Several North Shore villages are still using an engineering firm indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance in April for their part of an alleged quid pro quo bribery scheme.
The firm, D&B Engineers and Architects, was one of nine companies and 13 individuals indicted by Vance. The Woodbury-based firm is charged with first-degree corrupting the government and first-degree bribery.
After the indictment, D&B issued a statement stating the firm “instituted new policies and procedures to ensure that situations like this do not happen again.”
Policy reform includes a new employee code of conduct, a company-wide compliance program and mandatory training of all staff to ensure knowledge of applicable laws.
“All D&B clients will continue to receive the high-quality services that they have come to know and expect from the firm,” D&B said.
The indictment alleges that between 2007 and 2016 Ifeanyi “Manny” Madu, a former mid-level manager at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, leaked confidential information about city contracts pertaining to the city’s water system to certain companies and their executive offices.
The companies Madu leaked information to compensated him with “extravagant meals, gifts, hotel stays, Broadway show tickets, employment opportunities for his relatives, charitable donations to organizations he managed, and — most significantly — the award of more than $7.5 million in subcontracts to companies that were affiliated with Madu,” according to Vance.
D&B is one of the firms Madu, 56, allegedly leaked information too, according to Vance.
New Hyde Park has used D&B, the village’s official engineering firm, for years and always had a good experience, Mayor Lawrence Montreuil said.
The village will continue to use the firm, he said.
“I would wait for a result of any court case and not make any decisions based on an indictment,” Montreuil said. “I would prefer to see people receive the due process and see what happens at the end.”
Williston Park is currently using D&B for their more than $4 million dollar water tower project. Efforts to reach Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar were unavailing.
Mineola also uses the firm. Mayor Scott Strauss said the village is aware of the situation and sat down with the firm in April.
“They told us everything that was going on, and we believe that the case has to do with the New York City environmental practice, and nothing to do with anything on Long Island or Mineola,” Strauss said. “They provide us with superb service, and believe they continue to do so.”
Strauss said the village will watch the case closely and take any further developments into consideration.
Floral Park regularly uses the firm, and is currently using them for it’s Locust Street road reconstruction project, which many residents are angry over due to it’s removal of old Oak Trees. Efforts to reach Floral Park Mayor Dominick Longobardi were unavailing.
Plandome Heights has said they are not using the firm at this time.
Plandome Manor officials said the firm was used in the past, but is not currently using the firm for any recent jobs.
Munsey Park officials said the firm is not in the village’s vendor list.
Sands Point has engaged with the firm to provide services to renovate the Water Department building, and replace a generator at Village Hall.
Sands Point Mayor Ed Adler said at an April meeting that the firm’s legal issues stemmed form an employee who worked in the city and had never spoken with Sands Point officials.
East Williston officials said the village has used the firm in the past, but the clerk was out this week and not available to confirm if there are any current projects with the firm.
Kings Point used to use the firm, but stopped around a year ago, according to Gomie Persaud, clerk-treasurer.
Thomaston, Great Neck Plaza, Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, Lake Success, Saddle Rock and Kensington are all not using D&B, according to village officials.
Janelle Clausen and Amelia Camurati contributed reporting.
Reach reporter Rebecca Klar by email at rklar@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516-307-1045, ext. 204, or follow her on Twitter @rebeccaklar_.
