According to documents released by the COIB , when Hall learned that a subordinate was about to be evicted, Hall offered to rent the unit from July 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005, at a rate which ranged from $850 to $910 per month. (Pretty fair, if you ask us.)
Believe it or not, that lease violated City rules and subjected Hall to discipline.
In a " Stipulation and Disposition " dated November 8, 2007, Hall admitted to the following misconduct:
I acknowledge that renting an apartment to my subordinate, and obtaining rental income from her, I violated Chapter 68 of the City Charter, specifically City Charter sections 2604(b)(3) and (b)(14). City Charter section 2604(b)(3) states that "[n]o public servant shall use or attempt to use his or her position as a public servant to obtain any financial gain, contract, license, privilege or other private or personal advantage, direct or indirect, for the public servant or any person or firm associate with the public servant." City Charter section 2604(b)(14) states that "[n]o public servant shall enter into any business or financial relationship with another public servant who is a superior or subordinate of such public servant."
Was this an instance of a good deed that needlessly went punished?
Since it ain't easy finding affordable housing in this town, and in view of the situation's exigency, we believe Hall should have been commended for assisting a colleague in need. And, in our opinion, the outcome (a $1500 fine and public censure) was unduly harsh, given no other illegality or breach appears to have committed.
Hall's offense pales in comparison to the wrongdoing that was allegedly perpetrated by Dolly Williams, a Commissioner of the City Planning Commission .
Apparently, Ms. Williams -- an investor in the Nets basketball team -- had voted in favor of a development plan which, among other things, facilitated the construction of a stadium for the sports franchise.
In a " Stipulation and Disposition " dated November 21, 2007, Williams conceded, in part, as follows:
I acknowledge that by voting on the Downtown Brooklyn Plan ... I violated Chapter 68 of the City Charter, specifically City Charter section 2604(b)(3). City Charter section 2604(b)(3) states that '[n]o public servant shall use or attempt to use his or her position as a public servant to obtain any financial gain, contract, license, privilege or other private or personal advantage, direct or indirect, for the public servant or any person or firm associated with the public servant." City Charter section 2601(5) defines "associated" to include "a person with whom the public servant has a business or other financial relationship; and each firm in which the public servant has a present or potential interest."
Interestingly, Williams' interest in the team was far from "incidental" and is reported to have exceeded $250,000. (Not bad for a public servant.)
Yet, for her indiscretion, Williams was only fined a total of $4,000.
You would think the penalty would have been considerably higher than the one imposed on poor Ms. Hall given the relative egregiousness of Williams' lapse.
We're having a hard time figuring the COIB out.
(Didn't the investigations' costs exceed what was recovered from these individuals? Even if we were to accept that these public servants committed wrongdoings which warranted the charges and discipline incurred, how do these fines make City taxpayers whole?)
Let's just say we've got a conflict with the Conflicts of Interest Board .
To view Hall's documents, please use these links: Stipulation and Disposition and COIB Press Release
To view Williams' documents, please use these links: Stipulation and Disposition and COIB Press Release