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Paying airport 'volunteers' makes no sense with concern about bottom line

Dear editor, The Comox Valley Airport CEO is so concerned about the bottom line that he raised parking fees to generate more revenue.

Dear editor,

So let me get this straight, the CEO of the Comox Valley Airport is so concerned about the bottom line that he felt it necessary to raise parking fees to generate more revenue.

Meanwhile, the board of directors is commissioning studies to justify paying themselves for what is mandated to be a volunteer position to serve the community.

Undoubtedly they had the study look at other airports that do compensate their directors.

However, unlike other airports the Comox Valley Airport Commission only runs a terminal building while the military runs the airfield.

Quite frankly, the duties and responsibilities of a CVAC director are quite minimal and as a policy governance board, three to four meetings a year is all that is required to provide the necessary due diligence and strategic vision.

As a long-serving volunteer director on Tourism Vancouver Island and past governance chair, I understand the difficulty in finding new directors, as passive calls for volunteers are generally ineffective.

Active recruiting by current directors focusing on the skill sets needed by the board and explaining why those individuals should volunteer to serve their community is very effective.

The Comox Valley Airport is a wonderful facility and the envy of many communities. With some positive recruiting, there should be no shortage of volunteers.

The problem with director remuneration is that it becomes more about the paycheque and less about serving the best interests of the community.

By the way, my term with Tourism Vancouver Island concludes this year. I would welcome recruitment to the CVAC board as a volunteer.

Chuck Fast,

Union Bay

Editor's note: Chuck Fast is a former chief executive officer of the Comox Valley Airport.