Airport official battling ouster
The chairman of Chicago Executive Airport said Friday he has no intention of resigning.
At this week's airport board meeting, board member David Kolssak had called for Chairman Kevin Dohm to step down, charging that Dohm had "bullied, lied, manipulated and misled."
Kolssak's demand came the same week that the village of Wheeling sent a letter to Prospect Heights, detailing its concerns about Dohm's performance and requesting a public hearing and subsequent dismissal.
Wheeling and Prospect Heights are partners in the ownership and sponsorship of Chicago Executive Airport. Any final action on Dohm's dismissal requires a public hearing and subsequent vote by both municipal boards.
Wheeling Village Manager J. Mark Rooney said he and Prospect Heights Mayor Rodney Pace will discuss the matter Tuesday. A joint meeting between the Wheeling and Prospect Heights boards will occur Aug. 25, during which Wheeling will try to get Prospect Heights to agree on holding the public hearing.
"I'm very confident after they (Prospect Heights officials) review all the items, they will concur with Wheeling's position that there is a cause for a public hearing for his removal," Rooney said.
Dohm, who was named the first chairman after the board's re-organization two years ago, said he has spoken with Prospect Heights Mayor Rodney Pace. "He feels I have been doing a good job these first two years. He sees no reason to reconsider that. Until I hear from Mayor Pace directly, I'm not going anywhere. I have got two years left on my term and I fully plan on finishing them out."
Pace declined to comment.
The charges by both Kolssak and Wheeling largely stem from the hiring of Airport Corp. of America, a New Jersey consulting firm that has been working with the airport on land acquisition issues.
Rooney charges that Dohm has overstepped his authority as chairman in hiring consultants without board approval or without sharing information with Wheeling. Rooney said that at this week's airport board meeting, the airport's corporation counsel, Tom Lester, said, after reviewing prior minutes and resolutions, he could find no mention of the board approving the hire of the consultant in open session.
Dohm would not comment on the charges, but in previously published reports he said he was granted the authority to hire the consultant by Pace and former Wheeling Village President Greg Klatecki.
But Rooney said there is nothing in the intergovernmental agreement that authorizes either the mayor or the president to approve the release of public funds.
Wheeling Village President Judy Abruscato said she has concluded that Dohm overstepped his duties. "The chairman of the airport is there to direct a meeting. He is there to vote on ties." But he does not, she said, have the authority to hire outside consultants.
At this week's airport board meeting, Kolssak expressed his concern about a $5,596.25 bill from Airport Corp., noting "the conspicuous absence of the bill from the Airport Corp. of America in the check register this evening."
Kolssak said Wheeling has had no participation in meeting with the consultant.
"Hours of time at a rate of $185 per hour were spent with Mr. Dohm, (Vice Chairman L. James Wylie), Rodney Pace and (Prospect Heights City Attorney) Mike Zimmermann. When are you guys going to ask for input from one of the owners of this airport, who has been paying for half of the tab -- until now?"