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The
Martha's Vineyard Times is a weekly publication.
April 28 - May 4, 2005 Edition
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A loss and a heads up April 28, 2005 The resignation of William Weibrecht marks the end of a period of great accomplishment and improved management at the Martha's Vineyard Airport. Mr. Weibrecht joined the airport during a brief period, before and after the turn of the century, when the county commissioners had wisely withdrawn from their historically clumsy day-to-day management of airport affairs. In part because there was good reason to worry that the state and federal agencies that had promised to fund the reconstruction of the airport terminal were uneasy over the calamitous foolishness that passed for management at the time, the county commissioners acted uncharacteristically to place authority for guiding the airport into the hands of a group of Islanders with impressive business, management, and financial experience. Many of these now former airport commissioners, who were not county commissioners or county employees, were also acquainted with the workings of the aviation industry. The results were the reconstruction of the airport terminal, the establishment of careful and efficient management for the airport business park, and ultimately the rewards of financial success and a promising outlook for the airport. But that was too much for the county commissioners to accept. Gradually, as the new terminal was finished and the basic management of the airport was rehabilitated and stabilized, the county commissioners reasserted themselves. They refused to reappoint the very accomplished airport commissioners who had guided the airport's transformation, refused too to appoint other accomplished Islanders who offered to serve, and instead re-installed themselves and their employees and friends on the airport commission. The current seven-member airport commission includes John Alley, the county commission chairman and vice chairman of the airport commission; Les Leland, a county commissioner; and T. J. Hagerty, the county rodent control agent, hired by the county commissioners. Mr. Alley had been chairman of the airport commission and a county commissioner before the county commissioners relinquished their death grip on the decrepit airport and replaced themselves with smart, experienced businesslike Islanders. Jack Law, the current chairman of the airport commission, told The Times this week that he expected the county would have a promising field of candidates applying to take Mr. Weibrecht's place. Perhaps, but Mr. Law added that getting a good, new manager may end up costing more. Island voters and taxpayers ought to take this as a heads up: Mr. Weibrecht's departure will cost us more, in more ways than just salary for the replacement. Mr. Weibrecht told The Times this week that he is leaving the airport to take advantage of a new professional opportunity, which is good for him. But he also made clear that his departure has to do with his relationship to the county commissioners, who now are his direct as well as indirect bosses. “The county's decision not to abide by its commitments undermined the employment agreements which the airport commission and I negotiated in good faith,” Mr. Weibrecht wrote in his letter of resignation. “While the new position I have accepted presents a great opportunity for myself and my family, a large part of the decision process [to resign] was influenced by this continuing situation.” This situation, as Mr. Weibrecht calls it, was unnecessary, counter-productive, expensive, and entirely the fault of the county commissioners. Voters take heed. |
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