Fire Official Is Fined Over Motorcycle Repairs
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An assistant fire commissioner is being punished for asking a subordinate to do repairs on his motorcycle on his days off, according a Conflict of Interest Board report released yesterday.
James Basile admitted having a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that he ordered online in 2003 delivered to a subordinate’s house so the employee could work on it in his free time, without pay.
Mr. Basile also had another fire department employee who worked under him help arrange the inspection of the motorcycle by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The employee, along with the worker who did the repairs, transported Mr. Basile’s motorcycle to the DMV, and then returned it to his home for him.
In a disposition signed by Mr. Basile, he acknowledged that asking city personnel to perform personal tasks for him related to the motorcycle was illegal under city law. He has been fined $2,000.
Mr. Basile has worked for the Fire Department for more than 10 years and currently oversees the Bureau of Fleet and Technical Services.
In his disposition, Mr. Basile noted that the two employees who worked on his motorcycle were also his friends.
Also yesterday, two city firefighters were arraigned on arson charges after they allegedly set fire to the door of a Manhattan firehouse. Bail for the firefighters, Michael Izzo and Richard Capece, was set at $20,000 cash, according to a published report.
The fire commissioner, Nicholas Scoppetta, condemned the incident as “depraved.” No one was hurt.