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Claims Of Inappropriate Relationship Involving Leader At Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Int. Airport

Posted at 6:10 PM, Sep 05, 2013
and last updated 2013-09-06 09:52:27-04

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Possible harassment claims have surfaced against airport leadership at the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport.

Those claims may result in the airport director losing his job.

A letter from a Kalamazoo County administrator to the Airport Aeronautics Board suggests there was an inappropriate relationship between the director there and an employee or staff member. 

When board members met Thursday, they were really tight-lipped about Airport Director Cliff Moshoginis. They met as part of a regularly scheduled meeting at the airport. 

The board did note that Moshoginis wasn’t at the meeting that day and then went into a closed executive session right after that, saying they couldn’t talk publicly about personnel matters.

Airport Aeronautics Board Chair Gill Collver declined comment after the meeting.

The letter that surfaced from County Administrator Peter Battani shed more light on the claims. 

It was addressed to Chairman Collver and said, “As you are aware Kalamazoo County recently investigated certain complaints under the County’s Anti-Harassment Policy (7.08) involving Airport Department Staff.”

“  …. At this point, the County has several very serious concerns.”

“Here, there is no question that the Employees at the Airport have engaged in protected activity.”

The letter appears to point the finger at Moshoginis, saying, “Kalamazoo County requests that as the Employer of the individual in charge at the Airport, the Airport Authority Board carefully review the findings of the investigation and take prompt remedial action.”

The county administrator’s letter appears to suggest that getting rid of the employee in question is the best option to avoid some sort of retaliation. “Based on our labor attorney’s findings, it appears termination is necessary to achieve this result.”

After the board returned from executive session, they voted on a “personnel matter” but would not confirm or deny whether or not it involved Moshoginis. Airport Authority Board corporation counsel Thom Canny also declined to answer questions on what was happening with leadership at the airport.

When asked if the board made a decision on Moshoginis, Canny said, “No.”

When questioned further about what the personnel matter was that the board discussed, Canny said, I’m not going to answer that question.” 

It’s attorney client privilege,” said Canny. “If there is any further action, it will be appropriately noticed in conformance with the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.”

However, Canny couldn’t give us a timeline if or when that might occur or when we might be able to find out what was happening with the leadership at the airport.