BUFFALO, N.Y. - Mark Poloncarz, the Democratic, Independence and Working Families Parties' Candidate for Erie County Comptroller announced today he has determined that a number of Giambra appointees who left the County in 2005, including Giambra driver Victor Getz, received thousands of dollars of cash-outs from the administration that they were not entitled to receive.

"My review of recent cash-out records found that four Giambra appointees, three of whom served in Joel Giambra's executive office, received cash-outs of comp time and vacation time totaling nearly $10,000 to which they were not entitled," said Poloncarz. Those employees included Victor Getz, the County Executive's former driver.

Under the terms of collective bargaining agreements, County employees who leave the workforce are allowed to receive payment for their unused compensatory ("comp") and vacation time. Because of the recent budget cuts, former Erie County employees received cash-outs of comp time and vacation time totaling $2.9 million.

However, pursuant to a 2000 resolution initiated by the county executive, certain Giambra political appointees in specific titles who were hired on or after January 1, 2000 received four weeks of annual paid vacation the very first day they start working for the County. In exchange those Giambra appointees could not cash-out their unused comp or vacation time. That resolution is still in effect.

The four Giambra appointees are:

• Victor Getz, Deputy Commissioner for Recreation*: $2,172.30 in comp time cash-out
• Gerald Mineo, Director of Contract Compliance: $6,818.90 in vacation cash-out
• Carla Ruffino, Secretary to Deputy County Executive: $76.12 in comp time cash-out
• Marina Woolcock, Senior Executive Assistant: $554.44 in comp time cash-out

* The Giambra Administration claims that Getz' title when leaving County government was a non-existent job entitled "Director of Revenue Recovery," not Deputy Commissioner for Recreation

"The issue is not just the amount of money, but that the Giambra Administration has continued to violate the law and reward Giambra's friends and family, and no one - the Legislature or the former Comptroller - did anything to call attention to the payments, stop them, or compel the Giambra appointees to repay the County. Those payments should be repaid to the county, and I call on interim comptroller Jim Hartman to immediately investigate this matter and seek the repayment of all improper cash-outs," said Poloncarz.

Poloncarz further noted that Mineo was improperly re-hired by the County Executive without notifying the Legislature less than two months after being laid-off. After initially being re-hired in the City Parks Division, Mineo is now a contract specialist in the Health Department making $45,500.

"This is yet again, another example of the mismanagement and misconduct in County government under Joel Giambra," said Poloncarz. "Not only did a member of the Giambra friends and family plan receive almost $7,000 in improper cash-out payments after being laid off by the county, but less than two months later he was back on the county payroll. If I were Comptroller when these payouts took place this spring, I would have blocked the payments and immediately notified the Legislature."

"As Comptroller, I will never hesitate to sound warnings and will do everything in my power to stop dishonest, illegal or questionable actions or policies in Erie County government. I will serve as the independent watchdog," concluded Poloncarz.

As a truly independent comptroller with no ties to the Giambra Administration, Poloncarz will ask the tough questions that need to be addressed. As part of his 10-point Action Agenda, he pledges to perform regular audits so the county will never again be in the situation of not knowing how much money it has.

Mark Poloncarz is a business and finance attorney in the private sector with a vision of new leadership for Erie County. He is endorsed by the Democratic, Independence, Working Families and Save Jobs Parties. For a current list of endorsements or more information about his campaign, please visit www.markpoloncarz.com.