The meeting was tape-recorded and is on file in the Airport Office.
The meeting was called to order at 5:40 p.m. by President David
Rosenthal with Directors Bates, Bozack, Farris, Mohn, and Rosenthal
present. Airport manager and operations manager were also present.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a potential method
to replace the manager and other personnel procedures that might
be prudent.
Director Rosenthal asked Ms. Bass to provide information on
manager recruitment procedures. Ms. Bass stated that the District
may advertise for a new manager, and they can also invite specific
managers of other facilities to apply. The best place to advertise
is in trade publications. An exhibit was distributed showing
various scenarios with benefits that are normally provided for
this type of position and also annual salaries. (Exhibits attached.)
The District provides vacation leave, sick leave, and health
insurance as benefits. Other agencies usually provide retirement
benefits, mostly through the Public Employee Retirement System
(PERS). The retirement benefits are rather expensive, and up
to 10% of annual salary are based on the employee age. A vehicle
is often provided to the manager, or in some cases a vehicle
allowance. The Board can decide on a benefit package at the time
they recruit a new manager. Some people want to negotiate contracts,
with severance benefits among other things.
The salaries on the exhibit may be revised as the Board sees
fit. They are based on salaries at other comparable commercial
facilities. No taxes or benefit costs are included in the salaries.
Special Districts do not have municipal or county departments
to assist them with back up support, such as financial, public
works, planning and other items. Therefore many District managers
are offered higher salaries. On the other hand, Mojave, Shafter,
and Santa Maria District managers have extremely high salaries
and these were not considered as comparable for Inyokern.
The Board may also promote an existing employee to the position
of manager, and a salary was provided as an example for this
option. Should that happen, the manager could also double as
operations manager and an administrative assistant could be employed
to do the accounting, grant administration, and other office
duties. Environmental Impact Reports as well as some other work
can be incorporated into grants for projects and paid through
them, eliminating the need for an employee who has these areas
of expertise.
There was a discussion by the Directors about various options
and other ideas. Director Mohn mentioned that in the past he
was approached about having the Kern County Department of Airports
do applications or other duties, perhaps having Inyokern Airport
return to the Kern County Airport System and use their staff
for economical reasons. Mr. Mohn said the situation may be better
now, and Ms. Bass stated that after losing some airports to Districts
the County did change their position and they take much better
care of their outlying airports at this time. Ms. Bozack said
that there may be some way for the County to do the grants. Ms.
Bass said that the grant applications are not difficult to do,
and Inyokern receives entitlement funds so there is no competition
for funds. Mr. Rosenthal said that you cede a lot of control
when you become part of a large organization. Mr. Mohn added
that he just wanted to mention that there are various options.
Mr. Mohn said that if the present manager retires suddenly,
perhaps for a medical emergency or another reason, the present
Operations Manager would have to take over the airport operation
and administration immediately. Ms. Bass said that Mr. Seymour
now is able to negotiate, to administer grants, and perform most
of the manager’s duties. Mr. Bates said that having Mr. Seymour
as interim manager would give the Board time to make a decision.
Mr. Rosenthal pointed out that the position description needs
to be evaluated and updated to reflect present reality and then
determine if Mr. Seymour has the skills to perform the duties.
The Board is fortunate that they have personnel who have the
skills and knowledge to perform the necessary duties.
Mr. Mohn asked Mr. Seymour if he is comfortable with his ability
to perform the job description duties. Mr. Bates elaborated and
asked if there are aspects of the managers job that Mr. Seymour
would not be comfortable with. Mr. Seymour responded that he
is able to perform most duties, but would prefer not to do the
accounting tasks. Ms. Bozack pointed out that the administrative
assistant would do these tasks, and a job description needs to
be put together for that position. Ms. Bozack also brought up
the point that the manager does tasks that could readily be done
by someone with no need for managerial skills.
Mr. Farris stated that in his experience when hiring employees,
a new hire sometimes says he has the needed skills, interviews
well, and then after hiring is totally incapable of adequately
filling the job. On the other hand, when you promote in-house,
you know what you have, some one who is capable of handling the
tasks, who is reliable , and who is responsible. Mr. Farris agreed
that the administrative assistant is a good idea because we know
Mr. Seymour is capable of doing the job. Mr. Mohn stated that
he is in agreement with this, and he also believes Mr. Seymour
should be given the opportunity to do the job. Mr. Rosenthal
also pointed out that the Board has the luxury of operating without
big city restraints. He does not want to low ball the position,
and then have the new manager leave for a better job someplace
else. It is important to have your personnel grow in their jobs,
but they have to make a living wage. Mr. Mohn said that after
Mr. Seymour holds the position for a time, he, too, could groom
somebody to replace him when he leaves.
Ms. Bass mentioned that when you are in a position for a time,
you make valuable contacts that are extremely beneficial. Recently
Mr. Seymour received a large concession from the Health Department
on the fuel facility because he is friends with Ms. Green from
the Department. Mr. Rosenthal said that the District wants to
evolve and needs to view the situation in light of what is reasonable
for Inyokern, then plan for a reasonable transition. Mr. Mohn
reiterated that he likes the idea of Mr. Seymour trying the job.
Ms. Bozack suggested having Mr. Seymour as interim manager,
and in a short period the Board would know whether he is capable.
She added that a new Board may be elected shortly with different
ideas. Ms. Bozack suggested having incentive pay if the manager
can recruit a new business of a certain size, or some program
similar. Mr. Mohn stated that he does not like this idea. Ms.
Bass added that realistic marketing is very expensive, and the
District may not want to do this. Mr. Bates brought up that marketing
has been done in the past, a few times with a great deal of money
being spent, with no results. Mr. Rosenthal says there is no
requirement for making the airport bigger, but it is a better
idea to make the airport good for the existing tenants. Ms. Bass
said you should look forward to things and prepare for them,
such as having Regional Jets for airline service. Local pilots
do not really want a large commercial facility. Mr. Mohn agreed,
and added that future Boards could change things. He brought
up revising the Administrative Code to say that there will be
the opportunity for promotion to manager if you hold the operations
manager position. The job descriptions need to be brought up
to date, and they are not in the code. They continue to evolve
so are not actually part of the code. If Mr. Seymour becomes
manager, the operations manager position could remain in the
administrative code and simply be left unfilled. However, the
administrative assistant position needs to be added to the code.
Mr. Mohn restated this and agreed with it.
Mr. Rosenthal summed up that it appears that the Board is in
agreement, and the Board needs to focus on refining their ideas.
Ms. Bozack also would like staffing on the week-end. Ms. Bozack
also said that it is valuable to have a caretaker at the airport
and she would like this included. Mr. Mohn said that this is
a different issue. Ms. Bozack said that she believes it is legal
to have a resident on-site and she thinks it would be valuable
and the caretaker could take on some duties while here. Mr. Mohn
again said the issue is replacing the manager. Ms. Bozack said
that the salaries could be readjusted downward if the caretaker
is used. Mr. Mohn agreed there may be a possibility there. Ms.
Bozack reiterated her belief that this would be a plus. Ms. Bass
pointed out that if any money is saved, it could be used to improve
the airport. Ms. Bozack said that her ideas on marketing could
increase the airport income, by filling empty spaces.
Ms. Bass asked if District Counsel should prepare an amendment
to the Administrative Code for Board consideration. Mr. Mohn
said that it should be codified that the operations manager will
be the logical successor to the manager position, and he/she
should be trained for that position. Ms. Bozack suggested that
the operations manager might be changed to assistant airport
manager. The Board consensus was that this would be a good idea,
but to leave the operations manager position in the code.
Mr. Bates asked what the week-end employee would do. Ms. Bozack
said that it is just for being around for people. Mr. Bates and
Ms. Bass said that in the past this has been discussed and it
is not a viable idea. When Mr. and Mrs. Moors ran a business
here, the people on week-ends enjoyed the social life but there
was no actual business transacted. Ms. Bozack mentioned security,
and Ms. Bass said that the perimeter checks are done on week-ends,
too.
Mr. Rosenthal restated the Board position to amend the Administrative
Code to make the Assistant Airport Manager to be the manager
in training. The manager job description should also be revised
to ensure that the assistant manager is capable of seeing that
all duties are performed. Mr. Rosenthal said this can be memorialized
in the code. Ms. Bozack agreed that the job description needs
to be revised and the administrative assistant position duties
also codified. Mr. Bates said that procedural type documents
outside of the code should be prepared, as they can be revised
as needed without amending the code.
Mr. Mohn said that he believed this meeting made tremendous
progress, and all were in agreement with this. Ms. Bass asked
if the Board would like to do some fine tuning of the proposed
changes at another workshop, perhaps a half hour before the actual
Board meeting. This could be done in September when all Directors
will be back from vacation. The Directors agreed to do this.
Ms. Bozack said that she appreciates Mr. Seymour’s attendance
at Board meetings. Mr. Mohn said he is in agreement with that.
Board of Directors President Rosenthal adjourned the meeting
at 6:33 p.m.
