<p>In the second regular meeting since their recent reorganization, members of the Martha’s Vineyard airport commission sparred with each other and airport staff over procedures and policies governing the Island’s only commercial airport. Two attorneys participated in the meeting by conference call.
In a tense meeting Friday, members of the Martha’s Vineyard airport commission sparred with each other and airport staff over procedures and policies governing the Island’s only commercial airport.
It was the second regular meeting since the recent reorganization of the commission, which saw the appointment of a new chairman, Norman Perry, and two new commissioners, Richard Michelson and Christine Todd.
At the time of their appointment by the county commission last month, Mr. Michelson and Ms. Todd pledged to work to bring change to the embattled airport commission, which is currently engaged in two separate lawsuits in superior court, and was named in a workplace discrimination complaint in December.
But at the meeting Friday morning, the two raised concerns that their voices were not being heard.
Among several heated exchanges that took place, Mr. Michelson pressed Mr. Perry to reveal current policies regarding non-union employee use of drugs and alcohol.
“My concern is public safety here. It’s a big, huge issue here, and I think we need to have something in place immediately, and if we don’t have something in place, I would like to know that,” Mr. Michelson said.
The commission has been working on developing an employee handbook for non-union personnel, but the process has taken longer than anticipated.
A draft policy, produced by airport counsel, was sent to airport manager Sean Flynn more than a month ago, but commissioners have not yet received a copy.
“You said, Norm, that there were pieces of personnel policies and procedures concerning the manager and non-management employees, and again, one of my biggest concerns is that substance abuse, alcohol drug policy because again, that is an issue of safety for the public, for the employees who work here at this airport, for people walking down the street, for people who work here every day,” Mr. Michelson said. “So I would like to know, when can I have what you have now?”
Mr. Perry responded that he wasn’t sure if the existing policies had been “cleansed yet.”
“These are policies you have had in place for how long? And they are not cleansed or vetted?” Mr. Michelson asked.
Mr. Flynn, the airport manager, said the topic was related to litigation and was not appropriate for the table at the moment.
“Sean, I am talking to my fellow commissioners here, if I need to ask you something, I will ask you something specifically,” Mr. Michelson said.
“I don’t need to be berated,” Mr. Flynn said.
Airport counsel Susan Whalen, one of two attorneys present for the meeting via conference call, advised that the airport receives federal funding and is therefore covered under the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988.
Mr. Michelson asked again whether there were current policies in place for non-union personnel.
“Don’t answer the question,” Mr. Flynn coached the chairman.
Finally, Mr. Perry said there were lots of things in place, but that the airport commissioners would receive the new policies when they were ready.
When Ms. Todd asked Mr. Perry whether the personnel board had received the new policy, Mr. Flynn interjected again.
“Say you don’t know if you don’t know,” Mr. Flynn told Mr. Perry.
Ms. Todd redirected her question to personnel subcommittee chairman Constance Teixeira.
“I don’t know,” Ms. Teixeira said.
“You don’t know? You are the head of the personnel committee, and you don’t know?” Ms. Todd inquired.
In a separate discussion of procedure, Ms. Todd asked for the protocol for getting an item on the meeting agendas.
Mr. Perry said that topic was not on the agenda.
“We will discuss it at a later time,” Mr. Perry said. “Period.”
Mr. Michelson said he didn’t like Mr. Perry’s attitude.
“You are being autocratic,” he said.
Later, though, Mr. Perry elaborated on the agenda procedure, saying commissioners could call or email him with proposed agenda items. He said he would take notes and review it with management staff, and get back with an answer.
Ms. Todd said she had emailed an agenda item request, but had been told doing so was an ethics violation.
“I think it might benefit all of us if we had a visit from the state ethics commission to sort of review open meeting law and processes pertaining to email communication and that sort of thing,” she said.
She indicated that she had other business to discuss, but Mr. Perry stopped her.
“They are not on the agenda, so they are over,” he said. “Give it to me in an email, talk to me in the hall, but there are no other discussions going on here other than what is on the agenda. And now, it’s my turn, if you don’t mind.”
Mr. Michelson questioned the proceedings.
“When I first got here, I talked about open and transparent government, and I don’t think that is happening right here.”
He said he would try to get on the agenda for a subsequent meeting.
“Hopefully, that is not a problem, because I have things to say that need to be brought out into the public, and I feel like I am being stymied right now.”
Though part of the agenda read, “time reserved for any topic not reasonably anticipated by chair,” Mr. Perry said that was for last-minute items brought to the table by management, a group he defined as himself and the airport manager.
Ms. Whalen confirmed that the chairman has total authority over the agenda items.
“No one has a right to speak until they are recognized by the chair,” she said.
Fallout from a complaint brought by the airport against the county occupied another part of the meeting.
Early in the meeting, county manager Martina Thornton offered information about an ongoing compensation study for various county and airport employees. The consultant agreed to conduct the study with five non-union airport positions at no cost to the airport.
Ms. Thornton said she would like the minutes to reflect that she was appearing as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the body, a position granted to the county manager in the county’s administrative code and Massachusetts General Law.
But a few sentences into her explanation, the chairman cut her off.
“The airport does not have an ex-officio according to Chapter 90, so if you are there as an interested citizen, fine, but if you are there in that capacity . . .” Mr. Perry said.
Two weeks ago, the airport sued the county, claiming among other things that the county manager is not entitled to sit as ex-officio member of the airport commission. The lawsuit claims that that Chapter 90, the state legislation that governs airports, makes no provision for an ex-officio member.
Litigation counsel David Mackey, also participating via conference call, confirmed the position of the airport commission on the matter.
“We anticipate that the court will rule soon on that issue, but in the meantime, my advice is that the commission not recognize any ex-officio, non-voting members,” he said.
Mr. Perry asked Ms. Thornton if she wanted to sit in the meeting as the county manager, but not as the ex-officio.
“Personally, I would like to hear what she has to say about this,” said commission member Denys Wortman.
Discussion followed, with the commission ultimately voting to include up to five more positions in the compensation study.
During a break, a member of the public shared his concerns about the way the meeting had been conducted.
“This is my first airport committee meeting in six or eight years, maybe 10 years,” Myron Garfinkle began, before being interrupted by Mr. Wortman, who questioned the timing of his remarks.
“He has to be recognized by the chair,” Mr. Flynn said.
“This is a break, we are on a break, okay? This is America,” Mr. Garfinkle said. “I would just like to say that I have never seen anything run without regard to Robert’s Rules of Order so blatantly in my experience ever, and that your commissioners ought to be familiar with the rules of running a meeting, for your own protection.”
Commission member Peter Bettencourt said he was familiar with the rules of running a meeting. Mr. Flynn said that was why the attorneys were on the phone.
“I just wanted to say, I have never seen anything quite like this,” Mr. Garfinkle said.
Comments
Boy this is better than
Paulli D EdgartownBoy this is better than reality TV. I hope this group of amateurs know how to keep the runway light on.
I am very upset that the Mvy
Michelle meyers West tisburyI am very upset that the Mvy tower is in this picture. We are Faa contract and have nothing to do with the drama of Mvy airport. The controllers in the tower are drug tested and safety of flight is our priority. So putting a picture as the tower as your back drop is offensive.
I am an air traffic
Jerome Neidigh EdgartownI am an air traffic controller here at MVY, working contract under the FAA. Seeing the picture and reading the article, I am offended that the tower is shown. We are a highly professional group of men and women who have an excellent track record providing air traffic services on and around the MVY airport. We are in no way shape or form affiliated with any "bickering" that may be going on with the airport operations side of things. I am not saying that this article is tying air traffic to any of this situation but the picture insinuates otherwise.
It is quite sad to see that
Bethany Scanlon Edgartown, MAIt is quite sad to see that the reporting of our news papers, does not properly take the time to do the research when reporting there articles. If they had done so then the picture of the tower would never have been a part of this article, as they are a completely separate entity. Further more the tower controls up hold the highest level of professionalism when it comes to there jobs while most of them are former veterans. It is disturbing to see that the news paper has put the picture of the tower in with the disgraceful happenings of the airport which leads people to think that they are some how a part of what's going on there. When in actuality it has nothing to do with them.
How does the commission who
mick richards chilmarkHow does the commission who oversees and is the acting authority overseeing airport mngmt take orders from the mngr on tv with a reporter sitting 10 feet away ? Don't answer that hahaha isn't it time to blow this up before the millions go out the window? County commissioners who appt airport commissioners should dissolve the airport commission and their incompetence and temporarily take over.Its only gonna get worse and extremely expensive to all tax payers.Airport mngmt is a liability which vulture lawyers are feeding off
Oh, touchy, touchy. Settle
tom hodgson wtOh, touchy, touchy. Settle down, you people high up there, keeping airplanes safe. Take a chill pill and stop being so offended. You are guilty of confusing symbols and reality. Almost everybody, except maybe a tower worker, when they see an airport tower, do they think "FAA"? No. They think "AIRPORT"! And if they think any further, who in their right mind is going to think that the Martha's Vineyard Airport Commission of the County of Dukes County has anything to do with flight control?
I have watched a lot of these
concerned tisburyI have watched a lot of these meetings and am looking forward to seeing this one. How do grown adults that are Sean's bosses take orders from him? To the five remaining airport commissioners please do everyone a favor a resign (Connie, Norman, Peter, Mr. Wortman and Mr.Coyne who I might add is never anything but a voice on a phone)it's quite clear you are not doing your jobs. If the remaining commissioners can't work with Miss Todd and Mr. Michelson RESIGN! Those two aren't going anywhere for at least three years.
Thanks to the Gazette for
oldtimer ChilmarkThanks to the Gazette for following the stories unfolding at the Airport and not just getting the propaganda news from the "regime" like the "other" paper does. watching and reading the stories is like Rhode Island politics back in the day! The majority of the Island sees and knows whats going on and why their dragging their feet with the drug and personal policies.
As the days go by the lack of
Time for a Change West TisburyAs the days go by the lack of airport oversight and transparency by the Airport Commission becomes more evident:
1) The Airport Manager advising the commissioners in an effort to protect himself.
2) A sub-committee chairperson, responding "I don't know" to a specific and topical question. The response could be a blatant lie or complete incompetency. A simple Freedom of Information Act request can determine which.
3) The chair's unilateral disregard of agenda items requested by a new commissioner and the lack of desire to engage the discussion of such issues.
4) The repeated attendance by the Airport's labor lawyer to provide meeting guidance on Airport Commission affairs unrelated to any labor issues....a waste of money. How many other governmental bodies on MV fly-in paid, off-island counsel, to attend every meeting?
5) A suit filed by the Airport against the county for ex-officio representation by the Dukes County Manager. A prior practice that existed without incident, now intended to negate any possibility of transparency.
6) The attempt to bully and silence an independent citizen during a break.
The issue of oversight, transparency and competency became clear. A spotlight has shown brightly on the fumbling and bumbling in an attempt to hide the truth. It is very unfortunate; the price will paid by the Airport employees, tenants and users. This is not what our founding fathers envisioned as effective and transparent government.
If stories such as this are
ENOUGH! in VH VHIf stories such as this are not enough further evidence that County Government is a sad, wastefull joke that should be abolished ASAP, I don't know what is. It is not hard to read between the lines when Mr. Michelson asks a simple policy question regarding non-union employee drug and alcohol policy and basically gets ordered to shut up. The fact that the Airport manager was upset at the very mention of this is also quite telling it would seem. In another recent story, Edgartown selectman Smadbeck referenced the County Budget stating- We inherited it, It is a governmental agency, we have to fund it. No Sir, I submit we do not have to fund it. The prudent course of action would be to end the debacle known as County Government. Sounds like an oxymoron these days no?
Its not the County thats the
oldtimer ChilmarkIts not the County thats the problem this time its the Airport Manager and the Airport Commission. The County has very little control over the Airport. Its time I think for an independent audit of the Airport and its so called leaders. Someone needs to get the State Attorney General's Office and the State Ethics Commission involved.
What an embarrassment Norm
Carol Borer MassachusettsWhat an embarrassment Norm Perry! I served with you on many Boards and you never "covered up" true facts like you just did at this Airport meeting! You should be ashamed of yourself for denying the public and hiding the truth about airport personnel and policies. You know all about the open meeting law, so don't pretend to the public and your fellow Commissioners. Didn't you serve on the WT Personnel Board, hard to deny that when I sat next to you. So, get your act together and be truthful.
Well said Carol Borer. I
concerned tisburyWell said Carol Borer. I watched mvtv from Friday's meeting, it was kinda boring until 18 minutes in. The minute Miss Thornton stood up and said she was ex-officio Connie acted like a small child and slammed her book closed and made a motion to adjourn. The airport is hiding something, it's very evident. How many of the airport commissioners are ok with having their reputations tarnished in public, remember, "reputations, a lifetime to build, seconds to destroy" (wise words from a silly movie) and u r all willing to do this to protect who? Not the average person trying to make a living but a person that treats you like children on TV. Very sad indeed.
I just watched the video on
S. M. West TisburyI just watched the video on MVTV. The Chairman's behavior was eye opening. Embarrassing is an understatement.
The time for change is long
Airport tenant MVY AirportThe time for change is long overdue at MVY airport. The "good old boy" network is rearing it's ugly head once again. It has been Peyton Place here for too many years. Airport management has zero customer service skills with their own commission, airport tenants, and the traveling public!
Carol Borer, Not the same
I Recall!Carol Borer, Not the same Carol Borer who left under a Giant Dark cloud as a past County Manager? PLEASE!!!
Ok so I watched this "meeting
mark bagdigian off the rockOk so I watched this "meeting" and what an absolute joke. Norman Perry should just resign as "chairman". No control, no perfessionalism, and certainly is a puppet of one Sean Flynn. Having two members of the commission asking valid questions and being told by the waste of space manager to not answer is unacceptable. These three people Flynn, Potter and Perry are all in cahoots with each other. If a commission member asks for by laws of management and can not recieve them makes no sense what so ever. To the other puppets that sit on this commission should be ashmed as well to sit there and watch this and not speak up, that would be considered spineless. I used to work for this airport and I feel sorry for the staff that has deal with this constant bickering of people that have no idea of what they are doing or do nothing at all. When a commission is in the back pocket of management how can it be run smoothly, oh wait it cant. To the staff that still works there I wish you all the best. To the staff that has been removed unfairly keep your head up. To mangement and the spineless airport commissioners good luck running something with no staff. Im pretty sure that you can not fuel planes, change a runway light, expect to carry bags, expect to clean the terminal, expect perform maintence on equipment, and also run for the ARFF trucks when there is a emergency. I would pay a large amount of money to see the manager of the airport perform any of those above items. As well as any comission memeber, there is only person that has experince with that on the commission. God luck Rick. Your going to need it dealing with the spineless!
Oh my, that is the same carol
S. K. Past County CommissionerOh my, that is the same carol borer. Old news reports reminded me of the mess she made and "she departed surrounded in controversy when the county finance board learned after the fact that she had received a $22,791 check on the eve of her retirement as compensation for unused vacation and sick pay in contravention of the rules for county employees and department heads.
As the search began for a new manager, county business was placed in the hands of an acting county manager, Diane Powers, the Dukes County Registrar of Deeds."
It was all down hill from there, Laurie Perry Winn Davis, and Russell Smith. Hopefully Martina Thornton will remove the stain which began with Carol Borer.
this is so embarrassing &
annoyed vhthis is so embarrassing & such a shame that the employees in OPS have this cloud hanging over their heads....most of them are good, hard working people - time to 'clean house' with management. the way these meetings have been run is a joke!
Perhaps it's time to begin
Essiandar Gar formerly of Indian HillPerhaps it's time to begin slapping the County and airport commissions with a torrent of public FOIA requests to gain some measure of transparency within these governing bodies?
If their own members cannot get information, then the public should be irate enough to utilize the tools to do so.
Just a thought...
Anyone care to take bets that
MIXED NUTS On the mileAnyone care to take bets that the next Airport commision meeting will be canceleled, so that the so called professional manager won't have to produce the personal bylaws ? Good chance you won't see another meeting for a while. And just how much is it costing we the taxpayer for TWO lawyers to be on the phone for the meeting ! On a side note please take the time to watch the meeting on MVTV and listen closely to the Manager's voice, crystal clear and strong at the start and as he continues to guzzle his ice tea cocktail his voice becomes weak and mono tone. This meeting was a joke from the start. Good luck to the new commisioners on your uphill battle against the incompetance of your fellow board members.
Add new comment