DRPA board member Dougherty seeks to oust agency's chief counsel

A prominent Philadelphia labor leader on the board of the Delaware River Port Authority is trying to oust the agency's top lawyer.

John J. Dougherty, business manager of Electricians Local 98, accused DRPA chief counsel Richard Brown of refusing to respond to his questions about favoritism, hiring practices, and internal reports.

Dougherty, one of eight Pennsylvania representatives on the bi-state board, told Brown in a letter dated Friday that "I will be asking for your immediate resignation at the next DRPA board meeting" on July 21.

"Whether it's malicious intent or gross incompetence on your part or the part of DRPA leadership is immaterial at this point," Dougherty said in the letter, also sent to Govs. Rendell and Christie, all DRPA board members, New Jersey State Sen. Donald Norcross (D., Camden), and Pennsylvania State Rep. William F. Keller (D., Phila.). "Those who are unwilling or incapable of fulfilling the important functions of the DRPA positions should be relieved of their jobs."

In addition to questions about hiring practices, Dougherty cited Brown's move to roll his $9,000-a-year car allowance into his salary, "thereby increasing your DRPA pension," despite management assurances that DRPA executives would not get salary increases.

Dougherty complained about his unanswered requests for information about the recent removal of Board Secretary John Lawless, a former Pennsylvania state legislator. And he said he wanted more information about an internal investigation of former DRPA public safety director Vincent Borelli, who left in June 2008.

Brown and other officials at the DRPA did not respond to requests for comment on Dougherty's allegations.

Contacted Monday, Dougherty said, "The letter speaks for itself. I'm concerned about my inability to get clear answers to reasonable questions about the operations of the DRPA over a period of years.

"Initially, I thought it was just incompetency, but based on some of the facts that have come to be known and actions that were taken, I'm beginning to think it's malicious intent."