Suffolk Drops 20-Year Union Contractor for GOP Appointee's Firm

Union leaders and Democratic legislators gathered outside the Suffolk County Department of Public Works building in Yaphank on Friday to denounce what they called political favoritism in the awarding of a major construction contract.

The controversy centers on the county’s decision last month to terminate its nearly 20-year relationship with Austin Drywall Corp., a unionized construction firm based in Bohemia. The work was subsequently awarded to Renu Contracting & Restoration, owned by Michael VanDenburg, whom Republican County Executive Ed Romaine appointed to the Planning Commission last year.

Democratic Legislator Greg Doroski questioned the timing and rationale behind the switch, noting that Austin Drywall had previously received praise from county leadership. “[Austin Drywall Corp.] was praised by the County Executive, praised by Majority Leader [Nick Caracappa,] and had a good record — there are questions that must be answered,” Doroski said.

Union officials raised concerns about potential violations of Suffolk County’s Apprenticeship Law, which requires contractors on public projects exceeding $250,000 to participate in state-registered apprenticeship programs. These programs are designed to train local workers while potentially reducing costs, as apprentices can be paid less while learning.

“The county appears to have waived that law,” said union labor leader Vincent Alu. “If we are a nation of laws, those who enforce the law must follow the law, and the county must explain how and why it may have violated its own law.”

The terminated Austin Drywall contract was described as a massive “on-call” agreement worth millions of dollars that allowed the county to quickly deploy union workers for various repair projects across Suffolk. Union leaders accused county officials of giving Renu preferential treatment by accepting what they believe was a bid below prevailing wage requirements while applying labor standards inconsistently.

Democratic Legislator Jason Richberg emphasized the local economic impact of the decision. “At a time where we are seeing record numbers of people at food pantries, we don’t want to see our local men and women not in work, we want to see local work done with local people,” he said.

Campaign finance records show VanDenburg has made frequent donations to Republican committees in Suffolk County, adding to critics’ claims of a conflict of interest given his position on the Planning Commission.

Suffolk County officials strongly rejected accusations of wrongdoing or political influence in the contract decision. Charles Bartha, commissioner of the Suffolk Department of Public Works, defended the process as transparent and legally compliant.

“This contract was put out to bid in accordance with the provisions of New York State and Suffolk County law,” Bartha stated. “The bids were carefully scrutinized, and the contract was awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, as the law requires.”

Bartha stressed that the decision “should not be construed as a negative as to the quality of any other bidder,” though county officials did not explain why they chose to terminate Austin Drywall’s longstanding contract despite previous endorsements of the company’s work.

Republican sources familiar with the bidding process dismissed the criticism as politically motivated, characterizing the union and Democratic response as partisan attacks rather than legitimate concerns about the procurement process.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Suffolk County’s Republican administration and union organizations that have historically played a significant role in the county’s construction and public works projects.