McCord urged a comprehensive examination of the DRPA's inner workings, as well as prompt action on several fronts.
He said he was concerned about the "overtly political organizational culture of the authority," and cited "real or perceived conflicts of interest of board members; the authority's employment practices, specifically the exorbitant executive-level pay, car allowances and perks; the awarding of grants and contracts; and a general sense that the authority is a political patronage operation unconcerned with the rising toll charges levied on the public to pay for all this political largesse."
The DRPA operates four Delaware River toll bridges and the PATCO commuter rail line between Philadelphia and South Jersey. The bistate agency, with an annual budget of $300 million, is governed by a 16-member board, with eight members from each state.
McCord said he would offer at Wednesday's 10 a.m. board meeting proposals to prohibit:
Any board member, manager, or family member from having a financial interest in or being employed by any firm doing business with the DRPA. Such a prohibition would continue for a year after a person left the DRPA.
Any board member or manager from recommending the hiring of any person by a company doing business with the DRPA.
The outside employment of any DRPA executive.
McCord also said he would ask the board to take these immediate steps:
Suspension of all economic development grants. Until a formal plan is adopted for "the use, consideration, evaluation and approval" of such grants, all should be halted.
