Steamfitters Out $3G Each For 'Private' Conflict

By ARI PAUL

Two Department of Correction Steamfitters were fined $3,000 each for working for a private company that had business dealings with the city, the Conflicts of Interest Board announced March 20.

Steamfitters Thomas Gwiazdzinski and William Lee, who have been working for the department since the late 1980s, had also worked on the side at Mahoney Heating and Air Conditioning. Mr. Gwiazdzinski had worked for the firm in 2002 and Mr. Lee had worked there between December 2000 and June 2002.

Violates 'Conflicts' Law

Mahoney had dealings with the Department of Parks and Recreation while the two Steamfitters were simultaneously working for the firm and the city. The law states that "no regular employee shall have an interest in a firm which such public servant knows is engaged in business dealings with the city."

In written statements to the board, the two Steamfitters admitted that because their jobs with Mahoney involved their working at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, they should have been aware that the company had a relationship with the Parks Department.

In a phone interview, Mr. Gwiazdzinski said that he believed he had not been properly informed about the city's Conflict-of-Interest rules. "It happened, it was over with, we paid the penalty," he said.

In a statement, the board asked city employees to look into whether private firms for which they might work also have dealings with the city and if those dealings would pose a conflict on interest.

"Such a reasonable inquiry would include, among other things, asking the firm if it has any such business dealings, consulting with the relevant agency's general counsel or with the board staff to determine if the city or the relevant agency has any business dealings with the firm, and checking databases of city business dealings such as Vendex," it said.

City workers interested in working for private firms can contact the board at 212-442-1400 to inquire about business dealings.