By Elizabeth Moore
Newsday (New York)
Copyright 2006 Newsday, Inc.
By the close of the legislative session Friday, Albany lawmakers had laid hands on a time-honored political third rail, approving 14 bills aimed at improving transparency and accountability in volunteer firehouses throughout New York.
But some things are still sacred: Taxpayer-funded liquor will remain a part of annual dinners, after a bill to require “reasonable” spending at such dinners could find no sponsor in the Senate.
A series of bills drafted by Democratic Assemb. Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst) and backed by fire service leaders in the wake of a Newsday investigative series last fall will require annual independent audits for fire districts with budgets exceeding $200,000.
Fire districts must adopt codes of ethics and widen conflict-of-interest reporting to include more fire officials. And new accountability for out-of-state travel, construction reserve funds and independent fire companies will be law, barring a veto by Gov. George Pataki.
A second package of Sweeney bills approved by lawmakers aims to get better value for the firefighters’ prime benefit, their service award programs, which a Newsday review this spring found are frequently underfunded.
The measures, which passed despite efforts by some insurance agents to stir firefighter opposition, require regular audits, provide comparison-shopping data on a public Web site and offer a state-run alternative to the private programs now available.
A bill calling for a state task force to study problems with the benefits passed the Assembly but stalled in the Senate.
“Our local volunteer fire departments do an outstanding job in their commitment to the protection of life and property,” said Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), a sponsor of several of the bills, who said the measures will “improve their daily operations and heighten the public’s trust in their expertise.”
Sweeney credited fire organizations with driving the legislation this year.
“We developed the bills together and we put them forward together,” he said. “That encouraged members in both houses to be supportive.”
Sweeney said no one in the Senate has explained why they wouldn’t back the measure to rein in spending on alcohol and installation dinners, despite support from fire leadership.
“But I’m not going to quibble over a bill or two. ... A year ago, if we had been talking about this stuff, do you think we’d be in this position?”
North Massapequa fire commissioner Frank Nocerino, treasurer of the state fire districts association, said he knew of no opposition to the bill.
His own fire district went ahead with its usual installation dinner at the Milleridge Inn this year, which he said cost taxpayers about $41,000 and included liquor.
But next year, he says he plans to look into savings — within limits.
“You can always trim here or there, but not take away the dinner for the chiefs and officers,” he said. “It’s our fiduciary responsibility to make sure we do the right thing for them.”
The proposed regulations
Highlights of fire service accountability bills:
Fire districts must have annual independent audits, as school districts do.
Fire districts must adopt ethics codes, disclose potential conflicts of interest.
Fire districts can’t set up capital reserve funds without a public vote.
An annual “budget day” with public hearings. Hearings and special elections must be publicized on firehouse Web sites and reader boards.
Mandatory financial training for fire commissioners.
Out-of-state seminar travel must be certified as necessary and reported to the state.
Firefighter pension programs must be audited, with an optional state-run plan and comparison-shopping Web site.
Not approved: Installation dinner costs must be “reasonable” and tax money cannot go to alcohol.