Jodee Inscho

The meeting agenda included key discussions and actions. The Executive Session addressed personnel and legal matters or pending litigation. General session items requiring action involved the approval of the Operations Report for December 2025 and several executive session actions, such as the appointment of Michael Lavery to the Office of Treasurer. Engineering actions included the acceptance of the 2025 Toll Bridge Annual Inspection Report and approvals for increasing the not-to-exceed amounts for consultant agreements related to Electronic Toll Collection/Tolling and Construction Management Task Orders. Personnel actions covered the promotion of four Maintenance Employees, one Public Safety & Bridge Security Employee, one Toll Bridge Corporal, and one Regional Maintenance Supervisor. Financial actions included approving payments for invoices to multiple legal counsel firms. The schedule for the next meeting in February 2026 was also set.

The Regular Monthly Meeting addressed several critical agenda items, most notably the adoption of the 2026 Toll Adjustment. This action followed extensive due diligence, staff review, and a public comment process, including three virtual hearings, conducted in October 2025 to meet the financial resilience policy requirements regarding debt service coverage ratio and general reserve fund balance. The Commission also approved the Committee Meeting Schedule and the Regular Monthly Commission Meeting Schedule for 2026. Contract awards were approved for Non-Destructive Bridge Pin Testing at Southern Region Bridges (Contract C-813A) and Central Region Bridges (Contract C-813B). Additionally, several personnel actions, including promotions for five Maintenance Employees, two Toll Bridge Corporals, and one Regional Maintenance Supervisor, were authorized, alongside the approval of retirement benefits for the Fleet Operations Manager. Finally, payments to the Commission's General and Labor Counsels were approved.

The meeting included discussions and actions on various topics. The general session covered the approval of minutes from the regular meeting of November 24, 2025, and the approval of the operations report for November 2025. The executive session addressed the approval of the 2026 Operating Budget, the 2026-2027 Capital Plan, and the 2026 Bond Issue Reimbursement. Additionally, the renewal of property and liability insurance policies, as well as the Workers' Compensation Insurance Renewal Plan for the year 12/31/2025 -- 12/31/2026, were discussed. Several personnel appointments were also approved, including appointments to Toll Supported Bridge Monitor II positions and Control Center Monitor II positions. Retirement benefits for John Mills, Sr. and Robert Savelli were approved, and payments of invoices for legal counsel were also approved.

The meeting included the Executive Director's report on winter storm challenges and two construction awards. A proclamation was presented to Elaine Johnson for her role in saving a life. The commission approved the Operations Report for February 2018, awarded a construction contract for the Commission Administration Building at Scudder Falls, and awarded construction services for the New Hope-Lambertville Toll Bridge Floor System Rehabilitation. They also approved the purchase of an Uninterruptable Power Supply replacement and retirement benefits for John Joseph and Leo Plenski. Several appointments and promotions were approved, including Joseph Trinian and Michael Rizza to ESS Monitor II, Earnest Rath to Maintenance Worker III, John Dyksen, Jr. to Toll Collector, and James Davis to Bridge Security Coordinator. Wade Caccese, Linda Tipton, and Lauren Werner were appointed as Training & Employee Safety Assistant Coordinators. The commission approved payment of invoices to Stradley Ronon, Florio Perrucci Steinhardt and Fader, and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi. A former employee, Richard Flanagan, addressed the commission regarding his termination and requested to be rehired.

The Delaware River Joint Tollbridge Commission held a virtual public hearing to present the rationale for the prospective 2026 toll adjustment, which will be applied uniformly across its eight toll bridges. The commission is adjusting to the financial realities of a changed economy and has implemented a financial resilience policy. The policy provides a gauge of fiscal health, including a debt service coverage ratio and a minimum general reserve fund balance. The executive director is directed to notify the board when these parameters are projected to fall below policy levels, which is projected for 2026. The commission owns and operates multiple bridge crossings, many of which are aging and require constant care and rehabilitation. The commission is self-funded and relies solely on toll revenue.