RAIL BIG'S BAD BOO$T New York Post - New York, N.Y. Author: KENNETH LOVETT Post Correspondent Date: Nov 10, 2004 Start Page: 028 Section: News Text Word Count: 254 Document Text ALBANY - A Metro-North official got a slap on the wrist yesterday for illegally seeking contributions for his kids' school booster club from vendors he dealt with, the state Ethics Commission said. Joseph Streany, the railroad's deputy director of safety, admitted to violating state ethics law by soliciting a total of $16,850 between 1998 and 2002 from five companies with Metro-North contracts, according to a settlement agreement. Streany admitted to violating the law and agreed to pay $2,250 to settle the charges. Metro-North spokesman Dan Brucker said the railroad will not take additional action against Streany. Streany worked there more than 30 years and earns $107,000 a year, according to an official. Walter Ayres, a commission spokesman, said Streany could have been fined $10,000 for each of his 25 violations, but "he didn't pocket the money that would have been different." The investigation started when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's inspector general got an anonymous tip, which he passed on to the commission. Streany organized an annual golf tournament to raise funds for the Croton-Harmon HS "Tigers" Booster Club, which he served as co- president for years, the commission said. In each of the five years of the golf outings, Streany solicited and received donations to the club from the five contractors. In addition to those donations, the commission said, one of the contractors treated him to a lunch worth about $100.Streany, who could not be reached for comment, gave up the booster-club presidency after the last of his four children graduated, officials said. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission. Abstract (Document Summary) Joseph Streany, the railroad's deputy director of safety, admitted to violating state ethics law by soliciting a total of $16,850 between 1998 and 2002 from five companies with Metro-North contracts, according to a settlement agreement. Metro-North spokesman Dan Brucker said the railroad will not take
additional action against Streany. Streany worked there more than 30 years and earns $107,000 a year, according to an official.