Another departure: Director quits

A name has already been floated as a possible replacement.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Western Reserve Port Authority is seeking a replacement for Tom Nolan, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport's director of aviation since 1996.
Nolan, whose last day will be Jan. 5, is leaving the airport to take a job as assistant director of airports for Wichita, Kan.
"He was our quarterback," said Martin Solomon, a member of the port authority board.
Nolan was the top-paid administrative official for the port authority, which tries to foster economic development throughout Trumbull and Mahoning counties. Nolan, 44, was responsible for daily operations at the airport, which has a $1.4 million annual budget and a staff of 10, and played a role in attempting to lure new business to the facility.
Seeking a replacement
The port authority is advertising in a niche publication for a replacement for Nolan, who earned $79,500 a year.
Mahoning County Commissioner Ed Reese, however, said a good candidate for the job will be Tim Berlekamp, executive director of the Mahoning County Recycling Division. He is also a former air traffic controller and familiar with economic development, Reese said.
The Trumbull and Mahoning County commissioners each appoint members to the port authority board, and split the expense of subsidizing airport operations.
During Nolan's tenure, he oversaw $45 million in infrastructure improvements to the airport, including the construction of the longest runway in Northeast Ohio.
But this period also saw a decline in commercial traffic, and the slow-motion departure of all the airport's carriers. The last commercial airline, Northwest, pulled out earlier this year.
Explaining expenses
At a meeting with Trumbull and Mahoning county commissioners Thursday, port authority officials explained airport expenses and their efforts to find new airlines.
After the meeting, Joseph Angelo Jr., a Trumbull County commissioner, said he would support paying the rest of the $300,000 Trumbull County had pledged the airport for 2002. Commissioner Michael O'Brien said he also favored paying the rest of the bill.
Last month, the Trumbull County commissioners said they would hold off paying the last $75,000 until they had been reassured that the airport really needed it.
If money from both counties didn't come through, "bills would not be paid," said Reid Dulberger, chairman of the port authority board. Additional cuts could be made, but reducing staff further or closing the terminal would hurt remaining tenants at the airport and make a recovery even more difficult.
Mahoning County still owes $150,000 of its $300,000 subsidy for this year.
"I don't see us giving any more money to the port authority than Trumbull County does," Reese said.
Mahoning commissioners will vote on paying at least half their remaining bill next week.