Updated: Thursday, 26 Feb 2009, 6:34 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 26 Feb 2009, 6:32 PM EST
Posted by Rich Newberg
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Erie County comptroller is stepping up his investigation of a bid submitted by a company partially owned by the county executive.
Chris Collins says everything was above board, but is there also an ethics question involved here?
News 4 is Asking 4 You.
Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz asked, "Was there any impropriety in issuing of this contract?"
That's what auditors from the county comptroller's office are trying to determine, based on a tip and documentation from a "whistle blower."
Volland Electric, a company in which County Executive Chris Collins has a minority interest, was the lowest bidder for a contract to repair motors for the sewer system.
There was no disclosure that it was a Collins company was made to the legislature.
Collins told News 4 he didn't even know a bid was submitted, said he was a victim of "gotcha" politics, and called for a quick end to the inquiry.
Collins said, "The Comptroller needs to wind up it's investigation tomorrow. The
Legislature should be issuing an apology to the purchasing department and our union workers as they have implied there was wrongdoing here, which didn't happen."
Poloncarz said, "I think at this point concerning the county executive's involvement with his business, he probably would be best to not say anything. At this point my office is the independent watchdog, not him."
At the same time the whistle blower came forward, the control board contacted the legislature asking if the Volland bid had been presented for legislative approval.
Lawmakers had no knowledge of it and say, ethically, Collins should have disclosed his involvement in the company.
Lynn Marinelli (D-Legislature Chair) said, "Frankly, it should have been that administration to say that the chief executive happened to be a stakeholder in this company too."
Collins said, "I'm not going to play these games with these folks, when, as I said on this one, I didn't even know they bid it. I shouldn't know. I'm not involved in the business on a day to day level."
The legislature is getting a legal opinion whether it has the right to approve contracts like the one involving Volland Electric.
Chris Collins says twenty-two similar contracts have not needed legislative approval in the past.
Meanwhile, Comptroller Poloncarz says he hopes to present his findings some time next week.
