Inspector General Finds Racial Taunts, Lack of Supervision at Man Cave

• by New York State Inspector General

ALBANY, NY (11/23/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State Inspector General Joseph Fisch recommended disciplinary action against three state supervisors in the final "man cave" report released today. In the 16-page report, Fisch concluded that poor oversight by Office of General Services (OGS) managers Thomas Casey, William Liston and Dennis Williams contributed to drug abuse and other transgressions at the Empire State Plaza garages.

Also, the managers failed to address repeated complaints that cleaning crew boss Louis Marciano discriminated against African-American employees and addressed them with racial slurs, the report concluded. For example, Marciano called one janitor a "n-----" and assigned him extra work to cover for janitor Gary Pivoda, who was sleeping and doing drugs with Marciano in the hidden party lounge during their work shifts. Marciano also awarded Pivoda annual "incentive" bonuses totaling $3,000, the Inspector General found.

OGS agreed to implement the Inspector General's recommendations and will take administrative action against employees and supervisors who were derelict in their duties. The agency also will require more training for Plaza managers.

Marciano, 50, of Rensselaer, and Pivoda, 48, of Latham, face sentencing in Albany County Court January 4th on felony pleas stemming from prosecution by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and a lengthy investigation by the Inspector General and New York State Police. Both men resigned from state service as part of their plead agreements. Police dismantled the "man cave" after a July raid.

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