Airport authority fails to hire manager
The Fayette County Airport Authority failed to hire an airport manager Tuesday, despite the threat of losing potential funding for the position if someone is not hired soon. Sam Cortis, the current operations manager for the Connellsville Airport, was the only person nominated for the position, but he failed to receive the three votes needed to get the job. Voting in favor of hiring Cortis were authority chairman Fred K. Davis and member Tim Mahoney. Authority members Jesse Wallace and Bob Schiffbauer voted against the motion and Martin Griglak abstained.
Before abstaining, Griglak explained that fellow applicant Charles Pillar is owed a “package offer,” as per discussions during interviews. Griglak said his biggest concern is that everyone’s jobs will remain the same when a manager is hired. Pillar and Cortis were among the five people interviewed for the position.
After the meeting, Griglak said the decision is between Cortis and Pillar, and if he can be assured that Cortis will maintain his current position, he will likely vote for Pillar.
The airport has officially been without an airport manager Diana Wally resigned in July of 2002. Cortis was hired soon after her departure, along with the executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, Gene Lakin, who works with the authority as a consultant. Dana Sanders is the office manager.
Although money is available for the airport manager position, it will expire soon.
An allocation of $40,000 per year for the airport manager position has been earmarked for three years from a variety of sources, including a $20,000 per year grant from the Fayette Enterprise Community; $5,000 per year from Fay-Penn Economic Development Council; $10,000 per year from the authority and $5,000 per year from the county commissioners.
Before the the vote, Bob Junk of the FEC and Fay-Penn explained that the money was approved in September 2002 and it needs to be used quickly (within 18 months of the approval).
Additionally, Junk said the authority must hire the most “professional and qualified person” for the position. Junk said FEC will have to evaluate whoever is hired to ensure they are the most professional and highest quality person.
Saying he wasn’t being critical of anyone employed at the airport such as Cortis or Lakin, Junk said it is time to look at the airport authority as a business.
Junk said that he couldn’t guarantee any funding beyond the three years, and also couldn’t guarantee funding if the most qualified person isn’t hired. However, he said if a manager is hired and is doing a good job, more funding will probably be made available.
Griglak pointed out that the authority has been ahead of schedule on projects and is moving with precision. “I don’t want the implication that everything we’re doing is inadequate. Everyone is doing a good job,” he said.
Junk said hiring a manager could enhance the team that is already put in place. In response to a question from Mahoney about the money being pulled if someone the FEC doesn’t like is hired, Junk said it could jeopardize the funding if that were to occur.
Griglak said the authority is in a different position than when the funding was sought, because at the time there wasn’t anyone in a supervisory position. Schiffbauer said at the time he sought the funding, the airport was in dire need of leadership. He said he believes an airport manager is still needed. Schiffbauer said he has spoken with commissioner Vincent A. Vicites and commissioner-elect Joe Hardy and said they will be more than glad to entertain the concept of more money for the position in the future.
Schiffbauer said someone is needed now to grow with the airport. “The circumstances now and at the time the application was made are the same. We didn’t have a manager and we still don’t have a manager,” he said.
Mahoney said at the time of the application there was no one there, and that has changed.
Griglak said the team that is in place now should not be disturbed and a manger will fill a different role.
Junk said he wasn’t there to pass judgment, but added that the authority has to have documentation that the most qualified person is hired. He said the authority is dealing with the biggest economic project the county has seen outside of the Mon/Fayette Expressway.
Davis said things are well under control and conditions have changed since the grant was sought. He said the staff that is there shows capability for the future.
Lakin said he didn’t think his involvement should influence the decision to hire a manager or not.
The authority has several months before the first allocation must be spent from the FEC.
In other action, the authority approved a 2004 budget that includes $335,900 in total income and $249,286 in total expenses. Cortis said he cut expenses as much as he is comfortable with. He said the budget is similar to the 2003 version.
Ronald W. Kretz, senior architect at Baker Engineering & Energy, outlined a drawing of the proposed new general aviation terminal. Kretz said the 7,000-square-foot terminal building will include a main space with a secured entrance that will feature public toilet facilities, a snack bar, larger conference room and lease spaces. He said the two-story structure will incorporate the former Taylor Craft hangar in its design. Separate areas for airport offices, a general manager’s office and a reception area will also be featured, Kretz said.
Kretz said there will be a large glass area to the south overlooking the public space to see thru to the airfield. He said the idea is to make the building as transparent as possible. He said it will be “industrial looking” with metal siding and exposed steel to play off of the neighboring Taylor Craft building. Kretz said the design is about 50 percent complete.
Cecilia Henke of McCormick, Taylor & Associates Inc. reported that the archaeology background research for the runway extension project at the airport is 95 percent and to date nothing of significance has been found. She said the fieldwork should be finished the week of December 22.
Henke said the next public meeting to discuss the project has been tentatively set for February 2004.