Big Celeste Fan
08-17-2005, 06:42 AM
Report: Suozzi knew of clerk payment issues
BY CELESTE HADRICK
STAFF WRITER
Nassau County had early warning this spring that something was wrong with the way seasonal clerks were getting paid and could have averted its current payroll scandal, according to a county watchdog.
But Legislative Budget Review Director Eric Naughton said yesterday the administration of County Executive Thomas Suozzi took no corrective action after learning in early March that seasonal clerk Robert Cataldo had been paid for working in the county parks department while he was actually on a European vacation.
Although Cataldo later acknowledged he had been in Europe for 10 days last summer, his time sheets show he signed in and out at different times every work day during that period. He reported working a total 89.5 hours for the two weeks that included July 4th.
Naughton noted the time sheet, like many others, was not signed or dated by Cataldo's supervisor, Deputy County Executive Michael Klein, as required by county policy.
Naughton's report comes after District Attorney Denis Dillon last week charged Showma Shamapande, another former parks seasonal clerk hired and supervised by Klein, with defrauding taxpayers by submitting false time sheets between March 17 and May 26. Klein resigned under pressure in June.
"Had the county taken appropriate due diligence measures at that time, the alleged defrauding by Mr. Shamapande might have been prevented," Naughton concluded.
Shamapande pleaded not guilty and Klein's lawyer said his client is innocent of any criminal wrongdoing.
Dillon's spokeswoman said this week that "all matters relating to the timesheets are being investigated," including Cataldo's pay records. Cataldo did not return calls for comment.
Suozzi aide Arda Nazerian said the county has tightened its time-and-leave system. "In every organization there will be problems and people who try to scam the system."
But Republican legislative spokesman Ed Ward said Suozzi promised reforms more than a year ago during a different scandal. "How many times does Mr. Suozzi have to be reminded that his corrective measures are not working?" Ward said.
Suozzi hired Klein in 2003 to oversee Nassau's parks. Klein brought in several seasonal clerks, including Shamapande and Cataldo, who had been an aide to New York City Councilman Joseph Addabbo. Cataldo, who was paid $25.50 an hour, resigned in mid-December and now works as chief of staff for state Sen. Diane Savino (D-Brooklyn, Staten Island).
After Newsday inquired about Cataldo's vacation, administrators sent him a letter on March 1, saying he "may have been paid" for days he did not work and asked him to review his records, Naughton said. The next day, Cataldo sent the county a personal check for $1,415.25 along with a copy of a round-trip American Airlines ticket that he said he used to determine the hours to be repaid.
Cataldo's check bounced. He replaced it with a bank check on April 8, Naughton said
BY CELESTE HADRICK
STAFF WRITER
Nassau County had early warning this spring that something was wrong with the way seasonal clerks were getting paid and could have averted its current payroll scandal, according to a county watchdog.
But Legislative Budget Review Director Eric Naughton said yesterday the administration of County Executive Thomas Suozzi took no corrective action after learning in early March that seasonal clerk Robert Cataldo had been paid for working in the county parks department while he was actually on a European vacation.
Although Cataldo later acknowledged he had been in Europe for 10 days last summer, his time sheets show he signed in and out at different times every work day during that period. He reported working a total 89.5 hours for the two weeks that included July 4th.
Naughton noted the time sheet, like many others, was not signed or dated by Cataldo's supervisor, Deputy County Executive Michael Klein, as required by county policy.
Naughton's report comes after District Attorney Denis Dillon last week charged Showma Shamapande, another former parks seasonal clerk hired and supervised by Klein, with defrauding taxpayers by submitting false time sheets between March 17 and May 26. Klein resigned under pressure in June.
"Had the county taken appropriate due diligence measures at that time, the alleged defrauding by Mr. Shamapande might have been prevented," Naughton concluded.
Shamapande pleaded not guilty and Klein's lawyer said his client is innocent of any criminal wrongdoing.
Dillon's spokeswoman said this week that "all matters relating to the timesheets are being investigated," including Cataldo's pay records. Cataldo did not return calls for comment.
Suozzi aide Arda Nazerian said the county has tightened its time-and-leave system. "In every organization there will be problems and people who try to scam the system."
But Republican legislative spokesman Ed Ward said Suozzi promised reforms more than a year ago during a different scandal. "How many times does Mr. Suozzi have to be reminded that his corrective measures are not working?" Ward said.
Suozzi hired Klein in 2003 to oversee Nassau's parks. Klein brought in several seasonal clerks, including Shamapande and Cataldo, who had been an aide to New York City Councilman Joseph Addabbo. Cataldo, who was paid $25.50 an hour, resigned in mid-December and now works as chief of staff for state Sen. Diane Savino (D-Brooklyn, Staten Island).
After Newsday inquired about Cataldo's vacation, administrators sent him a letter on March 1, saying he "may have been paid" for days he did not work and asked him to review his records, Naughton said. The next day, Cataldo sent the county a personal check for $1,415.25 along with a copy of a round-trip American Airlines ticket that he said he used to determine the hours to be repaid.
Cataldo's check bounced. He replaced it with a bank check on April 8, Naughton said