By ALAN GUENTHER
Courier-Post Staff
Paul Drayton does not want to take responsibility for the past actions of the Delaware River Port Authority.
Instead, he wants to be seen as the man who reformed the authority and improved it.
As the DRPA's executive director since January, Drayton, 35, says the agency is completing "the most successful year in its history." He points with pride to many projects that will help develop Waterfront property in Camden. In addition, a $1.4 million loan program will help businesses in Gloucester City and Pennsauken.
But it was while Drayton worked for former Gov. Jim Florio that he oversaw the actions of the DRPA and more than three dozen other state authorities and agencies. Drayton said he had no advance knowledge of the DRPA's plans on Dec. 15, 1993, when the authority, at a widely criticized meeting, allocated nearly $50 million for 18 different projects.
At the same meeting, the DRPA also voted to hire Drayton to the $135,000-a-year executive director's post.
He instituted many reforms in his year as director and guarantees that rapid expenditures would never take place today. If the meeting occurred now, projects would be more carefully screened and evaluated by staff, he says. He says the meeting did not happen "on my watch."
"I was technically working for the governor," he says ... but Gov. Jim Florio had lost the election and had only a month left in office. "I was doing what everybody else was doing when the clock is winding down and you have to find a job," he said. "I was out the door. When you have a family, and a mortgage, you are concerned about where you are going to be employed."
But Drayton had to know what was about to happen at that meeting, says Republican Assemblyman George Geist of Gloucester Township.
"I ask Mr. Drayton to revisit his history to reflect reality," said Geist. "His plea of absence of participation is a remarkable plea, since he was the key point person for the former governor."
Drayton, however, maintains that he should be judged by his performance since January. His contract expires at the end of June.
Drayton lists the following as his accomplishments:
New evaluation and auditing procedures assure that DRPA loans to towns and businesses are now more cost-effective, he says. At last month's meeting, the DRPA adopted a plan for economic development.
A new $30 million DRPA headquarters building, which is currently being constructed on Camden's Waterfront. Planners hope the construction will help spur more development in the area near the state Aquarium. Between 500 and 600 employees will work at the building each day when it is completed in the spring of 1996.
After more than 40 years of debate, the ports of Philadelphia and Camden decided to stop competing against each other this year. Drayton says the port unification will bring more jobs and money to the region.
The DRPA also voted to spend $7 million to investigate a new transport vessel that is twice as fast as standard ships. Its backers estimate that the FastShips project can bring in $500 million annually, and more than 1,000 jobs to the region if the design works.
That's his record, says Drayton. If he's not reappointed to the position, he'll blame politics, he says. A spokeswoman for Gov. Christie Whitman declined comment on Drayton's future.
But DRPA Vice Chairman Peter Burke, a New Jersey Democrat also appointed by Florio, says Whitman ought to have the ability to appoint her own person.
"I think Paul has done an excellent job, but I think it's Gov. Whitman's call," said Burke.
A DRPA commissioner since 1990, Burke also defends the projects approved by the board. They benefited Camden when the city needed help, he points out.
The DRPA agreed to loan Quality Foods $3.1 million to entice the firm to stay in the city. Burke said he's heard that the firm will be moving to Philadelphia anyway, "but we took our best shot." The DRPA didn't lose any money in the deal; no money was actually paid to Quality Foods, said DRPA treasurer Martin Dorph.
The authority agreed to grant $3.5 million to the state Aquarium to build a dazzling new coral reef exhibit. The exhibit is expected to bolster sagging attendance.
Initially, the DRPA agreed at the Dec. 15 meeting to spend $10 million for a new parking garage. Some questioned the wisdom of that.
Drayton said the allocation is being renegotiated. Now the money will probably be used to demolish the old RCA building. But the building won't be torn down until Camden finds a developer for the site. Drayton said an informal agreement has been reached with Camden officials.
In July 1993 the DRPA committed $1.6 million to build a shopping center on Linden Street between 7th and 9th Streets, in blighted North Camden. The investment would bring 75 to 100 jobs and a shopping center to an area that doesn't have one, Burke pointed out.
"You can't wait on some of these projects.
"These projects are good projects today, and they'll be good projects two years from now...When an opportunity presents itself, you have to act. You can't wait and say don't have the right staff guy in place yet," said Burke.
