By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-921368.mp3
Albany, NY – State investigators say the former director of food services for New York's prisons took favors including three-day picnics and other parties, in exchange for steering contracts to vendors. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Inspector General Joseph Fisch say Howard Dean - not the former Democratic National Committee Chair - routinely traded favors and gifts with certain businesses which were rewarded with millions of dollars in state purchases. DiNapoli says Dean - who retired in 2008 - benefited from the arrangements and created a culture that led subordinates to accept the practice.
DiNapoli says Dean and his staff also solicited free food and donations from vendors for an anuual Christmas party and a three-day long annual picnic. Fisch said upper management looked the other way.
DiNapoli and Fisch have forwarded the findings of their investigation to the Onieda County District Attorney's office and the State Commission on Public Integrity.
Read the joint report in PDF format HERE
Dean was accused in April of skipping Friday work shifts for 17 years and fraudulently collecting pay for the time off. He didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.