>Bergen executive sets up new office to probe spending for waste, fraud
MONDAY, JULY 11, 2011
BY ERIK SHILLING
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan has ordered establishment of an Office of Asset Recovery, a new arm of her administration that she said would further root out waste and fraud in county government.
The office’s primary goals are to review private consultancy fees, file lawsuits to reclaim improperly paid money, and investigate other “questionable” payments, Donovan said.
The office will be headed by current County Counsel Jeffrey Ziegelheim, who, in addition to his $121,350 yearly salary, will receive a $53,000 stipend to run the asset recovery office, officials said in April. Ziegelheim will have no staff, and any outside law firms hired by the office will be paid only a percentage of the funds they help to recover, said Jeanne Baratta, a spokeswoman for Donovan.