New York City Conflicts of Interest Board Order Announced

 

The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (the “Board”) announces a Board Order (attached as “COIB Order”) concerning a now-former employee of the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”).

 

Misuse of City Resources. DOE provides support to its students in temporary housing (“STH”) through social workers, family assistants, and enrichment programs. The Queens Regional Manager for STH took her daughter, who was not STH, on three free excursions intended to enrich the educations of STH: to a performance of the Broadway show “Stomp;” to the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort; and to Niagara Falls.

 

After a full hearing, New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (“OATH”), Administrative Law Judge Kevin Casey issued a Report and Recommendation that the Board adopted in full. The Board imposed the recommended fine of $7,500 on the now-former Regional Manager. In recommending this fine, Judge Casey noted that Respondent was a manager and that she had failed to take responsibility for her violations.

 

The fine is to be paid within 30 days of the date of the Order. This is the fourth case the Board has resolved with DOE employees who took their family members on trips and other excursions intended for STH.

COIB is the independent, non-mayoral City agency charged with interpreting, administering, and enforcing the City's Conflicts of Interest Law, Annual Disclosure Law, Lobbyist Gift Law, Affiliated Not-for-Profits Law, and Legal Defense Trusts Law.