Suffolk Scraps Union Contract for GOP-Connected Firm

Union leaders and Democratic officials are demanding answers from Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine’s administration after the county terminated a nearly 20-year construction contract with a unionized Bohemia firm in favor of a company owned by a recent Republican appointee.

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

Democratic Suffolk Legislator Greg Doroski joined union workers outside the Public Works building in Yaphank on Friday to protest the decision, calling the timing suspicious given Austin Drywall’s solid track record with the county.

“[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 told reporters.

The controversy centers on what union officials describe as a conflict of interest, pointing to VanDenburg’s government position and his campaign contributions to Republican committees in Suffolk County. Campaign finance records show regular donations from VanDenburg to local GOP candidates and committees.

Union leader Vincent Alu raised additional concerns about Suffolk County’s Apprenticeship Law, which requires contractors on public projects exceeding $250,000 to participate in state-registered apprenticeship programs. The law aims to train local workers while reducing costs, since apprentices earn lower wages while learning skilled trades.

“The county appears to have waived that law,” Alu said. “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 multi-million dollar “on-call” arrangement that allowed the county to quickly deploy union workers for various repair projects across Suffolk. Union officials accused county administrators of giving Renu “preferential treatment” by accepting a bid they believe fell below prevailing wage requirements.

Prevailing wage laws mandate minimum pay rates for workers on public projects, preventing contractors from undercutting established wage standards in the region.

Democratic Legislator Jason Richberg expressed concern about the economic impact on local workers, particularly given current financial pressures facing many Long Island families.

“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.

Charles Bartha, commissioner of the Suffolk Department of Public Works, defended the bidding process and contract award. He insisted all procedures followed state and county regulations.

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

Bartha emphasized that the decision “should not be construed as a negative as to the quality of any other bidder,” though he did not explain why Austin Drywall’s long-standing contract was terminated despite previous praise from county leadership.

Republican sources familiar with the bidding process dismissed the criticism as partisan politics, though the contract amount and specific bid details have not been made publicly available.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Suffolk’s Republican leadership and union organizations that have traditionally supported Democratic candidates in local elections.