Lexington, KY - What has been learned from the recent revelations of abuse of airport expense accounts? Some lessons from this nasty episode constitute a silver-lining - - while others, the enveloping dark cloud.
The weeks since the Lexington Herald-Leader broke the story about airport executives cynically partying hardy on Blue Grass Airport credit cards have been terribly stressful for some, deeply annoying for many and disturbingly divisive for the Greater Lexington community.
It's been especially chilling to the many who, in the sole interest of "walking the walk" of civic responsibility, carve time from work and lives to serve without compensation on the various boards and commissions that are the "works" in the machinery of a community, responsible for a wide variety of critical community services. Community boards are the town halls of local government. In many states and communities these groups represent grassroots organization in its purest form, sitting at the bottom of the municipal governance structure, just below elected officials. So it may seem odd that under Kentucky law, such agencies as Blue Grass Airport function independent of the oversight and authority of the Urban-County Council. Thus, the council's recent resolutions merely "requesting" the attention of State Auditor Crit Luallen or that board chair Bernie Lovely step down with only days remaining in a twice extended term as board chair.
The atmosphere extending from this scandal - - no other word properly describes it - - has been particularly unsettling for those serving on boards charged with overseeing the administration of public finance and the management of paid professional executive staffs.
The resignations, in disgrace, of most of the airport's executive staff followed weeks of humiliation for the members and chair of the airport board who evidently had placed too much trust in a cunning and beguiling executive director - - one whose leadership, no one can dispute, did result in vast improvements at the airport. Some call the degree of trust placed in former executive director Mike Gobb naive, which is perhaps a legitimate observation on the face of it, but fraught with the very real possibility that this sort of deception could happen to anyone, including even the most astute and well-intentioned among us. Others, who have experienced similar board service, understand that there is a point at which a part-time, volunteer board simply has no choice but to draw a line on the extent of its oversight, and sign off in its trust of senior management.
So, the dark cloud: in the aftermath of a scandal characterized by cynical predator versus hapless prey, it has become all too necessary to think twice about giving to one's community the precious time and energies that would otherwise be devoted to family and career. As a practical matter, it's impossible to provide daily oversight as a volunteer board member, but apparently that's the only way to avoid becoming local talk radio's latest "public enemy number one," as well as a casualty of the politically ambitious.
Too many business leaders have felt their confidence shaken by witnessing the public humiliation of Bernard Lovely, a respected individual whose term as airport board chair was twice extended to ensure a continuity of leadership through one of this community's worst tragedies, followed by the quest to prepare the airport for the World Equestrian Games. We have heard them wonder aloud if, through no fault of their own, they might be next. This mood of insecurity, exacerbated by a very rocky economy and uncertainty about the future of careers, cannot be allowed to linger and fester.
It's long past time to give real thought to the costs of turning into scapegoats citizens who are dedicated to public service. It seems reasonable to speculate that in this centrist society of ours there remains little patience with those who in the interest of personal gain so actively pursue an agenda of polarization.
If ever there was a moment in the recent history of our city that called for reassuring leadership focused publicly on the reestablishment of trust, this is it.
So, what about that "silver lining?" Well, it's a safe bet that there has been plenty of discussion at recent board meetings about accountability, transparency and oversight. From this episode might come important changes and improvements in the functions of Lexington's boards and commissions.
And we hope prospective board members will now ask themselves precisely why they are willing to serve: because they genuinely believe they offer expertise, time and energy? Or are they merely building a resume? Board service can be quite demanding, requiring a genuine willingness to show up, pay attention to the issues, offer observations and engage in debate, agreeing beforehand to disagree agreeably.
At the risk of insulting the intelligence of those who serve, it goes without saying that the Airport Board must focus on what has happened, figure out what new or improved financial and personnel management systems will ensure that it is never repeated, and then update and clarify policies that offer solid reassurance to those who have an interest in board service.
Perhaps other boards in the community are taking heed, and are now following suit.