Dems Hold Firm to Need for Oversight on Sewage Plant Borrowing

Nassau County Democratic legislators held firm Monday and once again asked for more oversight on additional borrowing for much-needed repairs at the county sewage treatment plants as pressure intensified to get the project started.

The Democrats, led by Kevan Abrahams, D-Freeport, accused County Executive Edward Mangano's administration of reckless finances and said that borrowing has to be done in phases and needs to be closely monitored.

“We want to clearly demonstrate our commitment to rebuilding the sewage treatment plants, but we can’t ignore the other factors surrounding us,” Abrahams said. “Reckless borrowing, record debt and a poor track record by the Mangano administration in awarding contracts post-Sandy make it essential to have strict legislative oversight over this project. Our plan is to require regular updates on progress of the program and to approve the bonding when it is justified and necessary.”

The county legislature approved the borrowing of $262 million a few weeks ago for repairs at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant and the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Wantagh. Mangano had requested approximately three times more for the projects. Bay Park was severely damaged in Superstorm Sandy, causing a reported leak of 3 million gallons of wastewater into Reynolds Channel.

“The rebuilding of the sewage treatment plants would be the largest public works project in the history of Nassau County,” said Legis. Judy Jacobs, D-Woodbur). “It would be foolish and irresponsible to have no legislative oversight on this project and we can’t risk being denied federal reimbursement because of improprieties in the contracting process.”

The Democrats said that after Sandy, the legislature authorized $192 million in emergency funds for clean up and debris removal. According to a release, most of the funds were awarded in a no-bid contract to Looks Great Services, which Democrats say is under investigation for the “the manner in which the contract was procured, quality of the work performed and failure to pay proper wages to its workers.”

They also accuse Mangano of accepting more than $270,000 in campaign contributions from 39 Sandy contractors.

Mangao senior policy advisor Brian Nevin shot back, saying the Democrats are continuing to play games.

“The Democrats are seeking political cover after being criticized for limiting repairs at the sewage treatment plants,” he said. “Environmental groups and editorial boards across Long Island all know that repairs must be fully funded and completed in an expeditious manner that's void of political games. Furthermore, Nassau's debt is exactly where it was when Tom Suozzi left office. Any costs related to repairing infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Sandy will be reimbursed by the federal and state governments to the tune of 90 percent plus.”

The Democrat legislators said they will soon be touring the Bay Park sewage treatment plant, speaking with county engineers, plant workers and FEMA representatives about specifications, design, and reimbursement procedures.