Head of city tax board resigns, as little progress seen on changes

Enrico "Ricky" Foglia, who parlayed his political connections into a $98,300 job running the troubled Board of Revision of Taxes, says he is retiring in two weeks.

Foglia, 80, said he had been under pressure from BRT board members to leave since an Inquirer series in May detailed cronyism, incompetence, and corruption at the agency, which is responsible for setting tax values for all properties in Philadelphia.

"That's what they wanted. That's what I gave them," Foglia said in an interview yesterday.

"Thirty-eight years in that place," he said. "After that time, you're telling me I can't do my job? Isn't that cute?"

It's not clear whether the BRT plans to replace Foglia or get rid of the job. BRT Chairwoman Charlesretta Meade and board members Russell M. Nigro and Robert N.C. Nix 3d did not respond to requests for comment.

Though he served as executive director with a generous salary, Foglia's duties were limited. With no college degree or qualifications as an appraiser, Foglia said he had nothing to do with assessments.

The agency's real estate evaluators answer to a chief appraiser. That job has been filled on an acting basis by Barry Mescolotto, who was criticized in May by the city inspector general for working on his family's electrical supply business on city time and not paying business taxes.

In large part, Foglia's job was to handle the patronage side of the BRT's staff - the clerical workers referred to the agency by the Democratic and Republican organizations.

Those 78 positions are funded by the Philadelphia School District to sidestep the ban on political activity by city employees.

At a Council hearing in May, Foglia struggled to describe his duties.

"I report to the chairman if there is a problem," he said. "If there's a problem with school board employees, I answer to the [administrative services director], and then we settle it."

Foglia told Council members that the BRT had had an executive director "since God was born."

"A lot's changed since God was born," Councilman Bill Green replied.

Foglia started at the agency as a patronage worker in 1972, thanks to his work for the Democratic Committee in the 34th Ward - the home base of U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, the city's Democratic leader.

The BRT's former chairman, David B. Glancey, said in an earlier interview that Brady backed Foglia for the executive director job. "It was the political realities of the times," he said.