GOSHEN – State Senator James Skoufis today laid out the details of an intricate no-bid contract scheme he claims was orchestrated by County Human Resource Commissioner Langdon Chapman to enrich his family and others. At the center of the alleged arrangement is an information technology consulting contract with StarCIO whose owner, Isaac Sacolick, is Chapman’s brother-in-law.
Skoufis alleges that by skirting bid requirements, Chapman funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars of ill-gotten gains to his family. The Senator alleges he quietly renewed and expanded contracts, violated the law by ignoring bidding requirements, fabricated a justification to extend the contract, and stalled to ensure the permanent position was not filled.
According to documents released by the county, Sacolick’s firm, which began its contract in January 2023, has been paid to date a total of $432,640 this year. The company was issued contracts and purchase orders totaling $822,900 to provide fractional chief information officer (CIO) and project management services.
Last Monday, following the discovery of the familial relationship between Sacolick and Chapman, three county legislators led by Genesis Ramos of Newburgh requested information from County Executive Steve Neuhaus on the arrangement including copies of contracts and invoices. County Attorney Richard Golden responded to the request on Friday afternoon.
According to Golden’s reply, the procurement of the contract with StarCIO was fully compliant with county and state laws and a bid was not required. Golden says the original contract and subsequent extensions, regardless of their amount or scope, were fully compliant with the law. As to the personal relationship between Chapman and Sacolick, Golden said the county’s hiring of even close relatives is not prohibited.
In his 2024 budget proposal released in September, Neuhaus recommended the creation of a dedicated county IT department. Legislator Ramos said…
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