Leather seats for the District Attorney

Eight cylinders, too

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY — In this time of recession, some expenditures that may not have gotten a second look are now catching the attention of Sullivan County lawmakers.

Take, for instance, the new car being purchased for the district attorney. At a meeting at the government center on February 5, legislators were asked to approve a $27,650 expenditure for a Ford Explorer for the district attorney. Lawmaker David Sager noted that the car came equipped with four-wheel drive, a leather interior and an eight-cylinder engine. He said, “I understand the four-wheel drive, but why couldn’t we get a cloth interior and a six-cylinder engine.” It could have saved the taxpayers hundreds of dollars. Sager said the issue had nothing to do with district attorney Stephen Lungen, who is leaving office at the end of the year; the car will go to his successor.

It turns out, however, that the money for the vehicle actually comes from a forfeiture fund, funds collected from criminal enterprises, which is specifically used to buy equipment for enforcement.

Another matter that concerned lawmakers was that the low bid came from a Ford dealer in Victor, and was just $290 cheaper than a bid for the same vehicle from a dealer in the county. Under law, the county is required to take the low bid.

Assistant county attorney Tom Cawley said the car could not be put out for re-bid in order to allow the local dealer to beat the other price, but it could be re-bid if the purpose were to lower the price in general.

After discussing the matter, county chair Jonathan Rouis said, “The district attorney was fairly emphatic that this is the vehicle that meets his requirements.”

Sager said he was not going to fight the matter but would like to see changes related to this sort of purchase in the future.

All the lawmakers voted in favor of purchasing the Ford Explorer, with the leather interior and the eight-cylinder engine, with the exception of Kathy LaBuda, who voted no.

According to industry websites, the vehicle is rated at 13-city/19-highway miles per gallon of gas.