ALBANY– A bipartisan group of Albany County lawmakers has called on the Albany County Airport Authority to extend the contract of its chief executive officer, Philip Calderone.
In a letter dated August 22 to the airport authority’s board, lawmakers expressed their disappointment with the decision not to renew Calderone’s contract, citing the negative impact on public and regulatory confidence in the authority.
The request comes amid concerns about the ongoing $100 million renovation and expansion project at Albany International Airport.
“From day one, I have said that my concerns about recent events at the Albany Airport Authority have nothing to do with politics. That is why today I join my legislative colleagues of both parties in urging the authority’s board to extend Phil Calderone’s contract as CEO,” Minority Leader Frank Mauriello said in an emailed statement. “I hope our request will be duly considered and accepted by the board.”
The signatories argue that Calderone’s leadership and vision were instrumental in ensuring that the airport’s expansion efforts received broad support from a variety of stakeholders, including the county legislature, government officials and private sector leaders.
“The inexplicable decision not to renew Mr. Calderone’s contract has clearly had a negative impact on public officials’ and the public’s confidence in the agency,” the letter said. Lawmakers also expressed concern about the potential cost and time required to find a new CEO, estimating that the process could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Instead of conducting a comprehensive search for a new CEO, the lawmakers suggested that the agency reconsider its decision and offer Calderone a new contract. “We suggest that the agency forego this process and simply select the most experienced and well-known candidate available to it – Philip Calderone,” the letter said.
While lawmakers acknowledged that some board members may have reservations about continuing to work with Calderone in light of recent events, they suggested that those members may have to reconsider their positions on the board if they are unable to work with him.
The letter was signed by several prominent members of the County Legislature, including Mauriello, former Legislature Chairman Andrew Joyce and Minority Leader Mark Grimm, and reflects a broad coalition of support for Calderone’s continued leadership across party lines.
The Albany County Airport Authority has not yet publicly responded to the letter. The ongoing renovation project is one of the largest in the airport’s history and aims to modernize facilities and improve the passenger experience. As the project moves forward, lawmakers stressed the importance of having stable and experienced leadership to guide the airport through this critical phase.
County Legislature Chairwoman Joanne Cunningham had previously said the legislature would not interfere with the decisions of the airport authority’s board of directors after it decided not to renew Calderone’s contract. She said the legislature has no jurisdiction over the authority’s operations.
