Visitors bureau board expected to vote against commissioners' filling posts

New bylaws would allow the removal of board members.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- The Trumbull County Convention and Visitors bureau board is expected to vote Monday to change its bylaws so county commissioners no longer appoint the majority of board members.
Other proposed changes would also allow the board to remove members "with or without cause" by a two-thirds vote.
Bureau staff said the changes were in keeping with the recommendations of a $15,000 state audit ordered by county commissioners.
"We are doing everything the auditors want us to do," said bureau staff member Anita Gutzky.
Board member's suspicion
However, one board member says he believes the purpose of the changes is to allow the rest of the board to kick him off. The board discussed removing new member Bill Kruppa at its last meeting.
"It is totally ludicrous what they want to do," said Kruppa, who was appointed by county commissioners. "I must have touched a pretty good nerve and they want to take me out."
He said he believed the rest of the board was angered by his requests for information, which he said still have not been filled.
Under the proposed bylaws, which would take effect Monday, only one of the nine members of the bureau board would be appointed by commissioners. The other eight would be picked to represent different constituent groups, like hotel owners or event promoters, by the board itself.
The changes were suggested to follow the recommendations of the auditors, said bureau attorney Jeff Kurz, who drafted the bylaws.
Appointments have been a contentious issue between commissioners and the board. County commissioners believe they have the right to appoint all members of the board, though the board believes it can make two appointments by itself.
Cash reserve
The proposed bylaws also allow the bureau to keep a six-month cash reserve. The bureau's cash reserve had been another object of contention.
County commissioners have already canceled the bureau's contract for 2005 and are soliciting proposals from all types of companies to take over the work of promoting county tourism. The bureau has no other source of funding.
Kurz said that he did not believe the bureau's determination to take over control of appointments to the board would be an obstacle to regaining the county's contract.
"No other outside organization would allow the county to appoint its entire board," Kurz said.
Commissioners could not be reached late Friday afternoon to comment.
siff@vindy.com