Airport growth demands care in selecting executive director

2So said Mahoning County commission Chairman David Ditzler during a recent meeting with the four members of the Western Reserve Port Authority appointed by Ditzler and his colleagues. The other four authority members are chosen by the commissioners in Trumbull County.

The issue of transparency has long plagued the governing body of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, and has long been a point of contention for us — which is why we were pleased to hear such an unequivocal statement from Ditzler.

The port authority and the staff must know that while good things are happening at the regional airport, not everyone in the Mahoning Valley believes the facility is important to the economic well-being of the region.

While we have been consistent in our support, the recent controversies surrounding the port authority have given us pause, and has led to our demanding openness and a high level of professionalism.

In that regard, the hiring of an executive director is a test of the authority’s commitment to transparency.

Last summer, John Moliterno was hired as interim executive director at the urging of Chairman Ron Klingle, a Trumbull County businessman who has known the Girard City Council member for two decades. There was no formal application process, which prompted us to call for a national search to fill executive director’s position.

As we said at the time, and repeat today, Moliterno may well turn out to be the most qualified person to run the airport, but we won’t know that unless the members of the authority set out as wide a net as possible to show they’re sincere about judging applicants on their qualifications and experience to manage a regional airport complex.

The filling of that important position should not be about Moliterno’s friends or allies. He is earning $88,000 as the interim executive director. It should be about getting the best and the brightest.

It is possible to attract good people, as the hiring of Dan Dickten as director of aviation has shown. Dickten has used his expertise, knowledge and national connections to bring airline service to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. The annual increase in the passenger count over the last several years is an indication that the plan he has put in place — with the support of the port authority — to not only increase the service provided by Allegiant Airlines, but to attract other carriers, is working.

Daily flights

Indeed, at the end of last year, Aerodynamics Inc. of Beachwood, Ohio, and Atlanta appeared ready to provide daily flights to and from Youngstown to Chicago. An application is pending before the U.S. Department of Transportation.

However, Aerodynamics’ chief executive officer, Scott A. Beale, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in Ohio and is embroiled in a legal battle with a former partner.

Nonetheless, Pierre, S.D., has signed a deal for air service with Aerodynamics. Given all the issues confronting the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, the need to put together the best management team has never been greater.