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Lindsay, Sawicki Team Up to Tighten Controls on the Hiring of Consultants
Coming in response to recommendations by Suffolk County Comptroller Joseph Sawicki Jr., Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer William J. Lindsay’s bill designed to more carefully regulate the millions of dollars spent annually by the County to hire consultants for a huge range of services now becomes law.
“These new rules will increase the public’s confidence that consultant contracts are handled professionally so that taxpayers can be sure they are getting goods and services at the best possible price,” said PO Lindsay. “Citizens also have to be certain that there is no favoritism, fraud or corruption in the process of hiring consultants. Suffolk County spent in excess of $51.3 million last year on consultant contracts and we have to make sure the Legislature goes over those contracts with a fine-tooth comb.”
“It really is classic good government when the Legislature and the Comptroller work together on a bi-partisan basis to implement solid procedures and controls over hiring consulting firms that cost taxpayer’s in excess of $50 million per year,” said Comptroller Sawicki. “These new procedures will provide greater transparency in the process of hiring consultants and make sure that residents of Suffolk County are getting the most for their tax dollars.”
A key provision in the law to make the process more open, the Legislature will now have a voice and a vote in hiring consultants. The Presiding Officer will also name a representative to the RFP Waiver Committee; the waiver committee can bypass the usual RFP process for contracts in excess of $25,000 under certain circumstances. Waivers should only be used in pressing circumstances, and Presiding Officer Lindsay said that including the Legislature representative on the RFP review committee and waiver committee provides an important extra level of scrutiny.
Another key part of the bill empowers the Suffolk County Comptroller to draw up rules and regulations for the process of hiring consultants. All county departments and agencies that hire a consultant for any purpose will be required to file a procurement checklist with the Comptroller to ensure that all the rules and regulations have been properly followed.
“Transparency in the hiring of consultants is critically important, and these new rules will achieve the fairness, openness and economy taxpayers demand and deserve,” said PO Lindsay.
Under the old system, it was difficult if not impossible to determine the exact number and dollar amount spent on consultants by various county departments. The Legislature often was not aware of the consultants hired until the Comptroller’s office received a bill for payment. Also, each department had a different process for hiring consultants. Bu under this new law, the Comptroller’s office will develop a uniform set of procedures to be followed by all departments.
<>The new law encourages that advertising and bidding be used whenever possible, while recognizing that under state law consultants don’t have to be hired through a bidding process. Presiding Officer Lindsay believes that the County has a duty to make the consultant hiring process as transparent as possible, and that the more bids received the better it is for the County.
To contact Suffolk County Comptroller Joseph Sawicki Jr., please call 631-853-5040. |