Parking Authority exec retires for one day

A high ranking member of the Philadelphia Parking Authority has been rehired after taking a retirement bonus. The move continues questions about the city’s early retirement program.

A high ranking member of the Philadelphia Parking Authority has been rehired after taking a retirement bonus.  The move continues questions about the city’s early retirement program. [audio:100120TMDROP1.mp3]

On December 29th Linda Miller of the Parking Authority officially retired and was given a check for just over a quarter million dollars as part of the Deferred Retirement Option Program, or DROP.

The next day she was hired back to her same job as Deputy Executive Director of the agency that oversees taxis and parking in the city.  Zach Stalberg is head of the watchdog group The Committee of 70.  He says the practice is unfair.

Stalberg: Whether she should have gotten a lump sum payment is subject to debate, but she certainly should not have been rehired.  The whole purpose of the program is to prepare for succession, this has nothing to do with succession.”

Numerous polticians have taken advantage of the program or are set to do so over the next few years.