For her attendance at a holiday mixer on behalf of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority this past winter, Lemon Grove Mayor Mary Sessom was paid $200.
She received $200 more in March for representing the airport at a Rotary lunch.
The authority has paid Sessom $10,000 since July 2012 as part of a commissioner-compensation program that cost the flying public more than $140,000, according to a review by U-T Watchdog.
Authority officials say the program amounts to a tiny fraction of the agency’s $127 million budget — less than 0.1 percent — and the money is well spent.
“This is a worthwhile investment to ensure that the Airport Authority is governed by informed, engaged board members who are making important policy decisions on behalf of San Diego County residents and air travelers,” spokeswoman Rebecca Bloomfield said via email.
Commissioners and committee members receive $200 per meeting or event, up to eight per month, as a way of compensating them for their volunteer work.
The Watchdog examined commissioner compensation from July 2012 through March 2014.
Chairman Robert Gleason topped the list with $38,211 in compensation and reimbursements since July 2012, including $500 a month he collects for running the board.
One payment included a stipend of $600 for three of the days Gleason spent in Hawaii at an airport conference.
Board member Bruce Boland sought and received $200 for attending the swearing in ceremony for former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner. He also billed $200 to attend an event celebrating Japan Airlines flights from Lindbergh Field.
The airport authority issued its overall statement about the stipends, in general, on behalf of the board. Some members provided individual comments as well.
“Serving on the Airport Authority board is a complicated, time-consuming job with significant responsibilities,” county Supervisor Greg Cox said. “Members are compensated for the time and work involved.”
Cox, who is paid $143,031 a year plus a $1,000 monthly car allowance as a member of the Board of Supervisors, was paid an additional $10,600 from the airport from July 2012 and March 2014.
Airport records show Cox billed the authority $200 in January 2013 for a legislative lunch.
San Diego City Councilman David Alvarez collected $5,800 for his service to the airport since July 2012. In a statement, his spokeswoman said he accepts stipends for commission and committee meetings only.
“Council member Alvarez fully carries out his responsibilities as an Airport Authority board member, in addition and separately from his duties as a council member (which requires additional time away from those duties to review and vote on all airport related policy),” the statement said.
Alvarez earns $75,386 as a San Diego council member and receives no monthly car allowance, his staff said.
Sessom indicated that events she attends outside airport commission meetings call for strict preparation.
“Did you go to the mixer or the Rotary lunch? I didn’t think so,” Sessom wrote via email. “Then you don’t know the preparation required and time out of my schedule.”
As mayor, Sessom collects a $1,234 monthly stipend and $150 car allowance from the city of Lemon Grove.
Commissioner Tom Smisek, a former three-term Coronado mayor, was paid $18,800 in various airport stipends during the nearly two-year period examined by the Watchdog.
He bills the airport for regular appearances before the Coronado City Council, where he updates his former colleagues on airport business.
Bloomfield said airport users benefit from commissioners appearing at public meetings.
“Board members are designated to officially represent the Airport Authority at these meetings. It’s essential that the Airport Authority has a voice in these public discussions,” she said.
Story and photo: http://www.utsandiego.com
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