No lack of interest in port-authority position

The search continues for two additional port-authority employees.

By Ed Runyan

VIENNA — John Masternick, Western Reserve Port Authority chairman, says he’s impressed with the quality of people in contention for the port authority’s economic-development director job.

“I was so impressed. It’s really nice to know there are people with really brilliant minds and great qualifications who would be willing to move to this area to work,” he said.

Masternick said a committee of the port authority is continuing to work toward a selection. He was not able to predict how soon the selection will be made.

The position is being funded by $375,000 per year pledged to the port authority by Mahoning and Trumbull counties as well as Youngstown, Warren, Niles, Howland and the Western Reserve Building Trades Council.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, also secured a one-time $200,000 federal appropriation in July to help fund the position.

The person filling the job is expected to take advantage of the port authority’s statutory ability to use bond financing to help attract companies to the Mahoning Valley and improve the area’s economy.

Ryan has been a major promoter of the position.

Meanwhile, the port authority also is searching for a replacement for Steve Bowser, the former director of aviation at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, who left the area in early August for a job at the Palm Springs International Airport in California.

Masternick said Bowser was offered $1,000 as payment of his accumulated sick and vacation time, but the issue hasn’t been resolved yet.

Port authority member Scott Lynn serves on the committee that is temporarily serving as Bowser’s replacement. He said the committee hopes to complete interviews with candidates in four to six weeks.

Meanwhile, Atty. Dan Keating, legal representative to the board, e-mailed port-authority members the most recent proposed revision of the port authority’s bylaws Monday afternoon. Board members decided to hold off another month before voting on whether to accept them.

The bylaws contain for the first time a code of ethical conduct that says port-authority members must disclose possible conflicts of interest before accepting an appointment to the board and decline to participate in discussions or vote on issues that could be in conflict with his or her private affairs.

runyan@vindy.com