An “impulsive nature” to Gary Kriss’ spending – Updated
The Westchester Board of Legisaltors’ Special Committee on Internal Controls and Procedures used much of their meeting today to take a closer look at the thousands of dollars in controversial purchases made by top aide Gary Kriss.
Committee members said it was premature to say whether Kriss used any of the books, software or electronics he purchased for governmental or personal use. But they also said its obvious that county purchasing and inventory procedures were not followed.
“What it seems like overall is that there is an impulsive nature to the purchases,” said Legislator Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers, the committee chairman. “In other words – we need to have this item and we need to have this item quickly.’”
Jenkins said the controversy, which has resulted in a probe by the District Attorney’s Office, also points out the need for the Board of Legislators to have a full-time chief of staff to better keep track of the staff’s purchasing activities.
“There are inherent difficulties in managing a staff where the department head, the highest level person or the responsible person, is not a full time person,” Jenkins.
UPDATE – Legislator Jenkins called this morning to stress that the chief of staff position is needed to oversee the overall management of the board and its staff, not just the purchasing operations.
| 
Email This
Advertisements
Uh, no, you do not need a full-time chief of staff to keep track of purchasing activities. How about a “Commissioner of Staff Purchasing Activities” at $175,000 per year with health, vacation, and retirement benefits, an SUV and a staff of ten? You can throw the few remaining Republicans out of the building entirely to make room for them. This will certainly help to curtail any “impulsive natures.”
how about eliminating the board..and the perks..and
eliminating the county exec and the 9th floor..and
paying a manger to manage the 85% of state mandated
costs that westchester is obligated to pay….
Good points by the Consultant. That is the answer.
Ed, you have missed what might be going on. They could be laying the groundwork for a “diminished capacity” defense. I can hear it now—“The poor guy has an illness, obsessive-compulsive disorder. He needs help and sympathy, not any legal problems. Give him a big disability pension.”
Never say “never” with that bunch.
I read into that, but figured they couldn’t possibly be looking for a “psychological” out. I thought it was just poorly phrased rhetoric, but you might be right.
They may claim he sits around all day playing “Your Cheating Heart” and “Money Can’t Buy Me Love.” :)
Or the old Buck Owens classic: ‘They’re Gonna Put Me in the Movies…They’re Gonna Make a Big Star out of Me.’ Also known as ‘Act Naturally.’
Wasn’t one of the recommendations from the Compensation Committee was to restore the Chief of Staff role? The view from the Compensation Committee seemed to be that this role was necessary.
This blog entry reports that committee members stated county policy was not followed, Sounds like the foundation is being layed for termination not sympathy.
It has always been my understanding from both military and corporate life that a chief- of- staff is not an ombudsman, nor is he/she autonomous in any respect. A COS works under the auspices and at the pleasure of a flag officer or a a corporate executive. What I ask is if this proposed “chief-of-staff” would have any duties other than performing as a lieutenant to the chief executive, who, presumably would be the Chairman.
The suggestion to hire a full time chief of staff is ridiculous. We don’t need a full time chief of staff. The Board already has a Clerk. WHen I was a Legislator the clerk acted as the chief of staff.
I would like to suggest that we consider downsizing the Legislature—from 17 members to no more than 7. The county should also reduce the number of staff assistants working for the Legislature. We could easily save millions!
PAUL FEINER
former Westchester County Legislator
Paul Feiner—No argument there. Makes good sense. And the Consultant’s idea of eliminating the county exec and instead having a county manager with a much-reduced staff also sounds positive.
Ed—Perfect choice with “Act Naturally.” I know Buck Owens did it originally, but I’m more familiar with the Beatles’ version, with Ringo on lead.
I respectfully appreciate Mr. Feiner’s comments about fiscal integrity, but can’t help but to notice how he and others have taxed their dazed constituents into a state of shoulder-shrugging ennui.
Mr. Kriss led his life at the leisure of the Board, for many years. He got comfortable, and they suggested, implicitly, “Hey, there’s no oversight, Gary. Do what you want.”
Kriss’s supervisors, regardless of political party, should resign, if they have any honor.
I mean, throw them ALL out.
Or, perhaps: just let the DA’s office investigate all legislators—a corrupt group, with few exceptions.
There is no need for a Westchester Board of Legislators. The temptation to steal is human nature. They are worthless. Get rid of them. And cancel their pensions.
GO GET THEM FEINER!!!!
As the one of us here who voted for Proposition 13, thirty years ago this month, let me suggest that elected officials are held hostage to “unfunded mandates” and “entitlements.” Only we the voters can change the system. That’s why Paul was forced to raise Greenburgh Town taxes. The Greenburgh budget isn’t his personal expense account. The Supervisor is absolutely “right-on” in his comments about the Westchester Legislature.
As a westchester employee, I have not seen one person in a top level position Disciplined for anything, We dont have an inspector General and any investigative body in a county dept only answers to the Commissioner or his designee, Therfore, we have NO oversight except possibly the Public integrity unit at the DAs office but thats also Political as I am sure they answer to the DA.. We need an Independant body like an Inspector General. Yonkers has one and although I have not heard much in the news about Phil Zisman, He has nailed more employees than Westchester. But however, The County Attorneys office has no problem with filing charges against low level emplyees because the Commissioners send the information to the County Attorneys Offfice..(although, I am not sure if the charges are true or false) Who is watching the Commissioners or the upper level staff? Im sure it is not Schwartz. The County will continue to waste money…. Set an example of Kriss and can him…
Mike: They’ll always go after the helpless little guys rather than confront the supervisors who let the graft occur. That’s the grist of the Kriss matter.
The Westchester D.A Janet Difiore should look into all the county legislators for corruption, but we all know she will not, becuase in my opinion she is just as corrupt or maybe even a whole lot more corrupt than they are. Janet Difiore should start looking at her self and her office first and if she did there would be very few people left in her office, they would all be locked up in prison where they belong. What a bunch of criminals pretending to be crime fighters. What a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comparing Janet Difiore to a real prosecutor (crime fighter)
is like comparing Charles Manson to Mother Theresa. Do you get it. Now lets fix this mess.
Ron: I understand your alienation, real well. But, let’s get perspective.
Janet DiFiore is as uncorrupt a person as you are likely to find. She is confronted on a daily basis by people (citizens) with a lot of politics, and self interests, and there are people trying to pull her one way or another—neither way in the interest of justice.
I have no financial interest in this outcome. Nor any personal interest. Nor do I have any interests before our justice department.
The District Attorney has enough wherewithal to walk away from that job at any time. She could go live on a beach somewhere if she chose to do so.
I am a Republican, and worked for her election to her position as DA. Before that, I helped in her campaigns for Judge.
Now, she is a Democrat. So what? She is the same diligent person she was when she was a Republican.
Politics makes for a rotten world. Doesn’t it?
I’ll vote for Janet DiFiore again next year.
And yeah- she IS a crimefighter. Just ask any veteran police official who’s been around Westchester County for a while.