[JYO] from Leesburg Today: Commission, Pilots Press For Role In Hiring

_http://www.leesburg2day.com/current.cfm?catid=1&newsid=8364_ 
(http://www.leesburg2day.com/current.cfm?catid=1&newsid=8364)  
Commission, Pilots Press For Role In  Hiring
_Andrew D. Parker_ (mailto:andrew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)  

Jan 21, 2004 -- The  Leesburg Airport Commission and several local pilots and 
community members are  demanding to be included in the long delayed selection 
of a new director for  Leesburg Executive Airport. 
Former Airport Director Douglas McNeeley left the post in June 2003 and Cindi 
 Martin is serving as interim director. The town went through an application  
process last year, but the search failed during the interview process, 
according  to Town Manager Robert S. Noe.  
Noe told the commission Tuesday night he is disappointed that the town is  
having to re-advertise for the airport director position. He said that during  
the previous search, five candidates were selected from a list of more than 60  
applicants.  
A unanimous choice was picked by a panel comprised of Noe, local FAA Manager  
Joe Delia and Winchester Airport Director Serena “Renny” Manuel, but there 
were  some “issues” that could not be resolved, and the town manager 
decided 
to  re-advertise for the position. Noe said the town will not delay starting 
the  interview process once applications are gathered.  
Commission Vice Chairman Sidney L. Lissner asked why no representative from  
the panel would be involved in the selection. Noe sad he addressed the issue  
during the first interview process, when he said it has not been his practice 
to  include advisory panels in the search for new managers.  
“I’m still disappointed,” Lissner said. Other commission members have 
also  
said they want to be included. Noe said Wednesday morning that including a  
commission member “could politicize” the selection process.  
“That is the reason that I have decided not to include any commission member  
on the selection of any director where the commission is involved,” he  
continued, adding that members of the aviation community—Delia and 
Manuel—will  be 
involved in the selection.  
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association airport support network volunteer Ed  
Levine wrote the Leesburg Town Council Wednesday morning seeking more 
community  involvement in the director selection.  
“This is a major concern to many of the pilots that are based, fly into and  
do business with the [airport]. Many of the pilots, owners and users of the  
airprt as well as all of the airport commission members are residents of the  
Town of Leesburg. They want a say in who helps drive the direction and growth 
of  this economic engine,” Levine wrote.  
Others have added to Levine’s comments, including town residents and airport  
users. Council member Robert J. Zoldos, the council’s representative on the  
airport commission, said he strongly supports having an aviation 
representative  on the interview panel. Zoldos asked Noe to include a 
representative during 
the  first recruitment process, and asked him to come to Tuesday night’s 
commission  meeting.  
“Mr. Noe retains the right for final selection, but I believe that he is  
wrong in this and other instances whereby he does not include representatives 
of  
the airport commission or aviation community to provide input in the 
selection  process,” Zoldos wrote in reply to Levine and others.  
- - -

Other related posts: