COIB Settlements Announced

 

The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (the “Board”) announces two settlements involving employees of the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”).

 

Prohibited Ownership Interest. The husband of the Superintendent of Queens South High Schools owns 50% of a firm that is run jointly with and does business under the name of another firm (collectively, “The Firm”). Because the Firm does business with DOE, the Superintendent sought and obtained the Chancellor’s written permission and a Board order enabling her to retain her otherwise prohibited imputed ownership interest in the Firm. In its order, the Board advised the Superintendent that the Firm may not solicit or do business with schools in districts the Superintendent oversees. Notwithstanding this restriction, the Firm obtained purchase orders totaling $32,525.16 from three DOE schools in districts under the Superintendent’s supervision. To resolve her violation of the prohibition against public servants having an ownership interest in a firm doing business with their agency, the Superintendent agreed to pay a $5,000 fine. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (DOE) 1.”

 

Misuse of City Position. A Family Worker solicited and accepted two $1,000 loans from the parent of a Pre-K student who she assisted in the classroom. In a public disposition, the now-former Family Worker acknowledged that she had violated the conflicts of interest law’s prohibition against public servants using their City position for personal gain, for which the Board imposed no fine. In determining that no fine was warranted, the Board considered that the former Family Worker had limited authority over the student and that she fully repaid the parent prior to the commencement of the Board’s enforcement action. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (DOE) 2.”