October is Cyber Security Awareness Month in New York State - ACT – Achieve Cyber security Together

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month in New York State - ACT – Achieve Cyber security Together Source: Office of the Governor - Thomas D. Smith, NYS Chief Information Security Officer

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the start of Cyber Security Awareness Month in New York State and issued a proclamation in support to raise citizen awareness about cyber based threats and how to stay safe online at: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/go/proclamation2013.  The NYS Office of Information Technology Services, Enterprise Information Security Office (ITS EISO) is providing a number of educational resources to the public, including an electronic Cyber Security Awareness Toolkit.  The Toolkit includes cyber security themed posters, calendars, guides, brochures, and other content that can be downloaded to help promote and reinforce cyber safety in practical, informative, entertaining, and usable ways.  The Toolkit material may be found at www.dhses.ny.gov/ocs/awareness-training-events/#awareness. N.B. In conjunction with Cyber Security Awareness Month, the NYS ITS EISO is coordinating a statewide cyber security poster contest for students in grades Kindergarten-12.  This is a timely opportunity for school art and technology teachers to promote keeping children safe online in a fun way.  Entries may be used in state, regional, and national computer security awareness campaigns.  New York State winners will be featured on the ITS website and entered into the National Contest with the opportunity to be featured in the 2015 Cyber Security Calendar.  For more information on the poster contest, please visit http://www.dhses.ny.gov/ocs/awareness-training-events/events/2013/index.cfm and click on the Poster Contest tab. While there are many steps that can be taken to keep personal information and data secure, below are some helpful cyber security tips to follow provided by the Governor’s Office: Secure your computer:  Keep your operating system and application software updated and patched. Be sure to check that your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is running and receiving automatic updates.  Confirm that your firewall is enabled. Use Strong Passwords:  Passwords should have at least eight characters and include letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and special characters.  It is important to maintain separate passwords for different accounts to reduce the likelihood that the compromise of one password will make other accounts vulnerable as well.  Developing good password practices will help keep your personal information and identity secure. Secure your online transactions:  When submitting sensitive information, look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar to be sure your information is sent securely during transmission.  Also be sure that "https" appears in the website's address bar before making an online transaction.  The "s" stands for "secure" and indicates that communication with the webpage is encrypted. Don't reveal personal information online:  The less information you post, the less data you make available for a cyber criminal to use in a potential attack or scam. Protect your laptop, smartphone, or other portable devices when traveling:  Just as your wallet contains lots of important and personal information that you wouldn't want to lose, so do your portable devices.  Don't let them out of your sight.  Never store your laptop in checked luggage.  If there is a room safe available at your hotel, use it to securely store your devices.  In addition, make sure you have strong passwords on these devices in the event they are lost or stolen. Be aware that public computers and public wireless access are not necessarily secure:  Cyber criminals can potentially access any information you provide, such as credit card numbers, passwords or other confidential information.  Do not conduct any sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi sites. Do not email sensitive data:  Beware of emails requesting account or purchase information.  Legitimate businesses do not solicit sensitive or confidential information through email. Dispose of information properly:  When it's time to dispose of your computer or mobile device, make sure you have a process in place to completely erase your information or physically destroy the hard drive. Properly erasing your hard drive thwarts efforts to steal your information. More information on Cyber Security Awareness Month is posted on the Internet at: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/ocs/awareness-training-events/events/2013/index.cfm. .

Selected reports and information published by New York State's Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli during the week ending October 5, 2013

Selected reports and information published by New York State's Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli during the week ending October 5, 2013

Click on text highlighted in color  to access the full report 

A.G. Schneiderman & Comptroller Dinapoli Announce Arrest Of Highway Superintendent For Stealing More Than $50k In Goods & Services

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced Tuesday the arrest of Roger Burlew, Highway Superintendent for the Town of Erin, for stealing more than $50,000 in goods and services. The Attorney General’s criminal complaint alleges Burlew stole the money by submitting fraudulent vouchers for payment to the Town of Erin. The Joint Task Force on Public Integrity is a cooperative effort between Attorney General Schneiderman’s and Comptroller DiNapoli’s offices to root out public corruption and maximize the resources of each office.

DiNapoli: Binghamton Parks & Rec Director Allegedly Stole Nearly $108,000

The director of Binghamton’s Parks and Recreation Department pocketed nearly $108,000 in taxpayer funds and allegedly used the cash to pay for his mortgage, summer rental, car lease, and loans to his sons, according to an auditby New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

DiNapoli: County Jail Inmates Received Improper Welfare and Unemployment Insurance Benefits

An auditof five counties by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office found that hundreds of county jail inmates received inappropriate payments totaling more than $236,000 from various social welfare programs and almost $325,000 in state unemployment insurance (UI). The inappropriate benefits were caused by deficiencies in how four of the five counties monitored the eligibility of jail inmates for welfare payments, and by a combination of potential fraud and delays providing the state Department of Labor (DOL) with information about inmates receiving UI benefits.

DiNapoli: Audit Cites Town of Shandaken Employee for Stealing Funds

The secretary of the Ulster County town of Shandaken highway department misused more than $20,000, including $5,000 in federal funding that was earmarked for flood cleanup costs, according to an audit released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The findings of the Comptroller’s audit and investigation were referred to the New York State Police. They arrested Florence Sullivan on July 17 and charged her with one count of grand larceny in the third degree, one count of falsifying business records in the first degree and one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree.

DiNapoli Tours Rochester–based Vnomics to Promote Pension Fund’s In–State Private Equity Program

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli toured Vnomics Corp., a Rochester-based provider of fleet management software, to highlight investments made by the State Common Retirement Fund’s In–State Private Equity Program in companies emerging from New York’s universities. The Fund has invested more than $500,000 in the company since 2011 through High Peaks Venture Partners.

DiNapoli Releases Bond Calendar for Fourth Quarter

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced a tentative schedule for the planned sale of obligations for the State, New York City, and their major public authorities during the fourth quarter of 2013.

Comptroller DiNapoli Releases School Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced his office completed audits of:

the Hudson City School District,

the Islip Union Free School District, and

the Ramapo Central School District.

Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Municipal Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced his office completed audits of:

the Cayuga County Probation Department,

the Coldspring Fire District, and

the Town of Stockport.

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Disclosure of public records pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law

Disclosure of public records pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law

Cook v Nassau County Police Dept., 2013 NY Slip Op 06364, Appellate Division, Second Department

An individual submitted a Freedom of Information [FOIL] request for certain “records” that were held in the police department’s files. The custodian of the records declined to disclose certain documents sought by the individual.

The individual filed a petition pursuant to CPLR Article 78 seeking those records that had been withheld and Supreme Court ruled that some of the records sought by the individual were to be disclosed and others could be withheld by the custodian of the records.

The individual appealed that branch of his petition that Supreme Court denied while the police department cross-appeal from so much of the same judgment, that, in effect, granted those branches of the petition which were to direct it to disclose certain letters, redacted email messages, and a redacted one-page record from an internal affairs investigation.

The Appellate Division affirmed the Supreme Court’s decision, noting that “The Freedom of Information Law … was enacted "to promote open government and public accountability" and "imposes a broad duty on government to make its records available to the public," citing Gould v New York City Police Dept., 89 NY2d 267.

The court explained that FOIL provides that government records are presumptively open for public inspection unless they fall within one of the exceptions specified by Public Officers Law §87(2), which permits an agency to deny access to records which "are specifically exempted from disclosure by state or federal statute."

One such statute, said the Appellate Division, exempting records from disclosure is Civil Rights Law §50-a(1),*which provides, in relevant part, that "[a]ll personnel records used to evaluate performance toward continued employment or promotion" of police officers "shall be considered confidential and not subject to inspection or review." However, "when access to an officer's personnel records relevant to promotion or continued employment is sought under FOIL, nondisclosure will be limited to the extent reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of Civil Rights Law §50-a to prevent the potential use of information in the records in litigation to degrade, embarrass, harass or impeach the integrity of the officer."

In this instance the court found that Supreme Court properly determined, after an in camera inspection,**that the only portion of an internal affairs investigation report which should be disclosed pursuant to FOIL was a redacted one-page "Citizen Complaint Summary."

The Appellate Division rejected the police department’s argument that that the redacted "Citizen Complaint Summary" also should have been shielded from disclosure pursuant to Civil Rights Law §50-a(1). That portion of the internal investigation report, as redacted, said the court, does not "contain any invidious implications capable facially of harassment or degradation of the officer in a courtroom."

* Other public records, the release of which is limited by statute, include Education Law, §1127 - Confidentiality of records and  §33.13, Mental Hygiene Law - Clinical records; confidentiality].

**  A legal proceeding is in camera when a hearing is held before the judge in his or her private chambers or when the public is excluded from the proceeding.

The decision is posted on the Internet at:

http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2013/2013_06364.htm

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Off-duty misconduct

Off-duty misconduct
2013 NY Slip Op 06085, Appellate Division, First Department

The Appellate Division unanimously affirmed NYC Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly’s dismissal of a police officer found guilty of discharging his weapon “in the direction of his former girlfriend during an altercation” while off-duty. The court said that there was substantial evidence to support the Commissioner’s finding.

In addition, the Appellate Division noted that the officer was also found guilty of the charges that he was “out of residence while on sick report” and provided false information concerning his absence based on his guilty plea to the allegations.

The police officer’s argument that the hearing officer “improperly placed the burden of proof on him” was rejected by the court as the record indicated that Department satisfied its burden of proving that the officer had committed the acts charged and the hearing officer determined that the officer’s testimony did not rebut the Department’s evidence. 

Citing Featherstone v Franco, 95 NY2d 550, the court said that the penalty of termination did not shock its sense of fairness.

The decision is posted on the Internet at:

http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2013/2013_06085.htm
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Job openings available on New York State’s JOBS EXPRESS website

Job openings available on New York State’s JOBS EXPRESS website
Source: Office of the Governor

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced more than 82,000 positions are currently listed on New York State’s Jobs Express website.

Jobs Express connects job seekers to openings in each Region of the state and currently lists an average of 51,000 new jobs each month statewide. The Jobs Express website takes thousands of jobs posted by employers and sorts them by Region to help job seekers evaluate what industries are growing in their area and find out what opportunities are available in specific economic sectors.

Statewide, the highest numbers of available jobs are in the fields of: Sales and Related positions; Management; Office, Clerical and Secretarial; Computer and Mathematical; and Healthcare Practitioner and Technical.

Certain areas of the State, however, offer employment opportunities in additional fields. In the North Country Region, for example, businesses are listing more than 2,100 open positions on Jobs Express with the highest number of available jobs in the fields of: Farming, Fishing and Forestry; Sales and Related positions; Healthcare Practitioner and Technical; Office, Clerical and Secretarial; and Transportation and Material Moving.

Job seekers and employers interested in learning more should visit the Jobs Express website at www.labor.ny.gov/jobs/.
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Audits of municipalities issued by New York State's Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli during the week ending October 5, 2013

Audits of municipalities issued by New York State's Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli during the week ending October 5, 2013.

Click on text highlighted in color to access the full report

Comptroller DiNapoli’s office periodically audits local governments to assist them to improve their financial management practices. DiNapoli said "These audits are tools for local officials to make sure proper policies and procedures are in place to protect taxpayer dollars and provide the best possible service these taxpayer dollars can deliver."

Town of Alexander – Internal Controls Over Justice Court Operations (Genesee County)
A town justice does not deposit money in a timely manner, file accurate monthly reports, maintain an accurate listing of bail, or maintain a reliable cash receipts record. Auditors also found a $721 shortage in the account of another justice. In addition, town justices do not issue appropriate duplicate receipts or properly report pending and disposed cases to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Town of Amherst – Recording Financial Activity and Fleet Management (Erie County)
Auditors found that the town comptroller has not properly accounted for and reported reserve funds and other restricted moneys. The town comptroller does not record reserve activity in the financial system, but rather accounts for certain reserves separately and in some cases does not maintain any record of the reserves. This resulted in more than $2 million, which should have been used for debt service, remaining idle since 2004.

Broome County – Financial Condition (2013M-224)
While the county’s general fund seems to be in recovery, the significant reliance and use of fund balance to finance operations has impacted the county’s cash flow.

Town of Coeymans – Recordkeeping and Cash Disbursements (Albany County)
The town’s annual financial report did not properly reflect the true financial condition of the sewer district fund. Also, there is an inadequate segregation of duties for payroll. The payroll clerk’s duties include making changes to salaries and wages but she is also capable of submitting data changes directly to the payroll-processing contractor without approval, and there is no comparison of the amounts of the payroll checks to the payroll journals after they are prepared.

Franklin County – Fiscal Stress (2013M-252)
The county’s general fund realized annual operating deficits, declining fund balance, and declining cash balance over the last four fiscal years (2009 to 2012). In addition, the county did not have sufficient cash to pay its bills and other obligations when due, resulting in the county issuing short-term debt in the form of a tax anticipation note for $4 million on May 31, 2013.

Village of Liberty – Financial Condition (Sullivan County)
The village clerk-treasurer did not maintain the village’s accounting records in an accurate manner. As a result, in two of the last five fiscal years, village officials appropriated more fund balance than was available in the general fund. Also, the board has not developed long-term funding plans to address the village’s deteriorating financial position.

Town of Middlebury – Purchasing (Wyoming County)
The town did not follow its competitive bidding policy when it purchased $10,362 of unleaded gasoline and $33,068 of diesel fuel from a local vendor. In addition, the town purchased a tractor in April 2012 for $38,200 without publicly soliciting bids as required.

Montgomery County – Financial Condition (2013M-234)
The county’s declining financial condition is the result of poor budgeting and financial management practices and the failure to develop and use long-term financial plans. For example, the board did not adopt realistic and structurally balanced budgets and instead consistently relied on appropriating fund balance to finance recurring expenditures. As of Dec. 31, 2012, the county reported a total fund balance of $11.4 million in the general fund, a decline of 41 percent from the Jan. 1, 2010 total fund balance of $19.2 million.

Village of Mount Morris – Justice Court (Livingston County)
The cash account of a village justice had a shortage of at least $1,200. The shortage occurred because the justice failed to oversee the work of his former court clerk and account for all moneys received and disbursed through the court. Auditors found that the former court clerk altered and deleted computerized receipts, did not deposit cash receipts timely and intact, and failed to reconcile bank accounts.

Town of Rossie – Records and Reports and Cash Disbursements (St. Lawrence County)
The town supervisor did not maintain accurate computerized accounting records and reports. In addition, the supervisor filed the town’s annual financial report with the Office of the State Comptroller 116 days late for 2008, 112 days late for 2009 and 374 days late for 2010. As of December 2012, the supervisor had not filed the annual financial report for 2011.

Saratoga County – Financial Condition (2013M-235)
Although the county board of supervisors adopted realistic budgets, the general fund’s financial position and the fund used to account for the operations of the county-run nursing home have shown negative trends. Specifically, the total general fund balance decreased 41 percent, from $24.7 million at Jan. 1, 2010, to $10.3 million at Dec. 31, 2012 due, in part, to subsidizing the nursing home.

N. B. The Comptroller has created an easy to use website on the Internet to provide access to state and local government spending and nearly 50,000 state contracts at http://www.openbooknewyork.com/ 

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