PITTSTON TWP. — The final four candidates for the vacant executive director’s position at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport will be interviewed via Zoom on Thursday, sources said.

The Bi-County Airport Board could vote to fill the position at its next meeting on Aug. 27.

The six-member Bi-County Airport Board consists of: Luzerne County members Chris Belles, acting Chair; Lee Ann McDermott, and Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo; as well as Lackawanna County Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Thom Welby, and Attorney Chris Munley. Munley was appointed to temporarily fill the seat of Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak, who “stepped aside” to apply for the executive director’s job.

The names of the other three candidates have not been released to the public.

The position, as advertised by consulting firm ADK, offers a competitive executive compensation package with a salary range of $135,000 to $150,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

ADK was paid $47,000 to conduct the national search to replace Carl Beardsley Jr., who resigned earlier this year.

Controversy surrounds process

One of the candidates — Chermak — decided to go public with his case by offering his qualifications and claiming he “has the votes” for the job — a claim since refuted by all six members of the airport board.

Crocamo attended the July board meeting via telephone. Following the meeting, which included Lackawanna County Commissioner and board member Bill Gaughan publicly questioning the entire hiring process, Crocamo issued a statement.

“I did not speak to or direct ADK to advance any candidate,” Crocamo said, answering one of Gaughan’s questions regarding how Chermak was advanced in the candidate ranking. “That is not the way I do business, or we do business, in Luzerne County. Merit hiring means merit hiring. It means every applicant gets a genuine look. It means the process is not a formality designed to validate a decision that was already made.”

Crocamo said when the process takes shortcuts, there is a rush to a conclusion before all the information is on the table.

And when this decision is ultimately made, Crocamo said it should be one that both counties “can stand behind with confidence, knowing it was reached the right way, for the right reasons, and with the full integrity that the people of this region deserve.”

Gaughan’s public comments

At the July board meeting, Gaughan said Chermak’s statements have generated understandable questions from the public about the integrity, fairness, and transparency of the process.

“As board members, we have an obligation to address those concerns openly and ensure the public has confidence that the person selected to lead this airport is chosen solely on merit,” Gaughan said.

Gaughan then asked several questions, including Chermak stating that he has effectively been helping to run the airport because the former executive director’s health had declined over a period of years.

“Who authorized those duties to be delegated?” Gaughan asked. “Was Commissioner Chermak involved in personnel decisions, contract negotiations, financial decisions, or operational management that would ordinarily fall within the authority of the executive director or assistant executive director?”

Gaughan did not get answers to any of his questions.

Belles did respond, stating, “I want to assure we hire the best person for the job. This isn’t a political hire. We need a cheerleader — someone who is supremely qualified and who understands the importance of this airport to this region.”

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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.