NEW ORLEANS — The only three Jefferson Parish appointees for the Regional Transit Authority; Tim Coulon, Brian Bruno and Joseph Ewell Jr. have resigned this week after a meeting Tuesday raised concerns, when the agency's CEO was asked about a $1.3M contract that wasn't board approved, according to Nola.com.
This comes after an investigative report by the Time-Picayune that revealed a contract with a Metairie-based BRC Construction Group had significant increases from its original value of $250,000 to over $1 million through expanding its workload regularly, Nola.com reported.
The contract was allowed by since-terminated RTA executive, John DiLosa.
Coulon, a former JP president submitted his letter of resignation Tuesday, Bruno followed behind him Wednesday, after only being seated a day earlier and Ewell Jr. resigned Thursday.
According to Nola.com, the investigation was conducted by the Transcendent Law Group that raised questions about whether RTA's CEO, Lona Hankins, treated the alleged actions of DiLosa seriously.
In an all-staff meeting Wednesday, Mar. 6, Hankins told staff that the incident will not prevent RTA from running the bus system and to be careful with contracts moving forward.
Bruno said he was " appalled with the lack of duty from the board to make decisions regarding (sic) matters critical to this organization," in his resignation letter. He said the board has the inability to effectively govern as sworn to do," he wrote.
He also hinted to a "possible FBI probe." writing that he doesn't want to be involved in an "imminent investigation to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation," Nola.com reported.
According to Nola.com, Coulon said his resignation will be effective Mar.1.
JP Parish Cynthia Lee Sheng, who is tasked with appointing Jefferson's board members said it may be difficult to find candidates to fill the positions and is "considering all options."
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