By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-823194.mp3
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Comptroller has joined some lawmakers in questioning the appropriateness of a contract granted to a company partly owned by the county executive.
County legislators say the $90,000 contract granted to Volland Electric should have come to them first for approval. The Executive Director for the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority wonders about that too. That's why he called the legislature when the contract showed up on his desk first. Critics say it looks bad because County Executive Chris Collins is a minority owner of Volland. Comptroller Mark Poloncarz said they are looking into the matter.
There are three things the comptroller's office will be investigating. One - if the contract should have gone to the legislature first for approval. Second - they'll look at the bid process to make sure Volland was the lowest responsible bidder. And third - were the proper procedures for approval followed. If so, Poloncarz said there is nothing wrong with Volland getting county business.
Volland Electric did hold contracts with the county before Collins became the county's chief executive. But some lawmakers and some competing businesses question whether it is ethical for those contracts to continue.
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