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By Becky Killian, Staff Writer
A new employee has been hired to manage Salem Municipal Airport after the ouster of the former person who held the post.
The new employee, Aric Russell, was hired in a 3-to-2 vote during a special called meeting of the Board of Aviation held on Friday, Oct. 11.
The hiring was upheld in a majority vote, with the support of board members Michael Bryant, Jason Cockerill, and Erin Woodward-Sparkman. Opposing votes came from Adam Kelly and Danny Habermel.
That vote echoes one held in July that supported the ouster of Wesley DePoy, who joined the airport in January 2023. His job ended at the end of August.
Cockerill, who serves as the air board’s president, said the termination of DePoy’s contract came after what he identified as “performance, communication concerns, and insubordination.” He cited an instance where a large fuel tank was installed at the airport without the board’s knowledge or consent.
Prior to the vote to end his contract, DePoy sent a letter to Salem Mayor Justin Green, although Cockerill said the decision to terminate DePoy was made before the letter was sent.
According to the letter, which was obtained with an open records request to the City of Salem, DePoy said more discussion should have been held before the board voted to remove the fuel tank, which was intended for use by Equus Flight Academy. DePoy stated more conversation could have led to a resolution that would have kept the fuel tank at the airport. The possibility of a lease payment for the space the tank occupied was mentioned as a possible revenue source for the airport.
A majority of the airport’s board members – the same ones who voted to end DePoy’s contract and hire Russell – voted during a May meeting to have the tank removed.
In addition to the board not having approved the delivery of the fuel tank to the airport, Cockerill said its removal was necessary because it was too heavy and could have cracked the concrete apron upon which it rested. Also, the Federal Aviation Administration’s guidelines state if another entity is allowed to sell fuel at an airport, then the airport must allow anyone to sell fuel.
Fuel sales are a major revenue source for the airport.
In his letter to Green, DePoy said if the board had delayed its decision to remove the tank it might have been possible to find a solution that would have allowed the academy to keep it while avoiding the threat to the airport’s fuel revenue.
DePoy’s letter indicates other supporters of his position helped with the letter, although they are unnamed. Prior to the special meeting during which DePoy was ousted, several people attended an air board meeting to express their support for DePoy.
Cockerill said multiple candidates were interviewed for the post.
The post held by DePoy was commonly referred to as “airport manager.” The new contract for Russell will identify him as the airport’s “maintenance associate.”
The contracted position remains part time.
