Philadelphia airport director departing ahead of schedule

Charles Isdell, aviation director for Philadelphia International Airport, announced his retirement yesterday after a Fox 29 investigation questioned his city residency.

Fox 29 News reporter Jeff Cole discovered that Isdell, who maintains a home in Philadelphia, had been spending nights recently at his wife's house in Cherry Hill. Cole confronted Isdell on the issue yesterday morning.

Isdell, aviation director since March 2000, was due to retire in July. As of December, his salary was $168,894.

Yesterday he told Mayor Nutter that he wanted to move up his retirement date to Jan. 31.

Nutter accepted the resignation, but said that Isdell's retirement shouldn't be viewed as an admission of guilt.

"Charlie did say to me clearly and strongly that he feels that he is a resident of the city of Philadelphia, but acknowledged that because of health matters related to his wife, he had been spending more time [at her home]," Nutter said. "I think first and foremost he was very concerned about any distraction to the work he does out in the airport."

City employees are required to live in Philadelphia. Cole has a long track record of catching them violating that and other regulations. Because Isdell retired, the city inspector general will not investigate the allegations.

Nutter, who has focused on ethics reform since taking office, did stress that the residency rule must be obeyed.

"You have to be a resident of the city of Philadelphia, if you are a city employee," Nutter said. "We take this very seriously."

Nutter also praised Isdell's service to the city, saying that Isdell "has been a great public employee for 37 years. He has devoted himself to our city government. He cares about our city."

Isdell was hired by the city in 1973. He did not return a phone message left last night by the Daily News.

A Fox 29 News spokeswoman said a short report on Isdell was scheduled to run during last night's 10 o'clock broadcast with a more complete report to come later. *