Hempstead Town Board passes transparency bill

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The Hempstead Town Board voted unanimously to institute a “Governmental Transparency” law at its June 5 meeting. The law amends the town code to make government matters more transparent to the public, according to the resolution.

The proposal was drafted by Town Supervisor Laura Gillen and Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney.

“Openness and transparency were hallmarks of my campaign, which are not

only key to rebuilding trust in town hall, but vital for the functioning

of basic democracy,” Gillen said in a news release. “I am proud to have worked jointly with Councilmembers on this, and look forward to implementing what will lead to greater civic engagement and public participation in our town.”

The law allows people to file Freedom of Information Law requests directly through the town’s website — FOIL requests previously had to be filed through email or mail to the town’s FOIL officer. The Town of Hempstead is the first town in Nassau County to make FOIL request forms available online, according to town officials.

More town documents willl also be available on the website to reduce the need for FOIL requests, Gillen said.

These documents include town contracts over $10,000, as well as “all financial, forensic and performance audits relating to the town’s departments, agencies and operations,” according a May 21 news release.

Agencies have up to five business days to either grant or deny FOIL requests under state law, and if the request is granted, the records are supposed to be provided within 20 days. Sometimes the requests can take longer.

Prior to Tuesday’s vote, residents expressed concerns in a public hearing with the wording of the law, and whether town employees would face any repercussions if they fail to abide by it.

“What happens when the employees of the Town of Hempstead don’t follow the rules?” Rori Gordon, of Hauppauge, asked. “There’s nothing written into this law. They suffer absolutely no consequences whatsoever if they do not institute the FOIL laws properly.”

Councilman Dennis Dunne responded that employees that did not comply with new law would be “subject to discipline.”

Felix Procacci, of Franklin Square, said that Comptroller Kevin Conroy, had, on one occasion, told him that certain audit information was not available. Procacci later found that the audit information was online, and he claimed that that the comptroller violated the FOIL law without consequences.

Procacci also said that he was disappointed that the town won’t have a reserve fund for lawsuits. He is doubtful that the law will make a difference.

“I don’t believe a government can be transparent on its own,” Procacci said before the vote.

King Sweeney said that the bill would give residents “an extra later of assurance,” and called it “a common-sense idea that deserves unanimous support.”