Airport authority replaces solicitor
The Fayette County Airport Authority replaced Mark Rowan as solicitor Tuesday in favor of attorney Mark Morrison, over the lone objection of board Chairman Jesse Wallace, who called the move a “digression.” Wallace also asked why the position wasn’t opened to other interested and qualified attorneys, such as county solicitor Joseph E. Ferens Sr., whom Wallace said phoned him twice to inquire about the job.
“I’m wondering why we only take the first name (Morrison) that walks through the door,” said Wallace. His fellow board members remained mum when Wallace asked for a foundation to justify dismissing the Grogan-Graffman Law Firm of Pittsburgh, for whom Rowan works.
The only response came from board member Tim Mahoney, who said, “I wholeheartedly think we should have a local attorney.” Mahoney made the motion to hire Uniontown-based Morrison, a move seconded by board member Fred K. Davis and supported by board members Martin Griglak and Robert Schiffbauer.
When Davis pointed out that he had Rowan’s resignation in hand, effective Jan. 1, Wallace said, “I understand he was asked to resign; (it’s) not so much that he wanted to resign on his own. I feel like it’s a digression. I say we table the motion.”
At that point Davis interjected, “I say you call for a second” to the motion, which Davis promptly provided.
Wallace said he understood there was “a lot of discussion” at last week’s workshop meeting, which he wasn’t around to hear, about replacing Rowan. Prior to an executive session that ended Tuesday’s regular meeting, Wallace said that he’d heard the issue was discussed in other forums as well.
Wallace said he saw no need to dislodge Rowan from a position he’s held for four years and in which he’s done a commendable job for the authority.
“I don’t see any reason to change or force a man out,” said Wallace. “At least give me the foundation for the change, and they didn’t give me any.”
Wallace said that Ferens contacted him with a desire to throw his hat into the ring should the position open up. While that doesn’t mean Ferens would have been his choice, Wallace said the authority owes it to itself and the public to select from a wide pool of candidates.
“At least open it up and interview, and have a good sample to pull from,” said Wallace.
When a separate motion to elect airport authority officers for 2003 came up on the agenda, Schiffbauer put a halt to that effort by stating that his review of the bylaws show that the board isn’t supposed to vote on its officers until the third Thursday of January.
Schiffbauer noted that in the past five years, the board has not adhered to its own bylaws in that regard. Wallace agreed to put off the vote until that time, saying it was no problem for him to wait another month.
However, Wallace’s term on the board expires at the end of the year, giving the county commissioners the chance to either reappoint him for another five-year term or name a replacement. Of the three commissioners, only Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh has publicly stated that he supports reappointing Wallace.
Commissioners Cavanagh, Ronald M. Nehls and Vincent A. Vicites are slated to make a slew of board appointments at their Dec. 27 special meeting, where the primary purpose is to adopt a final county budget for 2003.
In other matters, the board:
– Unanimously agreed to hire McCormick-Taylor to perform a required environmental assessment related to a runway improvement/extension project. Schiffbauer noted that all three firms selected as finalists were extremely qualified, but he added that McCormick-Taylor had considerable aviation-related experience.
– Unanimously approved a budget for 2003 that deleted the cost of air show insurance and expenses, meaning that event won’t be held this year. Davis called it the best airport budget he’s seen and proclaimed it a good working tool to guide the board.
– Heard highlights of an inspection report from Scott Fredrickson of Benatec Associates, who said that additional trees must be removed from 11 locations on or near airport grounds. The board agreed to have White Energy come back to top off or remove trees located in areas where that firm was already contracted to perform that work.
Fredrickson said that three of the trees are located on private property where the authority needs to acquire easements to either top off or remove the trees.
– Heard from Schiffbauer that he “feels strongly” that Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation, also known as FACT, will locate an intermodal transportation facility on airport grounds. Schiffbauer said that he and Griglak have a meeting today with Michelle Shumar, director of the county’s Human Services Department, regarding that matter. The facility would serve as a base of operations for the county bus system.