Granto link hurts deal [Niagara Gazette, Niagara Falls, N.Y.]

May 25--NIAGARA FALLS -- A former Niagara Falls School District Superintendent's new place of employment may jeopardize a long-standing health insurance contract between the district and a local provider.

Flexcare at the Accardo Agency, a company which has for the past 19 years administered the school district's health insurance plan, has recently hired former School District Superintendent Carmen A. Granto. As a result, the school board will look in another direction when it approves its health insurance provider in the coming weeks, according to School District Attorney Angelo Massaro.

"The board is aware that Mr. Granto is employed by the Accardo Agency," Massaro said. "It is not likely (the board) will accept the Accardo Agency based solely on the appearance of impropriety."

Board Member James Cancemi said he does not believe there is any wrongdoing, but said board members should have been told of Granto's place of employment earlier.

"Sure I have reservations, because I didn't want it to look like something was not right," Cancemi said. "How can I stop a guy from working? I think by choosing the Accardo Agency it would have given us the appearance we were trying to hide something."

Paul Accardo, president of Flexcare Inc. confirmed Granto's hire, but said it would not help his company secure a contract with the district.

"How come I don't have (a contract) yet?" Accardo said.

He said Granto will be working in the capacity of stretching the Flexcare brand into the Southern Tier and Central New York and would have no connection to any school district related accounts.

Granto would not comment on his employment with the company.

"That's a private sector job, I have no comment," Granto said.

On May 6, the board approved a $100,000 contract with M&T Bank which directs the company to secure the appropriate insurance rates with carriers, as well as hire a third-party sub-contractor to administrator districtwide health insurance at a cost not to exceed $200,000.

Cancemi told the Gazette the one-year contract was expected to be awarded to the Accardo Agency, until board members became aware of Granto's affiliation.

"They wanted to make it Accardo, because if we would have stayed with them it would have been a smooth transition, because they have been providing it to us for a while," Cancemi said. "They should of just told us from the beginning (of Granto's role), but we didn't know."

Board Member Art Jocoy agreed with Cancemi saying Granto's hire coupled with the approval of the Accardo Agency wouldn't be good press for the district.

"It just wouldn't have looked good," Jocoy said.

Contact reporter Nick Mattera at 282-2311, ext. 2251.

statement is pretty accurate.

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