1500 to Democrat campaigns. Schnirman served as the campaign manger and deputy supervisor under Foley.

This ethics opinion admonishing Lesko is the latest in a series of ethical and criminal scandals undertaken by Democrat officials. Earlier this year, the Suffolk District Attorney indicted sitting Democrat Town Clerk Pamela Betheil for allegedly bilking newlyweds for more than $40,000 in marriage fees.

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RESPONSE TO ETHICS INQUIRY:

The Ethics Board received your letter of October 7 regarding the awarding of a contract to Sidney Bowne Management under the principals of Jack Schnirman and Thomas Melito, former employees/consultants of the Town.

It is the opinion of the Ethics Board that hiring Mr. Schnirman and Mr. Melito to work with the amphitheater project would be a violation of section 28-9 A. and B. of the Town Code which prohibits former employees and consultants from working on projects in which the employee/consultant personally participated during Town service. They should refrain from working on the amphitheater project for a 2-year period which, in this case, would be until February 2010, based on a hiring date of February 2008 at Sidney Bowne Management.

The Ethics Board will forward you a formal opinion letter shortly.

Thank you for contacting the Ethics Board. Sarah
Sarah Battaglia
Executive Director, Board of Ethics
Office of the Supervisor
Brookhaven Town Hall
One Independence Hill
Farmingville, NY 11738
Phone: (631) 451-9074
sbattaglia@brookhaven.org
www.brookhaven.org