MTA watchdog hits LIRR on cost overruns

[Renew Deal]

Report says official’s bad financial dealings, which cost millions, were ignored because of his father’s union ties and close relationship with former boss Ken Bauer

BY JOIE TYRRELL
STAFF WRITER

April 13, 2005

Two Long Island Rail Road environmental contracts expected to cost $1 million wound up more than $11.6 million over budget because of mismanagement by a mid-level employee whose father was a former powerful union leader and lax oversight by the railroad.

That is the finding of an investigation conducted by Inspector General Matthew Sansverie, who said the employee repeatedly exceeded budgets, ordered work he didn't have authority over and violated Metropolitan Transportation Authority guidelines and procedures.

The investigation conducted last year concluded that Patrick D'Avanzo, the son of Anthony D'Avanzo, chairman of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen in the 1970s, enjoyed a special status, protected from discipline or repercussions.

"One mid-level LIRR employee was able to single-handedly evade railroad policy and numerous layers of oversight to increase contract spending limits ... without raising a supervisory eyebrow," Sansverie said in the report.

"It shouldn't have happened," he told Newsday.
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http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lilirr0413,0,5974313.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

The LIRR is such a nightmare.