MONROE - The Monroe Municipal Airport Board of Management has decided to remove City Administrator Phil Rath from his duties as airport manager and turn all duties over to Airport Supervisor Rob Driver, president of Touch and Go Aviation, the company contracted with the city to oversee the facility.
However, a few matters need to be settled before the change can go into effect. An annual contract has been drafted and is awaiting approval from Driver, Alderman Tom Miller said. Miller serves as the chair of the airport board.
"Rob has a background in aviation, and he's out there all the time," Miller said.
Rath said the issue has been discussed for years. He took over duties as manager in 2011 after a new director of Public Works was named in order to help operation of the airport. His job included streamlining the leasing process and overseeing licensing paperwork involving the airport.
However, serious discussion of the proposal by the airport board broke out during the city Finance and Taxation Committee meeting on Oct. 18 when members were evaluating a draft of the proposed 2017 budget. Alderman Brooke Bauman raised concerns about the lack of city employment oversight and the suggested increase of Driver's compensation from $45,000 to $50,000 when Rath was receiving no additional pay for his duties as manager.
"I really worry about changing that position and not having any city control over it," Bauman said.
Bauman was hesitant to remove the only city employee overseeing the airport since it has a budget exceeding $300,000.
Rath said a problem could arise but did not question Driver's ability. He pointed to the question of how city employees who work at the airport would be handled and whether the airport should be overseen by a city representative.
"It's a matter of best practice," Rath said. "There definitely should be some amount of oversight over any city entity."
Miller said the change would put responsibility into the hands of a trusted contractual employee at a much lower cost than hiring a new manager through the city. He said a $5,000 bump as incentive for Driver would be "operating in the best way for the taxpayers" because hiring a permanent manager would require roughly $100,000 in salary and benefits per year. Miller added that the move would allow Rath more time to focus on city administration.
Mayor Louis Armstrong, who is a non-voting member of the airport board, said he does favor a city position overlooking the airport in addition to the contracted services but is confident that Driver can handle the duties being asked of him and added Driver is "dedicated" to his work.
The finance committee finalized discussion of the 2017 draft budget Tuesday. Members did not remove the $5,000 item to be paid for the new airport manager. The proposed budget was recommended to council for a public hearing during Monroe Common Council proceedings on Nov. 15, in which aldermen will discuss and ultimately vote on the document. Miller said the contract for the position must be signed by Driver before the end of the year.
However, a few matters need to be settled before the change can go into effect. An annual contract has been drafted and is awaiting approval from Driver, Alderman Tom Miller said. Miller serves as the chair of the airport board.
"Rob has a background in aviation, and he's out there all the time," Miller said.
Rath said the issue has been discussed for years. He took over duties as manager in 2011 after a new director of Public Works was named in order to help operation of the airport. His job included streamlining the leasing process and overseeing licensing paperwork involving the airport.
However, serious discussion of the proposal by the airport board broke out during the city Finance and Taxation Committee meeting on Oct. 18 when members were evaluating a draft of the proposed 2017 budget. Alderman Brooke Bauman raised concerns about the lack of city employment oversight and the suggested increase of Driver's compensation from $45,000 to $50,000 when Rath was receiving no additional pay for his duties as manager.
"I really worry about changing that position and not having any city control over it," Bauman said.
Bauman was hesitant to remove the only city employee overseeing the airport since it has a budget exceeding $300,000.
Rath said a problem could arise but did not question Driver's ability. He pointed to the question of how city employees who work at the airport would be handled and whether the airport should be overseen by a city representative.
"It's a matter of best practice," Rath said. "There definitely should be some amount of oversight over any city entity."
Miller said the change would put responsibility into the hands of a trusted contractual employee at a much lower cost than hiring a new manager through the city. He said a $5,000 bump as incentive for Driver would be "operating in the best way for the taxpayers" because hiring a permanent manager would require roughly $100,000 in salary and benefits per year. Miller added that the move would allow Rath more time to focus on city administration.
Mayor Louis Armstrong, who is a non-voting member of the airport board, said he does favor a city position overlooking the airport in addition to the contracted services but is confident that Driver can handle the duties being asked of him and added Driver is "dedicated" to his work.
The finance committee finalized discussion of the 2017 draft budget Tuesday. Members did not remove the $5,000 item to be paid for the new airport manager. The proposed budget was recommended to council for a public hearing during Monroe Common Council proceedings on Nov. 15, in which aldermen will discuss and ultimately vote on the document. Miller said the contract for the position must be signed by Driver before the end of the year.