By Erik German
Newsday (New York)
Copyright 2006 Newsday, Inc.
Selden Fire District officials said yesterday they would review travel-reimbursement policies in the wake of a Newsday story disclosing that Suffolk prosecutors have undertaken a criminal investigation of spending by Selden fire commissioners at out-of-state conventions.
Prosecutors have been investigating the district since August, fire officials said, scrutinizing how five elected commissioners are accounting for hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars they reported spending at dozens of conferences in Las Vegas and other cities over the past 10 years.
Commissioners acknowledge routinely writing expense receipts on business cards and spending portions of their food allowance on alcohol, a travel expense that cannot be reimbursed in New York State.
Selden officials attend three to five conventions per year that last up to seven days. Several Selden officials have said each commissioner receives a $1,700 advance for food and incidentals alone; airfare, hotel and conference fees usually are prepaid by the department.
James Spatafora, chairman of Selden’s Board of Fire Commissioners, said yesterday the board would re-examine expense policies at its Nov. 17 meeting. He has defended conventions as a necessary source of training.
“We are looking at the $1,700 expenditures for food money and that should be changed next week,” Spatafora said. He declined to provide further details.
Some Selden residents reacted with aggravation to news of fire commissioners’ extravagant meal expenses — receipts obtained by Newsday show a $106 steak dinner for one person, for example.
“I think they should be eating bologna sandwiches out of a cooler when they go,” said Paul LeCorre, 30, a chef who said he’s never been to Las Vegas and resents fire officials eating expensive food there on his dime.
“I’m eating hamburgers when I travel,” he said.
Other Selden residents, like Julie Cianciolo, 59, drew a distinction between department volunteers and elected commissioners who levy and spend fire district tax money.
“The department, they do a lot of good,” Cianciolo said. “But we’re paying a lot of money and it’s wasted.”
Selden households pay on average $371 in yearly fire taxes.
Resident Danielle McCaffrey, 22, who said she has friends in the department, is reserving judgement until the district attorney’s investigation concludes.
“If that’s how they’re spending the money, it’s not right,” McCaffrey said. “If it’s true, that’s insane.”