Following a process that was

clearly not his choice, longtime Peachtree City Falcon Field Airport Manager

Jim Savage signed an agreement Monday to "retire" at the end

of the year.

The agreement was not sought

that wants the airport to "go in a new direction." That was

in essence the only reason given to the public for the booting of Savage

during a public meeting Monday afternoon.

The agreement has been hammered

out in secret recently after Savage's future role with the airport was

questioned by several authority members during several closed session

discussions, according to authority members. The matter was not made public

until an emotional meeting Monday afternoon that featured several airport

tenants and pilots questioning the authority's tactics.

Authority members Jerry Cobb

and Doug Fisher strongly opposed the ouster of Savage but said they supported

the agreement because it provides some financial security for Savage,

who was credited with making Falcon Field what it is today.

The three other authority members,

Jim Toombs, Matt Davis and Cathy Nelmes, voted in favor of the agreement,

which stipulates Savage will work full-time until Sept. 30 and then at

least 25 hours a week until his final day Dec. 31, all at his current

salary.

Savage will also receive a

payment of $10,000 a year for four years beginning in January as a sort

of severance package, according to the agreement.

Savage had been working without

a contract, and several authority members indicated that he could have

been fired with no compensation whatsoever if the authority voted to do

so.

While Savage has done a good

job as the airport chief, Nelmes said the majority of the authority wants

the role of airport manager to change from being purely operational in

nature to having more to do with marketing, business development and "public

outreach."

Nelmes, Toombs and Davis said

they have discussed the matter at length in several closed sessions and

even after hearing the appeals from several airport tenants and pilots

they still would not change their mind. Toombs and Davis made very brief

comments to support their position, relying on Nelmes to communicate their

rationale for the decision.

Several speakers asked the

authority to list the offenses for which Savage should be let go. Nelmes

said there were none specifically, but the authority wanted to "go

in a new direction." City officials were not behind the move, and

the authority has not chosen someone to replace Savage once his retirement

becomes official, Nelmes said.

"I do see a need for a

change, and it's going to be difficult," Nelmes said. "... We

have given this a lot of thought and are not taking this lightly."

Davis said it was "a tough

decision" and he admitted the authority couldn't say anything on

the matter that would please the pro-Savage audience.

Fisher and Cobb took an opposing

viewpoint, however.

"... I've got a real problem

with the process that got us to this point," Fisher said.

"I want to make it perfectly

clear that I do not support the release of Mr. Savage from his duties,"

Cobb said. "... I salute Mr. Savage for conducting himself in a professional

and dignified manner throughout this process. I commend him for his loyalty,

his ethics and his unselfish dedication to having been the driving force

in making Peachtree City-Falcon Field the very best general aviation airport

that I have been associated with in any capacity."

Retired Air Force General Bob

Patterson, a former chairman of the airport authority, also opposed the

ouster of Savage.

"I've got to stand up

and say you guys are making a terrible mistake," Patterson said,

echoing several others who praised Savage for running a top-notch airport

and fuel sales operation. He added, as did others, that Savage should

have an opportunity to have his performance reviewed and if it is deemed

unsatisfactory he should have a chance to improve his performance before

he is terminated.

Savage declined comment on

the situation on advice of his attorney, Rick Lindsey. Several sources

confirmed that Savage had prepared a written statement but authority officials

told him not to release it.

A portion of the "retirement

agreement and general release" stipulates that Savage "will

not make, or cause to be made, defamatory statements regarding the authority,

its executives, employees or customers."

Nelmes said the authority would

continue to run Falcon Field as it is now with its "excellent infrastructure."

"We will not lose sight

of that," Nelmes said.

The agreement was approved

with Fisher voting against and Cobb abstaining from the vote to approve

the retirement agreement. Nelmes, Davis and Toombs voted in favor.

Savage is a former pilot for

Eastern Airlines and served on the Peachtree City Council during the 1980s.

Back

to News Home Page |