Neuhaus testifies he had concerns about the cost of consulting IT contract

GOSHEN- The task force investigating the contract between Orange County and information technology (IT) vendor StarCIO wrapped up its third day of testimony on Tuesday.  The only witness to appear before the committee was Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus.

Neuhaus told the committee that he voiced concerns about the contract to members of his staff long before questions were raised by members of the county legislature and State Senator James Skoufis.

Neuhaus said StarCIO was hired because a contract manager was needed to address issues with IT projects that were behind schedule.  He credited the lack of a chief information officer as well as what he called a “Frankenstein” makeup of the department – partially county employees, and partially vendor services – as the problem.

Neuhaus said that in February or March of 2023 Alicia D’Amico, the county director of operations, and Samantha Sweikata, the commissioner of general services, first brought StarCIO’s owner to meet with him.  At that meeting, Sacolick recommended the extension of his services to address issues he had identified in his first few months on the job.

StarCIO stayed on and during the summer Neuhaus convened a meeting to address problems with several of the county’s IT vendors, all of which he described as “good” companies.  At the meeting, Neuhaus said all of the problems were smoothed out and progress continued to move forward.

In August 2023, Neuhaus signed a contract amendment that he said raised flags.  He specifically recalled signing the contract on a Friday evening and holding it until Monday so it could be discussed with D’Amico and Sweikata.  Neuhaus said that of the many contracts he signed over his 10 years in office, he questioned only a few in this manner.  He said he voiced concerns over the cost of the agreement to D’Amico and Sweikata.

“Who the hell are these guys and are they really needed,” Neuhaus recalled asking.  He says Sweikata and…