By Emi Endo
Newsday (New York)
Copyright 2006 Newsday, Inc.
Gov. George Pataki has signed into law a package of bills intended to improve transparency and accountability in volunteer firehouses throughout the state.
The laws mandate annual independent audits for fire districts with budgets of more than $200,000, calls for fire districts to adopt codes of ethics and broadens conflict-of-interest reporting. They also require new accountability for out-of-state travel, construction reserve funds and independent fire companies.
The legislation, which was supported by fire service leaders, follows a Newsday series last fall that highlighted extravagant spending, mismanagement and weak oversight in the volunteer fire system.
Assemb. Robert Sweeney, chairman of the Assembly’s local governments committee, said he was pleased the governor approved the legislation, saying it would “protect both the public’s interest and additionally support the fire service and support the outstanding job that they have been doing.”
Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst) worked with emergency response groups to draft the proposals. Out of 13 bills he and others introduced, 11 became law last month. The other two bids, which would have banned taxpayer-funded liquor at fire installation dinners and permitted removing fire commissioners for dereliction of duty, only made it through the Assembly.
Pataki also has approved one of three bills aimed at improving firefighters’ service award programs by establishing a Web site making it easier for fire officials to comparison-shop among providers. Newsday reported earlier this year that the programs frequently are underfunded. The other two bills await Pataki’s decision.