By Madina Toure
A bill limiting gift allowances to community college boards of trustees, sponsored by state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing), has been passed by the state Senate.
The legislation defines a community college as a state agency and members of a board of trustees as state officers or employees, requiring them to comply with the ban against gifts of more than a nominal value.
Stavisky said the bill is not aiming to punish trustees but rather to remove any “perceived ethical issues or conflicts of interest.”
She noted that community college boards of trustees typically put together multimillion-dollar operational and capital outlay budgets. This has created an issue in upstate New York, where potential service providers have entertained college trustees.
“Over the years, there have been reforms to the public officers law to restore the public’s interest and confidence in government through the prevention of corruption,” Stavisky said. “Community college boards of trustees, however, have significant amount of oversight over strategic and other plans for growth in both academic and physical areas.”
Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtour
