Wednesday, November 10, 1999
Purchase in Norwood under cloud
Official who OK'd deal was hired by firm
BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NORWOOD — Concern over an ethics issue has prompted an attorney who represents the bargaining unit for Norwood police officers to review a city contract to buy a $300,000 computer dispatching and information retrieval system.
Former Safety Director Paul Bazzano authorized purchase from New World Systems of Troy, Mich., shortly before he resigned to accept a job with the company, city officials said.
Attorney Donald Hardin, who requested the contract, could not be reached for comment. Mr. Bazzano did not return calls.
A section of the contract states: “During the term of this agreement, and 24 months thereafter, each party (Norwood and New World Systems) agrees not to solicit or hire current or former employees of the other without the other's prior written consent.”
Jack Cameron, the city's projects coordinator, said the contract was signed in October 1998 and Mr. Bazzano was gone by February of this year — before system installation began in March.
Mayor Joe Hochbein said Mr. Bazzano came to him in February to tell him he had been approached by a job placement specialist about a position, but told the mayor he was not privy to the name of the employer offering the job.
Two days later, Mr. Hochbein said Mr. Bazzano informed him that he learned the prospective employer was New World Systems; that he was not going to take the position, but did feel an obligation to follow through with the scheduled interview “as a courtesy.”
“He went up on a Friday, and, when he returned, said he had accepted the job and gave us a two-week notice,” Mr. Hochbein said.
While the mayor said he was upset at Mr. Bazzano's decision and the short notice, he felt there was little he could do to prevent Mr. Bazzano from leaving.
New World Systems continues to provide training for police personnel on the system, Mr. Cameron said.
Any formal complaint about the issue would likely be filed with the Ohio Ethics Commission.
David E. Freel, the commission's director, said law prohibits him from commenting about a complaint or investigation.
However, there are regulations involving “revolving door” issues. Generally, Mr. Freel said, a public employee is not restricted from taking another position. However, there are restrictions involved in public employees taking jobs with companies with which they have negotiated recent contracts or may have otherwise benefited.
Findings are usually forwarded for action to the county prosecutor or municipal law director where the violation occurred, Mr. Freel said.
When Mr. Bazzano, 45, resigned, he told The Cincinnati Enquirer he would specialize in providing high-tech software to public safety agencies — primarily police, fire and paramedic departments. He declined to identify his new employer “for competitive reasons.”
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