Strife, resignations jeopardize the future of the port authority

The word “dysfunctionality” used by Mahoning County Commissioner David Ditzler to describe the operation of the Western Reserve Port Authority is, unfortunately, appropriate, given the strife that has become a part of the regular order of business.

Two of the eight members of the WRPA’s board of directors have resigned, and a third may follow suit. Mahoning and Trumbull county commissioners who appoint the directors are rightly concerned and are exploring options for replacing the authority.

Ditzler, who has been a commissioner for a year and four months, has been publicly vocal in his criticism of the bickering he recently witnessed among board members and the staff. He, along with Commissioners Anthony Traficanti and Carol Rimedio-Righetti, have asked the prosecutor’s office to determine if they can remove their four appointments to board.

The commissioners have also asked for advice on whether the port authority could be reorganized so it would answer directly to the Mahoning and Trumbull commissioners.

While we certainly agree with Ditzler that the dysfunction cannot be allowed to fester, we do not believe six commissioners in two counties can effectively oversee the performance of the port authority.

Indeed, Trumbull County Commissioner Paul Heltzel, who also has been publicly critical of the discord within the WRPA, says he favors the appointment of a new board of directors that may or may not include current board members, but he does not agree with the commissioners supervising the authority.

“We don’t have the time for that or the expertise,” Heltzel said. He pointed out that the current board is made up of individuals with helpful training and expertise, such as a lawyer and two pilots.

The Western Reserve Port Authority, created under state statute, oversees the operation of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and also works with local communities on economic development initiatives.

Ditzler and Heltzel do agree that the resignations of Rick Schiraldi, a certified public accountant and a Mahoning appointee, and Scott Lynn, a pilot and a Trumbull appointee, were prompted by the recent discord within the authority.

“He reached a point where he said he couldn’t put up with this anymore,” Heltzel said of Lynn. “He resigned because it’s a lot of hassle and he said he just had enough of it.”

The commissioner also offered this disturbing observation: “ ... we’re losing the good people, not the bad people.”

Personal, business reputation

Ditzler contended that Schiraldi stepped down because his personal and business reputation was being damaged by the “dysfunctionality” of the board. However, in his letter of resignation dated April 25, the certified public accountant cited “business and personal commitments” for his decision.

It is clear that the current state of affairs is untenable and must be addressed with a sense of urgency.

There are important decisions to be made with regard to the future of the airport and the region’s job-creation effort, which is why an authority that is not distracted by internal strife is essential.

Indeed, the turmoil has forced the Mahoning County commissioners to reverse their decision to have the WRPA involved in the purchase and upgrading of the building that will be the new county dog kennel.

However, before Mahoning and Trumbull officials make a decision on the future of WRPA, they should study other airport authorities in the state and determine which setup would be best for the Mahoning Valley.