New Jersey Gov. Christie to DRPA: Reform, or else

As word spread that the "big, bad wolf" from Trenton was coming to visit the Delaware River Port Authority yesterday morning, no one was more nervous than CEO John Matheussen

Gov. Chris Christie didn't fire Matheussen, as early-morning news reports were suggesting, but it was no friendly visit either.

Christie vetoed five "watered-down" reform resolutions that the agency passed at recent meetings, and questioned whether DRPA leadership and its bi-state commissioners were truly embracing reform.

"I'm running out of time on the tick-tock of my patience for what's gone on at this place," Christie said outside DRPA headquarters.

At two meetings last month, the DRPA commissioners attempted to pass sweeping resolutions to overhaul longtime practices scrutinized in recent months by the media and from within. Those resolutions included an end to funneling millions of dollars into economic development projects, as well as ending nepotism in the hiring process and vehicle perks for top employees.

Positive steps were being taken, Christie acknowledged, but it wasn't enough.

"I am not happy about the things that are not done. They need to get done and get done quickly," he said.

Christie vetoed five of the resolutions, including one that would place post-employment restrictions on DRPA employees and another prohibiting employees from performing political activities on duty. He also vetoed a resolution to hire outside legal counsel to investigate the agency's insurance contracts, a sign that DRPA wasn't getting the idea, Christie said.

"I don't have any confidence that a law firm that was hired by the DRPA to do an investigation of the DRPA while being paid by the DRPA will necessarily give us the truth," he said.

Christie said that the DRPA must get back to their core principle: operating and maintaining their four bridges and PATCO system. He suggested that it wasn't a coincidence when the agency approved almost $40 million in economic development projects in December, just before a "big, bad wolf" took office.

Matheussen said that he was unnerved by the reports that he was getting the ax, but expressed confidence that he and the DRPA could right itself. The agency would reduce its budget this year by 2 percent and institute a hiring freeze, he added, and try to deal with the governor's vetoed resolutions before their scheduled meeting.

There was a large amount of spending on economic projects, including the Army-Navy game in December 2009, Matheussen acknowledged, but it was not done to avoid Christie. Former DRPA corporate secretary John Lawless, who attended the news conference, laughed at that answer and called Matheussen out.

"You're a liar," he said.

Christie wouldn't discuss his "game plan" if DRPA reform didn't progress quicker, but he challenged Matheussen to be an "agent of change"

"If we don't see this agency getting back to work," Christie said, "we're going to have to make changes."

John Dougherty, a Pennsylvania DRPA commissioner and Philadelphia union leader, said he was shocked that Christie didn't fire Matheussen yesterday and said he would introduce a resolution at the next meeting, asking the board to terminate him.