Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 18 September '85 ^

Airport Investigation Precipitated Dismissal

By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE - A.H. ( Rick J^kChilcte says "a serious disagreement of opinion," but no allegation of wrongdoing, led to his forced resignation from county government Sept. 6. Freeholders have declined to explain why they told Childs to resign. Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton said it was "a personnel matter too sensitive to comment on," and Freeholder Herbert Frederick, who heads that department, called it "a touchy situation." Five persons — three off-the-record and two on-the-record — confirmed to this newspaper that the Prosecutor's office has conducted an investigation of airport procedures, and Childs said disagreement over those procedures led to the conflict. "I WAS QUESTIONED (by the prosecutor)," Childs said, "but I am not under investigation. There was no wrongdoing on my part and I don't know of any on anybody's part." The Prosecutor has taken none of the steps that would indicate criminally, neither seeking an indictment, a presentment, or issued a report.

Prosecutor John Corino would not confirm that there was an investigation. That is standard procedure for his office. Sources said the investigation centered on Enviroplan, a Morristown consulting firm that specialized in airports. THE COUNTY PAID Enviroplan $89,348 in 1983, $349,492 in 1984, and $7,968 so far this year, according to the county Treasurer's office. - Enviroplan Executive Vice President Louis C. Ripa, along with Childs, confirmed the prosecutor's office had talked to both. "The prosector is looking at everything at the airport," said Ripa. Enviroplan did much of the planning, design specifications etc. that helped the county get more than $2 million in federal funds to reconstruct a runway, build new ramps, and add safety security •fencing. "I was trying to get that airport out of its 1946 image," said Childs. "It was a nowhere airport." RIPA AND ENVIROPLAN have done work for the county since 1967, according to Ripa, and the procedures that apparently caused this controversy began before

Childs, or, for that matter, Frederick, were on the job, sources said. > Ripa. who has a home in Ocean Citry, also is a contributor to the county Republican Party. He gave i the GOP at least $650 for the November 1984 election, according to reports in this newspaper at the time. Childs started with the county in August 1983 and the first significant federal funding started flowing in 1984. Prior to that, he has said, the county airport was not included in FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) funding plans. County records indicate that 90 percent of Enviroplan's consulting fees came from federal funds. ENVIROPLAN HAS a current contract, dated Sept. 25, 1984, to do the engineering services, plans and specifications for a new building at the airport to house the county's Fare Free Transportation and its Department of Public Affairs. That called for the firm to receive a $10,000 initial payment plus 9 percent of construction costs. The project reportedly is at a standstill. Other county department heads and employes who came in contact with Childs were shocked at his dismissal. He had come to the county with top aviation industry credentials and maintained a high profile. He was on a number of local, regional and state I committees with economic I development goals, and I also was on the county t management improvement I team which was studying I ways to improve economy I and efficiency. His $39,375 I , annual salary was one of I the county's highest. CHILD S FIRST superior I was former Freeholder- I Director Anthony I Catanoso. who retired and I left office last December. I Thus, Childs worked for I Catanoso for 17 months. I Frederick for eight. Decision to oust Childs I came at a closed I Freeholder meeting Thurs- I day night, Sept. 5. Childs was not present and, he said, the entire board never met with him to discuss the disagreement. That conversation previously took place only with Thornton and Frederick, he said. Childs was still working on county economic promotion efforts Thursday night when he received a call from Frederick requesting a 9 a.m. Friday meeting. He apparently had no idea what was coming. Childs still has not submitted a formal, written resignation. He told this paper he was "looking at a recourse of action." County Purchasing J Agent Edmund Grant Jr., J who worked at Economic 1 Development until his pro- I motion in May, has taken Child's responsibilities until the county replaces him. Frederick said the county may "break up the department" with one per- I son to manage the airport H and a second in charge of I economic development. H

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