Politics & Policy

BOL votes to require financial audits

The county Board of Legislators on Sept. 8 voted 15-1 to amend the county”™s code of ethics to require an independent audit of the annual financial disclosure statements filed by elected and appointed public officials.

Financial statements will now be reviewed by an independent consultant appointed by the county Board of Ethics, whereas previously they were filed without a formal procedure of review, according to a release from the board.

“Taxpayers have the right to expect that government is operated in a transparent and ethical manner with public officials acting in the taxpayers”™ interest and not conflicted by personal interests,” said county legislator John Nonna, D-Pleasantville, chairman of the BOL Legislation Committee, in the release.

The revised code of ethics law comes as the result of an agreement with the state comptroller”™s office.

DEC releases revised fracking report

The state Department of Environmental Conservation on Sept. 7 released a revised supplemental generic environmental impact statement (SGEIS) on the prospect of lifting the hydraulic fracturing moratorium.

The revision calls for the state to lift the moratorium, but with a number of conditions aimed at regulating the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” a process by which natural gas can be removed from underground shale deposits.

The 1,000-page document is open to public comment between now and Dec. 12.

Utilities questioned on Irene response

Members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators last week questioned representatives of New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) and Con Edison about the companies”™ perceived slow response to Tropical Storm Irene last month.

“It was important for us to meet with the utility companies to find out more about their storm preparations and responses ”“ what went wrong and how storm response, power restoration and communications with residents can be improved for the future,” said legislator and board majority leader Peter Harckham, D-Katonah, in a release.

Legislators and utility company officials agreed to meet again in coming weeks to pinpoint areas where the response could have been more efficient.