Politics on the Hudson

Last night the Yonkers City Council issued a resolution supporting Yonkers Inspector General Philip Zisman in the lawsuit filed against him by the Yonkers Board of Education.

The council also directed its attorney to join the lawsuit, filed on Sept. 29 in the state Supreme Court. The Board of Education seeks a ruling on its position that Zisman is not entitled to audit the district’s books because the schools are a separate entity from the city.

This morning Councilman John Murtagh, R-5th District, informed The Journal News that the council also deferred action on approximately $26 million in bonding for fixing the district’s crumbling facilities until the dispute over Zisman’s authority to audit the district’s finances is resolved.

Here is the resolution adopted last night:AGENDA
CITYCOUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009

ADDENDUM
RESOLUTION
14A.       BY COUNCILMEMBER MURTAGH; COUNCIL PRESIDENT LESNICK; MAJORITY LEADER ANNABI; MINORITY LEADER McLAUGHLIN, COUNCIL MEMBERS McDOW; GRONOWSKI AND BARBATO:
WHEREAS the Inspector General of the City of Yonkers is charged with the duty of conducting objective and independent audits, reviews and investigations relating to Yonkers City Government and the administration of the Yonkers Public Schools in order to:
•    promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness
•    detect and deter fraud, waste, and abuse
•    promote ethical, fiscal and legal accountability
and;
WHEREAS the focus of the Office’s efforts is, first and foremost, to help promote effective, efficient and honest government administration and to aid in the prevention of conduct that undermines the integrity of government and;
WHEREAS the Inspector General has attempted in the proper exercise of his duties to gather financial and other information from the City of Yonkers Board of Education and the Board of Education has refused to cooperate with the Inspector General in the performance of his duties and;

WHEREAS in the proper exercise of his duties the Inspector General issued a subpoena to the Board of Education which subpoena the Board has unilaterally disregarded in violation of New York State law and;

WHEREAS the Yonkers Board of Education has now commenced litigation against the Office of the Inspector General seeking a declaration that it is not subject to the oversight of the Inspector General;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Yonkers hereby directs its legal counsel explore appropriate steps provided for by the New York Civil Practice Laws and Rules and such other statutes as may govern, to intervene on behalf of the City Council in said litigation in support of the Inspector General and against the attempt by the Board of Education to prevent public scrutiny and disclosure of its use of taxpayer money.

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