Board member demands answers from DRPA

The heat increased on the Delaware River Port Authority on Friday, as the Pennsylvania state treasurer demanded a broad accounting of car allowances, free E-ZPass transponders, hiring of family members, awards of contracts, conflicts of interest, and pension deals.

State treasurer Robert McCord, who serves as one of eight Pennsylvania board members on the bi-state authority, said he wanted answers by Aug. 9.

"We need this so we can begin restoring faith in the port authority," said John Lisko, McCord's chief of staff and his representative on the DRPA board. McCord wants more transparency and accountability from DRPA managers, Lisko said, saying earlier verbal requests for information had gone unanswered.

The politically connected DRPA, which operates four Delaware River toll bridges and the PATCO commuter rail line, is under fire from several quarters, including Gov. Christie.

Responding to demands from Christie, the DRPA said Thursday it will announce next week a number of changes, including abolition of perks such as free E-ZPass rides and lavish car allowances for managers and a lower threshhold for contracts that require bids.

But Lisko said that even in making those reforms, "the commissioners are being kept in the dark."

"We're learning about what's happening by reading the newspaper," he said.

DRPA chief executive John Matheussen said he assured McCord "that the matter will be given our utmost attention and that he can expect our complete cooperation in providing the information requested."

Also Friday, Pennsylvania state Rep. Mike Vereb (R., Montgomery) called for Matheussen's resignation, citing mismanagement, lack of transparency, and misuse of a free E-ZPass transponder by the DRPA's top law-enforcement official.

And John J. "Doc" Dougherty, a Philadelphia labor leader and Pennsylvania board member of the DRPA, asked the governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey to convene an "immediate, emergency meeting" of the authority's board.

"What we should not accept is to allow the same few DRPA insiders who put us and the taxpayers in this awkward potion to attempt to try to resolve the problems themselves without the input of the DRPA commissioners," Dougherty said in a Friday letter to the governors.

The request from McCord asked for:

- An accounting of all contracts for professional services, such as legal, financial and engineering work.

- Names of any employees, commissioners or spouses who are employed by vendors for the DRPA.

- A updated list of all "economic development" projects by the DRPA since 2000. The DRPA has spent about $400 million in the past decade on such projects as Lincoln Financial Field, the Kimmel Center, the National Constitution Center, the Camden Riversharks' baseball stadium, a soccer stadium complex on the Chester waterfront and the National Museum of American Jewish History near Independence Hall.

- An accounting of abstentions from voting by all commissioners since 2000 on matters in which an apparent conflict of interest existed.

- Conflict-of-interest and ethics policies in effect for board members and employees.

- Policies regarding outside employment by employees.

- Hiring and salary policies for employees.

- Nepotism policies or restrictions.

- A list of all people provided with an E-ZPass transponder since 2000, with accountings for its work-related use and the cost of its use. Also, policies regarding distribution of E-ZPass transponders to employees.

- An accounting of all car allowances, with explanation of work-related requirement and estimate of cost.

- An accounting of pension benefits for managers that deviated from standard public employee pension agreements.

- An accounting of "true-up" payments for liability insurance policies.

- Financial, management and performance audits performed since 2000, including an initial draft of a delayed 2008 management audit.

DRPA chairman John Estey, a Philadelphia lawyer who used to be Gov. Rendell's chief of staff, said, "I support any commissioner's request for information about the operations of the DRPA, including the Treasurer's recent request. I anticipate that staff will provide the information on an expedited basis."

"It's a very comprehensive list," said DRPA vice-chairman Jeffrey L. Nash, a Camden County freeholder. "I don't know what issues may arise from it...but I support the request."

Nash said that, with the offices of Christie and Rendell, "we are going to look at every aspect of DRPA management."

"We do need to make changes to resolve problems," Nash said.

The promise of reform comes after revelations of abuse of free E-ZPass rides by the DRPA's top law-enforcement officer, and public demands for changes from Dougherty, business manager of IBEW Local 98 and an unsuccessful candidate for state Senate in 2008.

The agency's chief of public safety, Michael Joyce, was docked three days' pay and required to reimburse the agency $600 on Wednesday after it was learned he had borrowed another official's free E-ZPass for use by his daughter for 18 months.

Joyce, a Camden County lawyer who unsuccessfully sought the post of county prosecutor, borrowed the E-ZPass of DRPA corporate secretary John Lawless.

Unrelated to the E-ZPass use, Lawless was dismissed from his DRPA position in April, although he continues to draw his $123,806-a-year salary.

Lawless, a former Republican-turned-Democratic Pennsylvania state legislator from Montgomery County and unsuccessful Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in 2002, was escorted from his DRPA office by security officials.

DRPA officials have declined to discuss the reasons for Lawless' removal, and Lawless referred questions to his attorney, who could not be reached immediately for comment.

Lawless has filed two complaints against the DRPA with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming discriminatory treatment based on an unspecified disability.

With the scrutiny by Christie and demands for change from Dougherty, McCord and fellow board member Pennsylvania auditor general Jack Wagner, the DRPA is at a critical pass.

Matheussen's contract expired last Saturday, and Christie said he would not permit him to be hired for a third term until questions were answered about DRPA governance and procedures.

Matheussen, a former Republican New Jersey state senator, has remained in his $219,474-a-year job, with its $16,500 car allowance, as a holdover based on an authorization letter signed last week by Estey and Nash.