GOSHEN – Orange County Legislature Chairwoman Katie Bonelli Monday said she will create a task force to look into allegations by State Senator James Skoufis that no-bid contracts totaling over $800,000 for consulting informational technology services were awarded illegally to the brother-in-law of County Human Resources Commissioner Langdon Chapman.
Noting they are “serious allegations,” Bonelli said she wants an in-depth look at them.
“I’m putting together a group that will definitely look into all of this. They are serious allegations, and they deserve to be looked at,” she said.
Meanwhile, Skoufis has filed a criminal referral with both the State Attorney General and FBI regarding what he called “the alleged corruption scandal within the highest levels of Orange County government.”
He said to date, “the county has not disputed a single one of the facts presented which point to a web of illicit, no-bid contracts designed to line the pockets of Langdon Chapman’s family. Law enforcement agencies will be the ultimate arbiter of justice.”
County Attorney Rick Golden has been steadfast in his defense of Chapman and the county, saying nothing was done illegally and the company was selected following all county policies, rules and regulations.
Golden again rebutted the senator’s allegations says they have responded to “all of the material allegations” and that “there is never a requirement that professional service contracts be bid.”
The county attorney also said Skoufis “continues to ignore (the fact) that it is common and well-accepted practice, and in accordance with the law, in government procurement to ‘piggyback’ off of contracts and quotes that were submitted and vetted through other federal, state or local governments.”
