Airport exec’s review will be released next month

By Jo Rafferty, Staff Writer
Friday, October 17, 2008 | 10 comment(s)

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They talked behind closed doors and are saying little in public for now. The Southwest Oregon Regional Airport board of directors is revisiting the labor contract and evaluating the airport’s executive director, Gary LeTellier.

“There’s some good stuff, and things that he can work on,” Coos County Airport District Chairman Mike Lehman said Thursday.

The board completed LeTellier’s evaluation this week. Next month, board members plan to vote whether to adopt a summary of this week’s discussion.

Commissioners had decided to revisit LeTellier’s evaluation in April, opting for a six-month update on progress. In November 2007, commissioners approved an abbreviated contract. The board opted in June to cut short his contract, which would have expired next month, to keep him on a month-to-month basis. While the original five-year contract had required one year of pay upon termination without cause, the new contract would only give LeTellier 90-day compensation.

“It wasn’t that (we were saying) ‘We’re not happy with you. We don’t want you,’” Commissioner Joe Benetti said on the phone on Thursday. “We just thought Gary could be an at-will employee.”

Benetti said LeTellier’s evaluation wasn’t out of the norm. LeTellier is going to be asked to work on specific areas for improvement.

“That’s common in evaluations of all sorts,” he said. “You make sure management styles fit the commission at that time. I personally feel Gary can accomplish these tasks without a great deal of trouble on his part.”

Lehman said he would rather not discuss specifics about the review until the November meeting.

“I just want to be really clear,” Lehman said.

The position’s annual salary is $103,400. LeTellier said he hasn’t received a raise in three years, but he declined to comment on his review.
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I wouldnt hire this guy if he was free wrote on Oct 25, 2008 4:28 PM:

He's just another inexperience over-priced person doing nothing for the airport, area & tax payer! One word describing his proformance so far....USELESS!

mgowl wrote on Oct 18, 2008 1:08 PM:

At least Gary has done something. What are you getting for the $200,000 that you are paying in salary and benefits for pal of Mayor Jeff McKeown Mr. Opitz and jis asistant at SCDC annually? The people are lined up for all of the jobs that he has produced in five years.

Common Sense wrote on Oct 18, 2008 12:26 AM:

Hey, if Gary makes this area more than his salary... great. If he overcharges the locals, gouges the public to do it.. that's another story. If he doesn't make money for the AP, then he's a welfare case that is overpaid. It's pretty simple. I hope the review touches on all these issues. I don't care how much the airport manager makes in Kansas. I just want to know how much are you making for this area.

get real joe benetti et al wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:53 PM:

are you freaking kidding me? You cut a 5 year - SIGNED - contract short because “It wasn’t that (we were saying) ‘We’re not happy with you. We don’t want you,’” Commissioner Joe Benetti said on the phone on Thursday. “We just thought Gary could be an at-will employee.”

Is that even legal?

Ronop wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:17 PM:

Folks, the airport reports an average of 5,000 annual arrivals. That's an average of 13 aircraft per day. Of those 13, four have been commercial flights. One is Fed Ex. The Coast Guard say that they average four per day. That leaves four flights per days - generally Bandon Dunes golfers. And, all of that requires a control tower, new taxi way, new terminal, and lots of your tax money. Thank you!

What wrote on Oct 17, 2008 4:29 PM:

That much money for a one airline airport manager? ? ? ? What a joke, and the jokes on us folks who pay him that much.
What Coos Bay Businessman wrote the "funny" comment below? Was it a N.B. businessman named Letellier..ha ha...

To Reality Check wrote on Oct 17, 2008 4:08 PM:

Don't you understand? No one here is willing to admit that our area is
SMALL (including our airport) and likely to stay small. That's why they propose huge expo centers, new schools with 25-year bonds, and other big ideas. I once heard someone say, "Fake it 'til you make it." I wonder whether those who do that will eventually NOT make it.

Reality Checker wrote on Oct 17, 2008 3:11 PM:

how about CB Businessman foot the bill for Mr. Letellier's pay increase!

c.b.businessman wrote on Oct 17, 2008 12:45 PM:

Gary Le Tellier is worth every penny he is being compensated for, plus some. If he, in fact, hasn't received a cost of living wage adjustment in three years he is entitled to an immediate salary increase to at least a $110,000 annual wage. If it weren't for Briggs and Brunell he would have received his duly deserved, and earned, raise a long time ago.

Reality Check wrote on Oct 17, 2008 12:11 PM:

How about checking on Oregon's other "Airport Executives" to compare Mr. LeTellier's salary with them... if you examine his salary in the light of day - EVERYONE would see that he is way overpaid for what this airport district can afford... The median income for this county is below $30K - so $104 plus bonuses and benefits is way over the top... time to let him go and find someone who can manage a SMALL airport with a few employees...


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