Turnpike on alert for legal gridlock - Brimmeier memo

Eric Heyl of Pittsburgh's Tribune Review obtained the following memo under what he calls the federal Freedom of Imagination Act:

To: All Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission employees

From: Joseph Brimmeier, Turnpike CEO

Re: Keeping you informed

I know many of you are concerned over reports a state grand jury is investigating patronage hirings and contract awards at the turnpike commission.

There is nothing to worry about.

We will weather this storm like we weathered the governor firing former commission chairman Mitchell Rubin in March — just because he received a federal target letter indicating he was under criminal investigation.

Because this is a totally transparent agency that cares about its workers, we are determined to keep you as informed as possible during the ongoing inquiry.

Toward that end, today we are introducing a color-coded, real-time probe conditions system on the turnpike commission's Intranet site. It is modeled after the color-coded, real-time road conditions system we provide on our Internet site.

But instead of alerting motorists to turnpike traffic jams, our internal site will keep you updated on turnpike commission legal jams.

A detailed explanation of the color codes follows.

GREEN

This color indicates the turnpike commission is operating under favorable conditions. To wit:

• Current or former turnpike employees are not being interviewed by the FBI, or being summoned to appear before any county, state or federal grand jury.

• All patronage hiring practices are proceeding unimpeded.

• No one is scrutinizing whether certain individuals or companies -- some of whom might have a reputation for making generous campaign contributions -- receive a disproportionate amount of turnpike commission business.

YELLOW

This color indicates the turnpike commission is operating cautiously because it is under a cloud of suspicion. Under these conditions:

• Current or former turnpike employees can expect to be subpoenaed.

• Patronage hires are restricted to those that would be difficult for all but the most diligent investigators to uncover (e.g. no one closer than the third cousins of well-connected state politicians, and no dim-witted progenies of their casual acquaintances.)

• Scrutiny of turnpike commission contracting practices forces a disproportionate amount of contracts to be awarded to individuals or companies actually bidding on them.

RED

This color indicates potentially lengthy delays in the turnpike commission returning to the way it typically does business. Under these conditions:

• Current or former turnpike commission employees are indicted, or the commission chairman is fired by the governor after receiving a target letter indicating he is under criminal investigation.

• Hirings are temporarily and reluctantly restricted to only the most qualified job candidates.

• All contracts are (sigh) temporarily and competitively bid.

Our initial status under this new system is yellow, which means you could be subpoenaed at any moment. Should that occur, please notify your immediate supervisor and remember — you are responsible for finding someone to cover your shift while you testify.

Have a great day!

Joe

Published Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Nov 1 2009

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/columns/heyl/s_650947.html

TOLLROADSnews 2009-10-31