Mayor Carolyn Bowers confronted questions surrounding a conflict of interest at the Regional Airport Authority, specifically those surrounding local architect Jerry Clark, and his daughter-in-law, in a Saturday radio interview on 1400 WJZM. In an extensive interview on “Clarksville in Review”, Bowers explained what happened during a meeting with Clark, Mayor Kim McMillan and Erinne Hester, who is the County’s Accounts and Budget director.
On October 10th, a meeting was called by Bowers to discuss potential “conflict of interest” issues related to The County Purchasing Act of 1957. It basically states that anyone wanting to do business with the county, could not serve on any boards or commissions within county government. Jerry Clark was a member of the Airport Authority and his architectural firm has and wishes to continue to do business with the county, which is all perfectly legal, and so far, there’s been no report of mis-management or wrongdoing.
Mayor Bowers said that until they could get some “clarification” from the Attorney General on the issue, then the county would abide by the law as it is written. Clark resigned his position on the Authority, but was then hired BY the Authority for $1.00 to help complete the airport terminal construction that had been started.
The Airport Construction Project Committee is Jerry Clark, Charles Hand and Ron Whitford. Clark is the Project Manager. Mayor Bowers has not replaced Clark on the Airport Authority.
During her interview on Wjzm, Mayor Bowers said that what was really at the heart of the issue was the project committee’s hiring of Eddingtons Furniture Store to provide services to the project. Clark’s daughter-in-law, Christina, works at Eddingtons. Bowers said that there couldn’t even be the “appearance” of a conflict of interest, as indicated in the County Purchasing Act of 1957. Clark said in that meeting October 10th, “There was no discussion whatsoever concerning the contract between the Authority and Eddingtons.”
Bowers said in an e-mail received AFTER her interview that, “At that meeting, I did not tell Jerry (Clark) about the Eddingtons invoices, because there were several items of concern from the auditors and their written report had not been received by the Authority.” That report has not been made public, and the specific “concerns” have not been revealed.
Mayor Bowers also said during her interview, that Eddingtons was hired by Clark, personally. Clark disputes that.
Clark told me that, “The Authority passed the construction budget for the project, and the Building Committee then became the party that implemented the project. The Building Committee is made up of me (Clark) as Chairman and any interested members of the Authority. In practice, it has been me, Ron Whitford, and Charles Hand, with some involvement from James Halford, (Authority Board member). The Building Committee was advised and it was discussed with Ron Whitford and Charles Hand, that Eddingtons and my daughter-in-law Christina were my recommendation to do this small portion of the work, and that Eddiingtons would GIVE UP the right to bid on the furniture package when it came out to bid. This was done PRIOR TO any contract between the Authority and Eddingtons with FULL DISCLOSURE that Christina was involved and that she was my daughter-in-law.”
According to Clark, “There was no conflict of interest created here, because to have a conflict would require the relative to be a spouse or child living at home, Christina meets neither of these definitions.”
Mayor Bowers stands by her belief that there can’t even be “the appearance” of conflict of interest.
Mayor Bowers also said the Christina Clark worked for Clark and Associates. Jerry Clark said, “She is not now, nor has she ever been an employee of Clark and Associates Architects, Inc. She has been a consultant for clients with projects developed by Clark and Associates Architects, Inc, in the same capacity she has assisted in the development of the colors and furniture selection for the Authority.”
Clark admitted that “looking back”, it was probably not a wise decision to hire Eddingtons for the work they performed. “But we conducted our business out in the open, and in full view of the entire committee and Authority Board. Nobody on the Authority Board felt there was a conflict of interest as interpreted by the law” said Clark.
But the “appearance” is there according to Mayor Bowers.
The controversy over conflict of interest has created a “trickle down” affect on many local citizens serving in various capacities within county government as reported here:
Conflict of Interest questions still remain.
Wjzm and Clarksville Online has requested the full report of the county’s concerns over invoices submitted by Eddingtons during the construction of the Airport terminal. This is an ongoing report, so stay tuned to Wjzm 1400am and Clarksville Online for more information.
