Columbia, MO fires Airport Manager Andrew Schneider

After less than a year on the job, Columbia Regional Airport Manager Andrew Schneider has been fired, and airport Superintendent Don Elliot will temporarily step up to replace him.

A. Schneider

Schneider took over as airport manager Nov. 8 after competing with 72 other candidates for the job. His salary was $62,000 a year.

During his tenure, the airport saw increased enplanements, and it is on pace this year to have more enplanements than in any year in more than a decade.

When asked why Schneider was fired, city Human Resources Director Margrace Buckler and Jill Stedem, a spokeswoman for the Columbia Public Works Department, said they would not comment on a personnel matter.

Fifth Ward Councilwoman Helen Anthony said council members were told by city staffers that Schneider's release was related to his performance. Anthony called the airport a "keystone" of economic development for the city and said she hopes the city is "more careful" in choosing a permanent replacement for the position.

"Not to have someone doing the job to the best of his abilities is unacceptable," Anthony said.

Elliot's tenure as interim airport manager is effective immediately. Buckler said Elliot's salary is $58,785 a year, and it is likely the city will give him a 5 percent raise while he serves as interim manager.

Elliot has worked for the city of Columbia and Columbia Regional Airport for 29 years, according to a city news release. The role of manager includes overseeing the daily functions of the airport, such as safety and facility maintenance.

"Columbia Regional Airport carries high expectations to not only assure reliable transportation service but to continually adjust operations consistent with regional and global events. Don knows the day-to-day operations of the airport, and I'm confident that he will do a good job," Public Works Director John Glascock said in a news release.

Glascock said he has not started planning a search for a permanent replacement. In his budget for the current fiscal year, City Manager Mike Matthes proposed to remove the airport from the control of Public Works in fiscal year 2013.

Schneider was not at a Wednesday meeting of the Airport Advisory Board, said Greg Cecil, chairman of the board.

Cecil said he and other board members were not told why Schneider was removed from the position and said he did not find out about Schneider's departure until the city issued a news release yesterday. But he said he was confident about the progress of the airport with Elliot at the helm.

"We've got some great people who are doing really, really great work for the city," Cecil said.

Reach Andrew Denney at 573-815-1719 or e-mail [email protected]

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This article was published on page A1 of the Friday, October 14, 2011 edition of The Columbia Daily Tribune with the headline "City fires its airport chief: Schneider lasted less than a year." Click here to Subscribe.