The Grand Jury criminal indictment against Richard Fevang, former Fleet Manager in the New Rochelle Department of Public Works sparked cries for an independent forensic audit by Councilman Richard St. Paul, In 2009 the New Rochelle Talk of the Sound blog published allegations against Fevang. And several months ago Councilman Lou Trangucci had delivered boxes of DPW invoices to Brian Conway, the Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau in the District Attorney’s office, to be scrutinized. These indictments could result in Fevang receiving up to seven years in prison. Fevang is accused of rigging bids so that it appeared the lowest bidder was being used. Even before this investigation, the Westchester County District Attorney has been investigating Fevang for eight of the last ten years. The City of New Rochelle had hired him even though he had a criminal record, and now there are questions about whether the usual background checks were performed.
After Fevang resigned from his position, Chuck Strome, the City Manager, issued a statement saying the City had “cooperated fully” with the District Attorney. New Rochelle Talk of the Sound’s editor, Bob Cox, stated at least five employees were identified who had participated in Fevang’s scheme.
In the indictments the following charges were made: 22 counts of Tampering with Public Records (felonies), 22 counts of falsifying records (misdemeanors), and 22 counts of official misconduct (misdemeanors). These offenses were committed at the City of New Rochelle garage, 224 Main Street, between September 9, 2005 and December 30, 2010. Fevang is charged with personally getting subordinates to falsely prepare Competitive Bid Reports. Bids from unselected vendors who were either never asked for a quote or asked after the work had been completed were in evidence. The “City of New Rochelle and its taxpayers were deprived of having an actual competitive bidding process.”
Fevang had resigned on Thursday June 23. The Journal News reported Mayor Noam Bramson saying that employees of the City of New Rochelle are expected to have the “highest ethical standards.”
On Wednesday June 28 two Republican Councilmen held a press conference on the steps of City Hall. Councilman Lou Trangucci said these indictments “in no way diminish” the great work of the City’s employees. He thanked the hard working men and women of the City’s Department of Public Works for the services they provide.
Councilman St. Paul continued that the people have already watched the “failure of federal regulators to watch Wall Street… and the state to monitor our state pension fund. We cannot tolerate this at the local level.” With all the counts in the indictment, St. Paul felt Fevang could not have “acted alone in defrauding the taxpayers out of many thousands of dollars.” He called for an audit of everyone the City does business with. and for a full review of the City’s financial contracts. Standing in front of City Hall, he said, Should Fevang be convicted he felt his pension should be “revoked” and this money returned to the City. St. :Paul emphasized that “the buck stops here.”
Trangucci singled out Pat Pappalardi from the Public Works Department who had come to him with the alleged wrongdoings which he presented to the Westchester County District Attorney. This investigation led to the indictments. Two residents, Jennie and Bob Petrucci, complimented Councilman Lou Trangucci, his staff, Richard St. Paul, and, of course, Pat Papparlardi for their meritorious service to the City. In the July 7,2011 issue of the Westchester Guardian
