Opinion ID: 3010827
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Job Duties and Responsibilities

Text: The Deputy Director position was a third level management position in the governmental hierarchy in Allegheny County with respect to the Department of Aviation. Boyle reported directly to the Director, who in turn, reported to the Board of Commissioners. The positions reporting directly to the Deputy Director included the manager of public relations, senior administrative officer/capital projects, marketing analyst, information clerk supervisor and senior secretary. _________________________________________________________________ 1. The lone Democrat remaining on the Board was Michael Dawida. 3 At some time during his employment, Boyle drafted a job description for the position of Deputy Director of Marketing and Communications.2 Boyle characterized his position as a management level staff position designed to carry out policy decisions by the Director of Aviation and the County Commissioners . . . [and to] interpret policy requirements, act and sign documents on behalf of the director, speak to news media on the record, and initiate or respond to public affairs activities as required. He was responsible for planning, preparing, and executing all communications, marketing and development programs for the aviation system, as well as coordinating public affairs and community relations activities, and the airport public information program. The job description listed the Deputy Director's Major Duties as follows: (1) Supervise and manage all activities of the marketing, community relations, and public information functions of the aviation system. (2) Develop and prepare written material for public dissemination, including news releases, marketing reports, newsletters and correspondence. (3) Maintain contact with prospective and present clients and tenants. (4) Develop and coordinate program to deal with complaints, passenger relations with airport tenants, and other travelers' concerns, especially insofar as these activities affect airport operations and maintenance. (5) Monitor and review any airport problem that may be apparent to the public, and advise the appropriate section of such problems and any public relations ramifications. (6) Observe and interpret accidents, emergencies, and disaster scenes to determine how best to handle the response by news media. _________________________________________________________________ 2. Boyle testified in his deposition that the job description, in general, accurately described the duties he had as Deputy Director. 4 (7) Coordinate and authorize news coverage of any activity in the airport, assist the news media in covering events and staff the emergency communications center when necessary and provide needed logistical support to media. (8) Serve as authorized airport spokesman. (9) Manage or assist special projects required to support airport mission, for instance, dedicating new buildings, hosting VIP tours, sponsoring seminars, etc. (10) Coordinate airport initiatives and responses in rate cases, new service opportunities, development projects, etc. (11) Oversee information clerks and disbursal of information from airport information desks. Regulate material given out at information desks. (12) Prepare correspondence for director and commissioners. (13) Advise Director and Commissioners about protocol, background and ramifications of events, opportunities, proposals, etc. (14) Develop and manage programs for airport tours and speakers' bureau. Liaison with tenants to include wide array of resources for public information. (15) Stand in for the Director at Commissioners' meetings in his absence. (16) Develop in-service training programs and other educational programs to educate staff and maintain current awareness of significant issues. (17) Approve all information from the Department that will be disseminated to the public. (18) Maintain logs of tours, visitors, speakers, meetings, events and airport business, and prepare reports reflecting all airport activities on a regular basis for Director and Commissioners. (19) Liaison with regional groups such as Penns Southwest, Chamber of Commerce, R.I.D.C., Convention & Visitors Bureau, and business groups. 5 (20) Manage contracts and programs to market and promote the airports, the County or the region, including supervision of consultants for advertising, marketing, promotion, etc. In addition, Boyle completed a Job Evaluation Questionnaire in May, 1994 which, among other things, asked him to describe the specific duties and responsibilities involved in doing your job. The top five duties and responsibilities were as follows: (1) Crisis Management/Problem Solving; (2) Media Relations; (3) Internal Communications/Information Services; (4) Policy Implementation/Advice; and (5) Community Relations/Public Affairs. Boyle also acknowledged that a crucial part of his job was to influence, promote and sell to community and professional contacts. With regard to the level of guidance necessary to perform his job, Boyle checked the category Broad, which was defined as: With managerial responsibility, there is latitude for decision making and setting of priorities. Long range projects (over one year) are assigned which are reviewed through achievement of objectives, according to predefined goals. Boyle also acknowledged that the effect of typical errors made in the course of performing the duties of this job would have a [s]ignificant impact affecting major programs, or corporate objectives, impairing the performance of the Department of Aviation, and that he had [c]omplete freedom for independent judgment and discretion. A further glimpse into Boyle's duties and responsibilities is provided by letters sent by him to prospective employers. For instance, in a letter, dated November 24, 1995, to a general manager at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Boyle stated that he was hired by Allegheny County to assist in lobbying, planning, building and dedicating a new billion dollar airport. This project, according to Boyle, involved extensive negotiations with Federal and State officials, airlines, and the construction industry, and included considerable interaction with community groups. In another letter seeking a position at the Pittsburgh Foundation, dated May 23, 1996, Boyle 6 stated that as Deputy Director, he served as airport spokesman and managed all public affairs, marketing and communications. A letter of recommendation from the chairman of the county Commission, Tom Foerster, which was drafted by Boyle himself, stated that Boyle joined the chairman's staff in 1986 to line up state funding for Strategy 21 and persuade USAir to build the Midfield Terminal. He further stated that Boyle has been of great value . . . for many years as a speech writer, corresponding secretary, and trouble-shooter at the airport. After his termination, Boyle applied for unemployment benefits. In a questionnaire completed by Boyle, he stated that his duties as Deputy Director were to manage communications and public relations for [the] airport, that he had full discretion and responsibility, and that he had full authority to make and implement decisions. In deposition testimony, Boyle acknowledged that as Deputy Director, he would report to the Commissioners on various matters, including the ramifications of various policies and proposed policies of the Commissioners. Boyle would also occasionally sit in on county Board meetings on behalf of the Director. The Board's minutes reveal that Boyle engaged in discussions with the Commissioners on various issues affecting the Department of Aviation. The minutes further reflect that Boyle at times made formal Requests for Board Action on behalf of the Director. Significantly, in a letter, dated October 31, 1995, Boyle stated that [f]or the past 10 years, I have been deputy director of Pittsburgh International Airport, and have served informally as Commissioner Tom Foerster's director of correspondence. At the time of his termination, Boyle's annual salary was $57,035.52.