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Sarasota-Bradenton airport chief's pay grabs attention...
Written By: Susan Taylor Martin, Times Senior Correspondent
Published Saturday, April 26, 2008 2:53 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRADENTON, FL. (NS/SPT) —
Airlines are merging or going bankrupt, throwing thousands out of
work. Passengers endure security hassles and long delays caused by
aging planes...
But in the turbulent U.S. aviation industry, it has been a comfortable
ride for one Floridian — Fredrick J. Piccolo, president and CEO of
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport...
At $196,285 a year, Piccolo makes nearly $73,000 more than the
director of the larger Pensacola airport and about $3,500 more than
the director of Palm Beach International, which handles five times as
many passengers as Sarasota-Bradenton...
And that's just for starters in the most expansive compensation
package of any airport director in Florida...
The Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority provides Piccolo with a 2005
Acura and pays for maintenance including regular oil checks ($53),
tires ($974) and even car washes...
Piccolo also gets three round-trip tickets a year for wife Sally to
accompany him on business trips, some as far away as Buenos Aires. And
in another perk almost unheard of in the airport industry, the
authority provides Piccolo with a $425,000 pool home it bought in
Sarasota so he won't have to commute as often from his own house in
St. Petersburg. An additional $75,000 went to update and furnish the
Sarasota house...
As the authority meets today for Piccolo's annual review, board
members say the money is well spent...
"He does have a very generous package, and he's worth every penny of
it,'' says chairman Jack Rynerson, noting that Piccolo lured low-cost
carriers AirTran and JetBlue to the airport...
But Piccolo's salary and benefits have raised eyebrows even though the
authority — a public agency — gets no tax money and is supported
entirely by rents, landing fees and other business operations...
"His compensation is kind of nutty,'' says Michael Stephenson,
president of a firefighters local that fought unsuccessfully in 2006
to keep the airport from privatizing its fire department in a cost-
cutting move. "When you look at his salary and factor in all that
other stuff, it's not much different than the biggest airports
around.''
With 1.6-million passengers a year, Sarasota-Bradenton ranks 94th
among all U.S. airports and ninth in Florida. It has long struggled to
increase commercial service because it is within an hour's drive of
27th-ranked Tampa International, which offers 10 times more daily
flights to more destinations...
"It's not always easier to run a smaller airport, certainly not when
it comes to air service,'' says Piccolo, 55, who came to Sarasota-
Bradenton in 1995 after working at TIA. "When airlines cut back, the
first place they go are places like mine.''
'Not a mansion'...
Piccolo is well-regarded in the industry. He was North American
chairman of Airport Councils International last year and is a past
president of the Florida Airport Managers Association. Sarasota-
Manatee board members say their fear of losing him is why they agreed
to perks generous enough to surprise others in the business...
"Wow, that sounds pretty good,'' Greg Chin, spokesman for 15th-ranked
Miami International, said of Piccolo's salary and benefits. Miami's
aviation director makes a higher salary, but gets no house or spouse
travel privileges...
For years, Piccolo commuted 70 miles a day between his St. Petersburg
house and the airport. To encourage him to move to the community
served by the airport, the board first considered giving him use of a
house that had been noise-proofed with federal grant money. But when
the Federal Aviation Administration balked at that idea, the authority
dipped into its own funds in 2005 to buy a house...
Board member Paul Sharff said it would be a good investment but voiced
concern about the perception...
"The question will be, how is Mr. Piccolo's moving here going to bring
us more air service?" he wondered...
Nonetheless, the board unanimously approved the purchase plus $25,000
for "window treatments and furnishings.'' The Piccolos — who still
spend considerable time in St. Petersburg — bought a $2,084 Sony 40-
inch flat-screen TV and a $2,059 modular entertainment center for the
Sarasota place...
"It's not a mansion,'' Piccolo says of the 24-year-old house, now
updated with granite countertops. "It needed a lot of work, though I'm
not saying it's a terrible benefit.''The board also approved travel
for Sally Piccolo, who has used her round-trip tickets to accompany
him to Hawaii (ticket cost: $2,352), Zurich ($2,710), South Africa
($6,807) and Buenos Aires ($2,759)...
"It is a lot of money,'' Rynerson, the board chairman says, "but we
knew he was going to be doing extensive travel and having her fly
three times out of 20 doesn't bother me.''
Partly due to his chairmanship of the airports council, Piccolo took
23 trips last year for a total cost of $53,500. By comparison, TIA
executive director Louis Miller, who also served on the council board,
took eight trips totaling $14,000...
The airport authority's six members — three each from Manatee and
Sarasota counties — are appointed by the governor and get a $2,000
annual stipend. All are Republican, and several have strong political
ties, including Sharff, former head of the Manatee Republican Party;
Leslie Wells, wife of former Manatee Sheriff Charlie Wells; and Eric
Robinson, chairman of the Sarasota Republican Party...
Two of Piccolo's children also have been active in Republican
politics...
Fred Jr. worked on U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris' unsuccessful 2006
Senate campaign. Thomas Piccolo, then 23, unsuccessfully ran for the
state House from St. Petersburg that year. A third of his campaign
contributions came from aviation industry professionals and companies
doing business at the Sarasota-Bradenton airport...
Piccolo acknowledges asking for contributions. Neither he nor board
chairman Rynerson saiy they saw any problem with that...
"Most of the people in the industry know everybody else reasonably
well,'' Rynerson says. "He (Piccolo) also jacked prices up for
everybody at the airport. If he was going to be nice to them, he
wouldn't have done that.''
Times researcher Carolyn Edds contributed to this report. Susan Taylor
Martin can be contacted at susan@sptimes.com...
-------------------------------
Worth every penny?
A national survey of airports shows surprising uniformity in the
compensation packages for their directors, with the exception of
Sarasota-Bradenton International.
Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International
Rank: 1
Passengers: 89.4-million *
Gen. manager: Ben DeCosta
Base salary: $255,091
Extras: $553 monthly car allowance, other expenses
Orlando International
Rank: 11
Passengers: 36.3-million*
Exec. director: Steve Gardner
Base salary: $225,014
Extras: $650 monthly car allowance
Miami International
Rank: 15
Passengers: 33.7-million*
Aviation director: Jose Abreu
Base salary: $243,178
Extras: $560 monthly car and parking allowance
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International
Rank: 23
Passengers: 22.7-million *
Aviation director: Kent George
Base salary: $250,000
Extras: $600 monthly car allowance
Tampa International
Rank: 27
Passengers: 19-million*
Exec. director: Louis E. Miller
Base salary: $247,116
Extras: $500 monthly car allowance
Southwest Florida Int'l
Rank: 49
Passengers: 8-million*
Exec. director: Robert Ball
Base salary: $228,181
Extras: 2003 Mercury
Marauder
Palm Beach Int'l
Rank: 55
Passengers: 6.9-million*
Director of airports:
Bruce Pelly
Base salary: $192,841
Extras: $500 monthly car allowance
Jacksonville Int'l
Rank: 58
Passengers: 6.3-million*
Exec. director: John D. Clark
Base salary: $230,000
Extras: Car or $850 monthly car allowance; $750 monthly for
incidentals
Pensacola Regional
Rank: 90
Passengers: 1.7-million*
Exec. directrector: Frank P. Miller
Base salary: $123,600
Extras: 2005 Ford Explorer
Sarasota-Bradenton International
Rank: 94
Passengers: 1.6-million*
President, CEO:
Fredrick Piccolo
Base salary: $196,285
Extras: 2005 Acura, free use of $500,000 house, three round-trip
tickets per year for wife
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International
Rank: 120
Passengers: 742,521*
Airport director: Noah Lagos
Base salary: $146,478
Extras: 2001 Ford Crown Victoria
* 2007 preliminary passenger totals
Source: Airport Councils International
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Editor's Note:
Many in the Sarasota-Manatee County area still chose to drive to Tampa International Airport to catch a cheaper and usually 'direct flight' to where they need to go. This isn't the case with most of the flights out of SRQ in Sarasota. It should also be noted that the Federal Grants and local monies received in the past and currently are in fact Taxpayer monies that have been used at SRQ. Is the Fox in the Hen House and is there a waste of money there?
You be the Judge...
*MCB* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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THE PUBLIC: Residents can call or write Airport Authority Board Members to register their objections by the replacement of veteran professional union fire service members with less experienced Rural Metro non union, some part time, personnel creating numerous problems in the future for SRQ International...
Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority Board Members...
Call 941-485-5193 for more information on how you can help... To the leaders of your organization (ACI-NAR) and those it may concern,
We've only recently learned that our local headache (Mr. Piccolo) is being considered for President of your organization. While we no little of your organization or it's mission we do no a lot about Mr. Piccolo. If you are interested in protecting the public image of your organization, as most are, we would urge you to read some of the articles that have been printed in the Sarasota-Manatee newspapers about SRQ and Mr.Piccolo over the past few years and especially recently, before making your decision.
The Professional Firefighters who work at SRQ, many of which have been loyally serving for more than 20 years are being terminated Oct 1st for no other reason than to allow the private company "Rural Metro" to privatize the service at a savings to the Airport. Mr. Piccolo has alleged he made this decision primarily on improving safety by adding two more firefighters than are currently staffed. It only takes a few minutes on line to read about the financial troubles, service and safety failures that have many communities that had contracts with them to cancel those agreements and start or re-institute a successful municipal or government run service. The numbers show the initial savings will only be approx 24 cents per ticketed passenger if they were to pass on the savings to the Airlines. We pay 10 times that amount for a bottle water from Airport concessionaires to take with us on a flight. Do the Airlines even know what he's up to. Why can't he maintain safety and service levels and still reduce landing fees by using some of the 1.5 million surplus revenue over expenses that was published in the newspaper? We vehemently disagree with Mr. Piccolo that just adding two more firefighters combined with lowering the entry level standards will increase safety at the Airport If you look closely at the training certification and service levels required of Rural Metro's contract you will see that the Airport no longer intends to offer structural firefighting to the terminal and airport buildings as has been their norm (documented in their response policies). They are apparently assuming the County will simply take over these duties (now provided as "assistance" by mutual aid agreements), which the Airport pays no Fire taxes for. His ill-fated recommendation (couched as his "fiscal responsibility to recommend') comes at a time when he himself will receive a 6% pay raise on top of his current $175,000+ salary, plus lucrative benefits, including a recent approved $500,000+ house that the community was outraged over. We are told that he is already the highest paid Airport director in the state, making more than the director of Tampa International. I'm not sure There is a growing dissatisfaction in this community for the underhanded dealings of the SRQ C.E.O. and the Airport Authority that has become deaf to the community.
We will be happy to provide you with copies of the documentation we gave the Board members and the media for your review, and would again encourage you to learn more about this "smooth talker" than what he makes available himself.
Respectfully,
Merv Kennell Business Agent - IAFF Local 2546 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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State Of Florida Rules & Regulations...
633.35 Firefighter training and certification.-- (1) The division shall establish a firefighter training program of not less than 360 hours, administered by such agencies and institutions as it approves for the purpose of providing basic employment training for firefighters. Nothing herein shall require a public employer to pay the cost of such training... (2) The division shall issue a certificate of compliance to any person satisfactorily complying with the training program established in subsection (1), who has successfully passed an examination as prescribed by the division, and who possesses the qualifications for employment in s. 633.34, except s. 633.34(5). No person may be employed as a regular or permanent firefighter by an employing agency, or by a private entity under contract with the state or any political subdivision of the state, including authorities and special districts, for a period of time in excess of 1 year from the date of initial employment until he or she has obtained such certificate of compliance. A person who does not hold a certificate of compliance and is employed under this section may not directly engage in hazardous operations, such as interior structural firefighting and hazardous-materials-incident mitigation, requiring the knowledge and skills taught in a training program established in subsection (1). However, a person who has served as a volunteer firefighter with the state or any political subdivision of the state, including authorities and special districts, who is then employed as a regular or permanent firefighter may function, during this period, in the same capacity in which he or she acted as a volunteer firefighter, provided that he or she has completed all training required by the volunteer organization... (3) The division may issue a certificate to any person who has received basic employment training for firefighters in another state when the division has determined that such training was at least equivalent to that required by the division for approved firefighter education and training programs in this state and when such person has satisfactorily complied with all other requirements of this section. The division may also issue a special certificate to a person who is otherwise qualified under this section and who is employed as the administrative and command head of a fire/rescue/emergency services organization, based on the acknowledgment that such person is less likely to need physical dexterity and more likely to need advanced knowledge of firefighting and supervisory skills. The certificate is valid only while the person is serving in a position as an administrative and command head of a fire/rescue/emergency services organization... (4) A person who fails an examination given under this section may retake the examination once within 6 months after the original examination date. An applicant who does not retake the examination within such time must take the Minimum Standards Course, pursuant to subsection (1), before being reexamined. The division may establish reasonable preregistration deadlines for such reexaminations... (5) Pursuant to s. 590.02(1)(e), the division shall establish a structural fire training program of not less than 40 hours. The division shall issue to any person satisfactorily complying with this training program and who has successfully passed an examination as prescribed by the division and who has met the requirements of s. 590.02(1)(e) a Certificate of Forestry Firefighter... (6) A certified forestry firefighter is entitled to the same rights, privileges, and benefits provided for by law as a certified firefighter... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCES THE TWENTIETH ROUND OF THE
ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS AWARDING $3 MILLION TO AMERICA'S FIRE DEPARTMENTS... (Washington, DC) January 13, 2006 - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security today announced the twentieth round of the Fiscal Year 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) awarding 37 grants to fire departments throughout the United States. AFGP will issue approximately 5,500 awards worth nearly $600 million in direct assistance to firefighters and first responders throughout the country, demonstrating Homeland Security's commitment to ensuring that America's firefighters have the resources they need to protect their communities. "These awards are critical to ensuring our nation's firefighters have the necessary resources to save lives and keep their communities safe," said Tracy A. Henke, Executive Director of the Office of Grants and Training (G&T). This twentieth round of fire grants provides $3,169,437 to help local fire departments and emergency medical services programs to purchase or receive training, first responder health and safety programs, equipment and response vehicles. "The Federal government continues to support the critical work of our nation's firefighters by ensuring departments attain a basic capability level through the competitive Assistance to Firefighters Grant program," said Charlie Dickinson, Deputy Administrator of the Department of Homeland Security's United States Fire Administration. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the Department's Office of Grants and Training (G&T) in cooperation with the United States Fire Administration. G&T is the principal federal agency responsible for the preparedness of the United States for acts of terrorism, including coordinating preparedness efforts at the federal level, and working with all state, local, tribal, parish, and private sector emergency response providers on all matters pertaining to combating terrorism, including training, exercises and equipment support. To support this mission, G&T administers a number of programs that provide a wide array of support to our nation's emergency preparedness and response community. For more information on G&T, please visit the Website at www.ojp.gov/odp . The United States Fire Administration (USFA) is a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security. The mission of the USFA is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies, through leadership, advocacy, coordination, and support. For more information on USFA, please visit the website at http://www.usfa.fema.gov. To view the latest round of award annoucements, please visit: http://www.firegrantsupport.com/awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce that in its efforts to provide assistance to volunteer firefighters affected by the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, more than $200,000 has been raised through its two relief funds. The NVFC Emergency Relief Fund was created to provide assistance to volunteer and combination fire departments for equipment and facility repair and replacement. The NVFC Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund offers aid to individual volunteer firefighters and their families who have suffered tragic losses. The NVFC's Emergency Relief Fund and the Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund have received donations not only from individuals and businesses but from townships, schools and fire departments as well. Many fire departments organized "boot drives" to raise money where they encourage people to fill a boot with donations. The NVFC's two funds have also received generous donations from many state firefighters' associations including Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Washington. NVFC's relief efforts have been supported by international firefighters' organizations as well. On a recent visit to the United States, the Japan Firefighter's Association presented a donation of $5,000 for the NVFC Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund. To date, both funds have generated over $100,000 each, and more donations are received every day. "The NVFC will continue to offer its support to volunteer firefighters and departments in the Gulf Coast," said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. "In the wake of these natural disasters, we remain committed to helping volunteer firefighters rebuild not only their departments, but their lives as well." Donations from the NVFC's Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund have already begun to reach volunteer firefighters in need of assistance. To date, the NVFC has dispersed approximately 400 checks in the amount of $250 each to volunteer firefighters in the Gulf Coast. The names are verified and submitted by NVFC's contacts in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas and checks are issued on a first come, first serve basis. The NVFC plans to disperse more checks to volunteer firefighters as donations are received. All donations are tax-deductible and can be made online at www.nvfc.org, or mailed to the addresses below: NVFC Emergency Relief Fund or to NVFC Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is a non-profit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services. Established in 1976, the NVFC serves as the information source regarding legislation, standards and regulatory issues. For more information regarding the NVFC Hurricane Relief funds or NVFC in general, please contact Heather Schafer at 202/887-5700 ext. 17 or hschafer@nvfc.org.
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Capt. M.C. Bruce, SFD (Ret.)
If you can not get this link, go to: www.airchexx.com ... ...May God richly bless the United States of America... 'WE ARE ONE'...
As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.
As we carried each other down the
stairs of the burning building,
We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope,
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers
fought their way into the inferno,
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees
in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted
words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss,
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss,
We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of
the sacrifice of heroes,
We become one people.
We are:
One color
One class
One generation
One gender
One faith
One language
One body
One family
One soul
One people
We are The Power of One.
We are United.
We are America...God Bless & Keep All Our Brave Lost Brave Souls Of The Attacks Of 9/11/01...
*Barb Wyatt*...
'What A Difference One Day Makes' In Memory of 9-11-01 On Monday we emailed jokes. ~ author unknown ~ This is dedicated to my 343 FDNY Brothers, who died doing what they loved on 9/11/01. I especially remember those 13 FDNY Friends that I trained with at the NYS Fire Training Academy... May you rest in peace my Brothers...I will NEVER forget you... Capt. M.C. Bruce, SFD Ret. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hire a Lifesaver to do the job!
Firefighter Owned Businesses
Providers of Health, Safety & Emergency Response Training for Business, Industry & Public Agencies
The website address is:http://www.cobbly.com/cm/l0051.html
It is on the Bent Creek Golf Course just 8 miles east of Gatlinburg on Highway 321. Sleeps 6 adults. It has everything you need, linens, towels, kitchen stuff, grill, etc. We have it on a rental program through a local realtor or by contacting us directly by e-mail at erncave@comcast.net
Offered are waterfront property rentals and commercial boat services.
Larry Hinds SCFD
The website address is: http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/13191.html
This private mountain cabin, owned by Janet & Leigh Hollins, is available for vacation rentals. It is located 75 miles from Atlanta in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia, surrounded by the Chattahoochee National Forest.
The website address is: http://www.offduty-firefighter.com
SCFD and Off Duty Fire Fighter, T-shirts, Ball Caps, Tanks, etc. in sizes for the whole family. Jim & Martha Costa S.C.F.D. 941-366-8894
The website address is: http://store.yahoo.com/pennwell/schoolbusex.html
Suncoast FOOL Leigh Hollins produced and fellow FOOLS Hennessy, Jensen, Aberbach, Collier & Bercot took part in making this professional extrication video in 2001. Reviews have been excellent. Click link for more info.
The website address is: http://www.newssarasota.com Advertising reasonably priced for all... *NEWS SARASOTA* is a Retired FireFighter Owned Business...
The Contact is: Dan Hollins, (941) 812-4239 or email at DanH316@aol.com
The Contact is: Ron Evans
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We Will NEVER Forget The 343 Men & Women Of The FDNY Lost 9/11/2001...
R. David Paulison was designated by President George W. Bush to serve as Acting Under Secretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response and Acting Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on September 12, 2005. Mr. Paulison was previously appointed by President Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate as the Administrator for the U.S. Fire Administration in December 2001. As U.S. Fire Administrator, Mr. Paulison heads the U.S. Fire Administration, part of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate/FEMA, supports State and local fire service programs, and oversees programs to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies, in partnership with fire protection and emergency service communities. 
This Memorial is for all of those who gave their own lives trying to save others...May You Rest In Peace My Brothers & Sisters, 'We Will Never Forget You', you've answered your final alarm bell... 
Starfire Training Systems...
