Bridgeport scandal fails to trigger increased federal oversight
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press Writer
422 words
26 November 2003
17:14
Associated Press Newswires
English
(c) 2003. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The corruption probe in Bridgeport, Conn., that sent former Mayor Joseph P. Ganim to prison, has not triggered an overall increase in oversight by the federal government, which has poured more than $82 million in federal funds into the city, according to a Congressional report.
But the General Accounting Office, in its report released Wednesday, found that two federal agencies are doing reviews of specific programs to insure the city is properly using transportation and redevelopment funds.
The Environmental Protection Agency recently did a two-day review of Bridgeport's brownfields grant, and the Federal Transit Administration has scheduled a financial management review of the city's accounting procedures for federal transportation funds.
But overall, the GAO said the six federal agencies that provide the bulk of the $82 million have continued to oversee program funding through routine monitoring. And GAO said the agencies indicated nothing more was required.
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, for example, said officials would need a lead or information from a whistle-blower to identify the kind of fraud revealed in the corruption probe.
Ganim was convicted in March of 16 counts of corruption for accepting money and gifts in exchange for steering city contracts. He is serving a nine-year prison term.
Four others, including Ganim's former campaign manager and Fairfield developer Alfred Lenoci Jr., are also serving time in connection with the widespread scandal.
The GAO study, requested by Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., also noted that the FBI did not identify any problems with federal agencies that served as a basis for any of the corruption.
Shays said he was satisfied with the report, and glad to hear that no federal money was involved in the scandal. But he renewed his suggestion that the city have an inspector general to keep an eye on such issues.
He said he also believes the city should do an audit of the school board and the city government to determine if "they have people in the right places and if there are jobs that aren't really necessary."
Caryn Kaufman, spokeswoman for current Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi, said the city welcomes any additional scrutiny. She said when Fabrizi took office he immediately began implementing stricter controls over the city's purchasing, bidding and procurement procedures.
Fabrizi began serving as mayor shortly after Ganim resigned, and was easily elected to a full term earlier this month.