DRPA adopts reforms, will study salaries

Bi-state agency that runs four bridges and PATCO will end practice of having members from New Jersey and Pennsylvania caucus separately.

Officials of the embattled Delaware River Port Authority have unveiled plans to trim perks, curb nepotism, and review management’s pay. They also promise to shine more light on the agency’s operations.

Under the plan endorsed by Pennsylvania Governor Rendell, the authority’s books will open to state auditors in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And it will put an end to separate closed caucuses held by the New Jersey and Pennsylvania board members. Pennsylvania treasurer Rob McCord, an authority board member, said that practice always bothered him.

“You very much get the impression that there’s some private negotiation that you haven’t been invited to, and then there’s a public vote at which very little new information is shared, only later do we read in the press quite frequently, about something that’s gone on that we fell we should have been alerted to long ago.”

Auto allowances and free EZ Pass privileges are over for staff at the authority, which manages four bridges and the PATCO line. It’s unclear whether there will be salary cuts or more management changes. The authority’s top cop resigned this week.