COIB Settlements Announced

 

The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (the “Board”) announces two settlements.

 

Misuse of City Position. A Principal for the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”) hired her sister as a teacher at her school and supervised her sister’s employment for one year. The Principal interviewed her sister by herself and without interviewing any other candidates. After hiring her sister, the Principal reassigned her from teaching to non-teaching duties; she continued to receive a full-time teacher’s salary. The now-former Principal, who is currently a Citywide Director of Social and Emotional Learning and Academic Integration at DOE, agreed to pay a $5,000 fine for misusing her City position to benefit her sister. In setting the penalty, the Board considered that DOE had demoted the Principal, resulting in an annual salary reduction of over $20,000. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (DOE).”

 

Misuse of City Position; Superior-Subordinate Financial Relationship. A Custodian at the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (“DCAS”) requested and received two loans totaling $330 from a DCAS subordinate. The Custodian repaid the loans several months later. By seeking the loans, the Custodian misused his City position; by receiving the loans, he entered into a prohibited financial relationship with his subordinate. In a joint settlement with DCAS and the Board, the Custodian agreed to the DCAS-imposed penalty of a three-day suspension, valued at approximately $540. The Board determined that the penalty imposed by DCAS was sufficient and sought no additional penalty. The Disposition is attached as “COIB-DCAS Disposition.”