Fraud and Abuse By The County Executive?

This morning at the public hearing on the budget I spoke about three items of concern. One was the irresponsible way some contracts are made without any knowledge of what the contract involves.  The second was to ask about whether the county had pursued any efforts to have part of their airport maintenance expense reimbursed by the state, as the city has.

The third thing was a simple matter of the County Executive using taxpayer money to reward her friends who are members of the County Legislative Body.  

On 24 April 2014 a budget committee meeting was held. Commissioner Coleman, who is on the Budget Committee but only attended 2 and ½ of the six meeting held, was absent from that meeting and Commissioner Campbell sat in for her. After the meeting was adjourned Commissioner Coleman walks in and goes straight to the county executive. Mrs. Vanzant then writes Commissioner Coleman’s name on the sign in sheet and makes a notation that both Commissioners Campbell and Coleman were to receive thirty dollars each for the meeting. This was not only unethical on the part of the County Executive but also Commissioner Coleman, who was aware or should have been aware this was inappropriate but said nothing, it is also a violation of Commission rules , and is criminal in that it constitutes fraud and misappropriation of taxpayer funds.

My comments, not surprisingly, were met with dead silence.