WRPA Relieves DeLeon as Its Executive Director
VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- The Western Reserve Port Authority this morning voted to relieve Rose Ann DeLeon of her duties as executive director due to medical reasons.
DeLeon, who was hired in 2009 as the port authority’s first executive director, has been on medical leave since Jan. 16.
Following a 20-minute executive session at the beginning of the meeting, the port authority board approved paying DeLeon’s base salary through April 15 and continue her medical coverage through April 30, and to assist her with her application for disability benefits to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System. She also will be permitted to continue to participate in the port authority’s medical plan for an additional 12 months by paying the premium on the policy.
The board, in its resolution, thanked DeLeon for her years of service, contributions and her instrumental role in the progress of the port authority.
Additionally, the port authority increased the salary of Sarah Lown, senior economic development manager, by $3,500 and awarded her a 2013 year-end bonus of $3,000. She will retain her current title, the port authority’s chairman, James Floyd, said.
In his report to the board, Dan Dickten, aviation director at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, which the port authority oversees, told members he is encouraged by a March 10 meeting with representatives of United Airlines regarding the prospect of reestablishing daily service at the regional airport.
“I think they’re very open to doing something with us,” he said. United officials requested a survey to gather additional information to measure demand for and interest in daily service, which would be provided from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Andrea Hoffman, the port authority’s marketing and business development coordinator, will begin circulating the survey starting today.
“We hope to have that information back to United in the last two to three weeks,” he said. United hasn’t said when it might make a decision but would have aircraft availability after the upcoming cutbacks at Cleveland.
“We would now be on the same level as a Pittsburgh or a Cleveland given that they are not hub airports,” Dickten said.
The board voted unanimously to approve using $420,000 from its share of hotel bed tax receipts to match a $780,000 federal grant designated to guarantee revenue to a regularly scheduled air carrier.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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