Council Calls for Investigation Into Board of Education Labor Actions, and Audit of Board of Education

After the Common Council rejected a proposal by Mayor Sebastian Giuliano to move control of non-certified, non-education Board of Education union employees payroll to the city, Local 466 Jeff Daniels gathered union members outside Council chambers.

"Thanks for your support," Daniels began.  "Sorry guys and girls, but we aren't done fighting.  That vote you just saw shows they don't give a shit about you."

Daniels characterization was partially accurate, as the move to allow Board of Education control over city employee payroll gives Superintendent of Schools Michael Frechette what he asked the Council for in budget hearings, "control."

But there was a distinct shift in attitude among Council members about practices at the Board of Education which have been alleged in the last few weeks.  Democratic and Republican members expressed genuine concern that union employees were being treated unfairly, and that the Board of Education was not taking the union contract seriously.

Several Council members called for an independent investigation of Board of Eduation practices, and in addition, Council members called for an immediate independent audit of Board of Education finances.

Council member James Streeto, who nearly voted with the minority on the payroll change, said he anguished for days over his decision, but succumbed to a worry that the change would make the city vulnerable to huge penalties from the State Board of Education.  Still, Streeto worried aloud that by not adopting the payroll shift union city employees of the Board of Education were vulnerable.

Streeto requested that Mayor Sebastian Giuliano immediately determine how the city could conduct and investigation and audit of the Board of Education so it could be put on the June Council agenda.  Giuliano indicated that the city may have funds to conduct the investigation and audit without further council action.

"It is clear, now, absolutely clear that we need someone to look at how the (school) administration is administering those funds," said Council member Ron Klattenburg.  "And we have to hear all at the same time if those funds are being misappropriated.  I will reserve my judgment, but I have some great concerns."

"I believe there's something terribly wrong and broken between the Board of Education and the city employees who work there," said Council member Gerry Daley.  "It's hat has to be fixed.  It's a behavioral problem we have to fix."

"They are our employees," Pessina said.  "We have to do the right thing.  We have to protect them."

Council member Deborah Kleckowski urged the change in payroll.

"The superintendent never mentioned education or the kids," Kleckowski said.  "He mentioned 'control' and 'you're tying my hands.'"

Kleckowski also quoted minutes of a meeting at which Frechette warned that if payroll control was taken from him in salaries for secretaries, custodians, nursing and food service, "Michael said if budget is cut, we will take it out of those areas."

"It will make a difference, because the city will get control of administering vacation, personal time.  It is control of city employee's payroll," Kleckowski said.

An angry and agitated Jeff Daniels discussed the situation with Council member James Streeto after the meeting.  Daniels worried that union employees that he represents will be targets for retribution for stepping up and testifying against the Board of Education.

"It happened before," Daniels said.  "They targeted four positions after the city declared there would be no layoffs of city employees last year."

"Some of the things I've heard should be brought to the State's Attorney's attention," Streeto said, counseling Daniels to seek an injunction against retributive action if he brings charges against the Board of Education.

Daniels also alleged that the Board of Education has a fund of nearly $600,000, which was accumulated from money not spent from last year's budget, but carried forward for expenditures in this fiscal year, a practice he said was illegal.  Daniels pulled out a photocopy of a line item account which he said proves that the money exists, but that it has not been spent as required.

"They want to hide this from the public," Daniels said angrily.  "Now I want the microscope to go up their ass."