Storm gathering over airport director

The aircraft repair company has accused Brian of being overly zealous in enforcing regulations and of ignoring the needs of airport tenants.

"We won't stand by and watch a company leave," Coleman said. "The county commission has to take control of this situation. If it means making changes, so be it."

If commissioners vote to fire Brian, Coleman says it will be up to the development authority and Sparks to order the airport commission to do so, since the development authority is ultimately responsible for airport operations.

"The county commission will make a decision what we want done, and we will tell the development authority," Coleman said. "Nathan Sparks is the one holding the hammer here. That is his job."

If county commissioners attempt to direct the development authority to tell the airport commission to fire Brian and the authority refuses, Coleman says the county has another option.

"Our next step would be to dissolve the development authority," Coleman said. "We'd wipe them off the map."

Not all county commissioners feel the way Coleman does, including Richard Strickland. He says he doesn't believe the county commission has the authority to order Sparks, the development authority or the airport commission to fire Brian.

"The truth of the matter is, the airport commission makes the decision to hire the director," he said.

-- Reporter Gordon Jackson writes about government and other local topics. Contact him at gjackson@thebrunswicknews.com, on Facebook or at 265-8320, ext. 323.

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