2009: As An Airport Authority Board Member, Jim Desmond Cast The Lone Vote Against Capping Reimbursements For Board Members’ Meals And Hotel Stays And Argued Business Class Flights Were Important
2009: As An Airport Authority Board Member, Desmond Cast The Lone Vote Against Capping Reimbursements For Board Members According To Federal Standards For Meals And Hotel Stays
2009: As An Airport Authority Board Member, Desmond Cast The Lone Vote Against Capping Reimbursements For Board Members According To Federal Standards. “The Airport Authority today approved limits on board members’ meal and hotel expenses while traveling, but delayed any decisions about other proposed travel policy changes proposed after our August story revealed existing policies weren’t always followed. The authority’s 6-1 vote (San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond voted no) will cap reimbursements for board members according to federal standards that allow a maximum $71 reimbursement for meals each day and a maximum $340 for hotel stays. The board didn’t adopt them for employees, deferring discussion on that and other expense policy changes to its November meeting.” [Voice of San Diego, 10/1/09]
Federal Standards Capped Reimbursements At $71 Per Day For Meals And $340 For Hotel Stays. “The authority’s 6-1 vote (San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond voted no) will cap reimbursements for board members according to federal standards that allow a maximum $71 reimbursement for meals each day and a maximum $340 for hotel stays. The board didn’t adopt them for employees, deferring discussion on that and other expense policy changes to its November meeting.” [Voice of San Diego, 10/1/09]
2009: Desmond Argued Business Class Was Important And Got Defensive When Pressed On Potential Public Scrutiny
2009: Airport Authority Board Member Robert Gleason Proposed Eliminating Premium Travel, Any Flights More Expensive Than Coach Class. “The Airport Authority today approved limits on board members’ meal and hotel expenses while traveling, but delayed any decisions about other proposed travel policy changes proposed after our August story revealed existing policies weren’t always followed. […] The board didn’t adopt them for employees, deferring discussion on that and other expense policy changes to its November meeting. Board members had mixed opinions about those other changes. Robert Gleason said he wanted to see per-diem limits for employees if they were being adopted for the board. He said the board should eliminate premium travel — any flights more expensive than coach class.” [Voice of San Diego, 10/1/09]
- Gleason: “I Think It Is Difficult To Explain And Difficult To Justify To The Traveling Public.” “Board members had mixed opinions about those other changes. Robert Gleason said he wanted to see per-diem limits for employees if they were being adopted for the board. He said the board should eliminate premium travel — any flights more expensive than coach class. ‘I think it is difficult to explain and difficult to justify to the traveling public,’ Gleason said.” [Voice of San Diego, 10/1/09]
Desmond Said Business Class Travel On International Flights Was Important To Keep Employees Rested For Meetings. “Three other board members disagreed: Tom Smisek, Desmond and Bruce Boland. Desmond said business class travel on international flights is important to keep employees fresh and rested for meetings once they arrive.” [Voice of San Diego, 10/1/09]
When Questioned About Public Scrutiny By Chairman Bob Watkins, Desmond Got Defensive, Asking, “Are We Running It Or Is The Media Running The Ship?” “Three other board members disagreed: Tom Smisek, Desmond and Bruce Boland. Desmond said business class travel on international flights is important to keep employees fresh and rested for meetings once they arrive. ‘The question comes back: are you willing to defend that from a public scrutiny perspective?’ asked Bob Watkins, the authority chairman. ‘Are we running it or is the media running the ship?’ Desmond replied.” [Voice of San Diego, 10/1/09]