Verna: no plans for DROP hearings soon

Don’t expect Philadelphia City Council to hold hearings on the controversial DROP early retirement initiative before the May 17th primary. 

City Council President Anna Verna says the DROP hearings are not a top priority and she doesn’t plan to schedule them before the May primary.

“I’m getting calluses from sitting so long with these budget hearings, We have to have to have this budget passed by the end of May,” said Verna.

The council president was asked if the hearing could be added to Council’s calendar on a Monday or Friday, where currently no hearings are scheduled.

“I don’t know when we will be able to deal with DROP right now. When would we fit it in?” asked Verna.  When Monday’s were suggested, she responded, “We have other things to do on Monday.”  When pressed for a date, Verna said, “I don’t know.”

Verna is retiring this year, but says it was not because of pressure related to enrolling in the DROP program.

Councilman Jim Kenney is not happy about the delay.

“My position has been and is and will be that I want to vote to get rid of it and if we have to do something later on with the employees that we need to negotiate or to discuss to have an agreement with the administration, my preference right now is to vote on something in the next two weeks or now to get rid of the program,” said Kenney.