WRPA Expects to Hire Executive Director Soon
VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- The chairman of the Western Reserve Port Authority’s board of directors says he anticipates meeting in the next few weeks to hire an interim executive director.
The port authority board took no action on the vacancy during its meeting Wednesday, the bulk of which was spent in a pair of executive sessions to discuss personnel issues.
“Everyone wants it to be done as soon as possible,” and a meeting to hire for the post ideally will be held in the next two to three weeks, said Ron Klingle, port authority chairman.
Wednesday’s meeting was the first since members of the Mahoning and Trumbull counties’ boards of commissioners met two weeks ago with port authority members following months of turmoil at the agency, prompting commissioners at one point to consider dissolving the port authority. Following the Aug. 5 meeting, commissioners decided against taking such action.
The executive director’s position has been vacant since March. Sarah Lown, senior economic development specialist, has assumed several of the responsibilities in the interim.
“We’re in the process of considering someone on an interim basis,” Klingle said. “We’ll probably make the decision as to how to proceed for a permanent individual” to fill the position once the Council of Development Finance Agencies in Columbus, the consultant engaged by the port authority, completes the strategic planning process, he said.
The name most frequently cited in connection with the position on an interim or ongoing basis is local businessman John Moliterno, former president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and a past chairman of the port authority. Moliterno and Klingle acknowledged last month they had discussed the opening.
Speaking with reporters Wednesday, Klingle declined to comment on any potential candidates.
The board also approved compensation changes for airport employees who are taking on additional duties to support the economic development division. The positions of aviation office manager, budget/financial audit consultant and administrative assistant will reach receive 10% increases in pay to compensate the employees for the “everyday support” functions such as accounts receivable, accounts payable, finance and budgeting that they are providing the economic development division.
Dan Dickten, director of aviation, described the pay increases as “rightsizing compensation for additional responsibilities.”
The airport will provide 90% of the funds to pay for the positions and the economic development division 10%. “That’s about the split of the time that’s required to support” economic development, Dickten said.
In addition, Andrea Hoffman, airport and business development coordinator, will be paid an additional $10,000 annually to administer the WRPA economic development programs, plus $50 per hour for website development work. Hoffman, who started in February, manages the airport’s website. She operates under a one-year renewable contract, Dickten said.
The site previously was administrated by Rubenstein Associates, Liberty Township, the port authority’s marketing consultant, through a contract employee who is no longer affiliated with the firm, Lown said.
Hoffman is “a proven website administrator, very well versed in that activity, so it makes sense to bring that in under one happy little roof,” Dickten said.
“I don’t necessarily need full-time help in marketing or in clerical but some kind of support is necessary to get the job done,” Lown added.
As part of her duties, Hoffman will make improvements to the economic development division’s website. She pointed to successes in raising the airport’s profile though contests and social media.
The economic development site “definitely needs to be rejuvenated,” Hoffman said. “It has a lot of potential.”
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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