Sewer Authority Commissioners Pass Stringent Ethics, Nepotism Policies

 commissioners this week  that would prohibit supervisors from overseeing family members employed at the authority.  

In the first board meeting since eight men—many related—were arrested in connection with a sewerage authority scandal that allegedly netted more than $100,000 in stolen public resources, commissioners agreed to approve three resolutions that could change the hiring process of CSA employees and put a tighter hold on employees’ side work.

“It was something we all felt strongly about,” said CSA Chairman Richard Strobel during the authority's meeting Monday, referring also to ethics policy revisions.

All five commissioners voted to approve revisions to the board’s anti-nepotism policy. Employees of the CSA cannot be related by blood or marriage to any supervisor or CSA commissioner.

In the event of a conflict, such as if one employee were now related to an adviser through marriage, one of the relatives would have 90 days to resign his or her position.

Nearly 15 interviews are already scheduled to hire for three positions, about four weeks after the CSA’s superintendent, assistant superintendent, and three employees were arrested on .

A CSA seasonal employee, a subcontractor and a non-employee were also arrested.

Commissioner Carmen Saginario suggested a disclaimer be put on future applications, letting potential hires know of the board’s anti-nepotism policy.

“I want to make sure we don’t get caught flat-footed,” Saginario said. “They should know our policy.”

An amendment to the ethics code was also passed. Prior to approval, the code said no local governing officer or employee shall use the position for the purpose of securing financial gain for himself or any family or business he is associated with, according to board solicitor Brad Smith.

The code now expands that definition of family to include anybody related by blood or marriage, not just a spouse or child, as it previously read.

“The existing law is too lenient,” Smith said before the vote.

A third resolution was passed unanimously establishing pre-approval for outside employment. All CSA employees now need to seek written approval if they wish to work side jobs.

All three resolutions were effective immediately.

“We want to be the model agency for how to conduct business in a manner that’s ethical and proper,” Strobel said. 

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