Parking commissioners ought to demand Scarduzio's resignation.
Camden Parking Authority board members should rally around Commissioner William Jenkins' call that Executive Director Anthony Scarduzio resign.
Given the authority's troubled past, which included a
state takeover, and questions about recent authority
actions, Scarduzio's departure is in the public's best
interest.
Years ago, the authority was a true mess. It was $1
million in debt and running a $225,000 deficit. A former
executive director was furnished a Lincoln Town Car
equipped with two cellular telephones. The authority
budgeted $1,200 a month for catering and spent thousands of
dollars on trips for staffers.
The state stepped in, cleaned up the authority and, a
few years ago, stepped aside.
Now, though, the scrutiny is heating up again:
•In November, the state Attorney General's Office
issued a subpoena requiring the agency to hand over
thousands of documents.
•The subpoena came less than a week after two
former employees sued the authority, claiming they suffered
retaliation for blowing the whistle on what they allege was
illegal activity within the organization.
•Scarduzio recently filed amended financial
disclosure forms that revealed he worked in 1999 for PaeTec
Communications Inc., which provides long-distance phone
service to the Parking Authority, Camden City and some
vendors that do business with the authority.
•The forms also indicate that Scarduzio received
gifts from at least two companies that do business with the
authority.
•Scarduzio awarded a friend a contract to park cars
during Opsail 2000. Two major parking companies said they
never had a chance to bid on the work. Scarduzio said he
solicited bids from them.
When authority commissioners meet this week, they
unanimously should ask Scarduzio to step aside - and he
should comply.
New leadership is needed to ensure the authority has the
public's trust.
