Suffolk GOP Accused of Favoritism in $1M+ Construction Deal

Union leaders and Democratic officials are demanding answers after Suffolk County abruptly terminated a nearly two-decade contract with a Bohemia-based construction company to award the work to a firm owned by a county appointee.

The Suffolk County Department of Public Works ended its longtime relationship with Austin Drywall Corp. last month, instead awarding the contract to Renu Contracting & Restoration. The company is owned by Michael VanDenburg, who was appointed to the county Planning Commission last year by Republican County Executive Ed Romaine.

“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,” Democratic Suffolk Legislator Greg Doroski said Friday during a protest outside the county Public Works building in Yaphank.

Doroski was joined by dozens of union workers who called the deal a clear conflict of interest, pointing to VanDenburg’s government position and his history of donations to Republican committees in Suffolk County.

The controversy centers around what union officials describe as a massive “on-call” contract worth millions of dollars that allowed the county to quickly deploy workers for various repair projects. Union leaders say the arrangement provided steady work for local construction workers while ensuring projects met strict labor standards.

Labor officials also 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. The law is designed to train local workers while potentially saving taxpayers money, since 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.”

Additional red flags emerged over prevailing wage requirements — state-mandated minimum pay rates for public construction projects designed to prevent companies from undercutting worker wages. Union officials accused county administrators of giving Renu “preferential treatment” by accepting a bid they believe fell below prevailing wage standards.

Democratic Suffolk 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,” Richberg said.

Suffolk County officials strongly rejected accusations of wrongdoing or political favoritism, though they did not explain why Austin Drywall Corp.’s contract was terminated despite previous praise from county leadership.

“This contract was put out to bid in accordance with the provisions of New York State and Suffolk County law,” said Charles Bartha, commissioner of the Suffolk Department of Public Works. “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.”

Republican sources familiar with the bidding process dismissed the criticism as partisan politics, though the exact contract amount has not been publicly disclosed.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Suffolk County’s Republican leadership and Democratic legislators over government contracting practices and transparency in the bidding process.