Authority exec claims he was targeted after complaining of racial discrimination

Frank Minor says his complaints of racial discrimination at the Delaware River and Bay Authority were not properly investigated.

CAMDEN -- The deputy director of the Delaware River and Bay Authority says he complained of racial discrimination at the agency and then was retaliated against for doing so, a lawsuit claims.

DRBA Executive Director Frank Minor has filed suit against the agency. (File Photo) 

The complaint was filed on behalf of Frank Minor in U.S. District Court in Camden this week.

Minor says in the lawsuit the DRBA violated the Civil Rights Act and he has "suffered severe emotional distress" because of the alleged actions of his superiors.

According to the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, the position of marketing and governance administrator at the agency -- a position under Minor's supervision -- became open in October 2014.

The complaint said that three people, including Minor, were chosen by DRBA Executive Director Scott Green to interview candidates to fill the position.

Minor claims that only one applicant, an African-American woman, was recommended for a second interview. Minor alleges that Green elected to interview the recommended candidate and the lowest scoring applicant, a white female.

According to court papers, Green directed that the white candidate be hired over the objections of Minor. Minor says he complained to then-DRBA Chairman James Hogan and asked him to begin an investigation into what Minor believed were violations of discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission laws.

Minor claims nothing ever came of his request for an investigation and that he was told that the filling of the marketing and governance position as well as another position, business development manager, which also falls under his supervision, had both been put on hold. Minor claims he was told neither position would be filled under him.

Minor doubled up on expense reimbursements, records show

In the suit, Minor says he went to the new DRBA chairman, William Lowe, to complain that his allegations were never investigated and he felt he was being retaliated against for complaining. Minor also alleges he was told he, Minor, was told he would "not be able to attend previously scheduled public events."

Minor claims that to date, none of his complaints have been adequately investigated by the DRBA.

Minor wants a jury trial and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, legal fees and restoration of his full supervisory duties, according to the complaint. In papers filed with the suit, it says Minor is seeking $500,000.

"As a matter of policy, the Delaware River and Bay Authority does not comment on pending litigation," said DRBA Spokesman Jim Salmon on Friday. "The authority looks forward to resolving this matter within the framework of our legal system."

Minor's attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.

The DRBA is a bi-state agency headquartered in Delaware which operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and several regional airports in New Jersey and Delaware.

The DRBA is headquartered in New Castle, Delaware.

Minor was appointed deputy executive director June 29, 2009. His current salary is $166,228, according to the DRBA. When hired, his major focus was to be economic development in the areas of South Jersey and Delaware served by the DRBA.

Minor also serves as mayor of Logan Township in Gloucester County, a part-time job in which he earns around $10,000 a year.

Last year Minor came under scrutiny for charging more than $1,000 in meal and hotel room expenses to his political campaign fund over four years -- expenses he also charged to taxpayers and DRBA, according to a review of public documents.

In addition to the reimbursed expenses, the same records also showed Minor spent more than $17,000 in campaign funds on gas from 2011 to 2014, while reimbursing himself more than $10,000 in mileage expenses during the same time.

After the reports surfaced, Minor apologized, blaming mistakes on his filing campaign finance reports on his own.

Minor also made an unsuccessful primary bid in 2014 against fellow Democrat Donald Norcoss to run for a seat in Congress representing New Jersey in the First Congressional District.