"Once a vendor, always a vendor"

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Editorial
Once a vendor, always a vendor 
The Scranton (PA) Times-Tribune


Construction of a new terminal at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International
Airport represents not just an opportunity to enhance the airport's role in
regional economic development, but to create a new business culture at the
politically run airport. Instead, the politicians who run the airport have
resorted to business as usual on a key piece of business regarding the
terminal. 

The airport's Joint Board of Control - the commissioners of Luzerne and
Lackawanna counties - have ignored several proposals for the new terminal's
food concessions. Instead, the commissioners plan to use $1.2 million in
public money to build a new restaurant for their favored vendor, Leo
Vergnetti, who has operated the coffee shop in the current terminal for more
than 30 years.

The commissioners turned down an offer from a New Jersey-based company that
specializes in airport food services to build a food service facility within
the terminal, at its own expense, in exchange for the concession contract.

Luzerne County Commissioner Todd Vonderheid, airport board chairman, and
Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert Cordaro, both cited loyalty as the
reason for sticking with Mr. Vergnetti as the vendor.

"His 30 years' time earned him the right to come into the new facility," Mr.
Cordaro said.

In addition to citing loyalty to Mr. Vergnetti, Mr. Vonderheid said a new
vendor likely would require a long-term lease in order to justify its own
expenditures on a restaurant. The airport board, he said, did not want to
give up control.

What control is inherent in giving a contract to a vendor just because he
has been a vendor? What control is there in relieving a private entity of a
$1.2 million risk and transferring it instead to the taxpayers?

There are few good reasons for politicians to be running the airport. But
the presumption that elected officials would represent the public, rather
than private interests, is one. This is a case where the airport board,
which is supposed to be loyal first to taxpayers, has misplaced its loyalty.

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