Penn Pike Commission appoints investigator Inspector General

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has for the first time appointed an Inspector General (IG) who is formally responsible for investigating reports of theft, fraud and waste at the Turnpike. The appointment was required by Act 44 passed in July 2007 giving the Turnpike new powers to toll I-80 and requiring it to make payments of hundreds of millions of dollars to the state for untolled roads and transit.

The IG is Anthony L Maniscola, 63, a former policeman, investigator for the state attorney general's office, and private detective from the northeast of the Philadelphia area.

Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier is quoted: "With the passage of Act 44 in 2007, the Turnpike is responsible to generate transportation funding for the entire commonwealth, and we are appropriately being held to the highest ethical standards."

Brimmeier claims that the Turnpike has "done a first rate job" of monitoring behavior in the past through an "internal audit," but "by creating this position, the Commission is making an even bigger commitment to identify and deal with misconduct."

Maniscola has been working at the Turnpike since last August in the post of director, special investigations.  His new job is a promotion.

IG Maniscola is quoted in the announcement: "I am dedicated to ensuring that every person employed by the Commission performs their duties professionally and with high moral standards. Our employees and customers can be confident that I will aggressively investigate reports of fraud or wrongdoing brought to my attention."

BACKGROUND: State Governor Edward Rendell among others has said the Turnpike Commission is rife with patronage.  Several people associated with the Turnpike featured in the US indictment of former state senator Vincent Fumo now on trial in Philadelphia for corruption and theft along with Ruth Arnao, the wife of the chairman of the Turnpike Commission.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-02-09