1 - Ivan Allen, Jr. Digital Collection - Georgia Institute of Technology

HARTSFIELD USE J o/~p/1if ~City Panel Backs OffOn Bid to Big AirlinesBy FREDERICK AlLEt"lCity Council's Transportation Commitl!eTuesday backed away from a move thatwould have forttd Atlanta's major airlinesto state-in wriling-that Hartsfield Internationalwill remain the city's primary airport.Mayor Maynard Jackson, citing "goodbusiness" motives. had asked the committeeIG paS$ a resolution demanding a "writtenstatement of policy" from the carriers that"they intend to maintain Hartsfield as theprimary airport for Atlanta ..."The committee also voted down a res~lution asking the airlines for "a studydemonstrating the feasibility of using thesecond airport as a supplementary airport toHartsfield."Both resolutions. introduced by CouncI1·man Charles Helms, met opposition fromcouncilmen Ric h a r d Guthman, D. L.(Buddy) Fowlkes and committee chainnanIra Jackson.During arguments on the second resolutioninvolving the feasibility study. Guthmancomplained. "This is presupposing a secondairport (will be built). And I think thatwould be a mistake."Replied Helms: "It doesn't presuPPOSeIt nearly as much as buying several thousandacres of land."Helms was referring to last Monday'svote by the full council to exercise an optionon IO,~ acres of land in Polk and Pauldingcounties as a potential site for the secondairportFowl~es objected that the resolutionswere an Insult to the major airlines. "I belIevewhat the executives tell me at DeltaAir lines," Fowlkes said. Delta has been at~e~u:; asset to the tity of Atlanta.\'! e re looking at them like a villain. I don'tba\'e ally reuon not to believe 'em."Added Guthman, "I have heard nothingto indicate Hartsfield would ever be dimin·ished ... "Earlier in the meeting. the committeevoted dow"n a strongly.worded resolutionoffered by Councilwoman Panke Bradley.Mrs. Bradley's resolution would have prohibitedany further council aelion on buildingthe secooo airport (including final purchaseof the Polk·Paulding site) until the airlinescame up with a written promise to protectthe future of Hartsfield.The meetlng was addressed by severalpublic officials who warned of dire economicproblems In south Fulton County if H.aJ1:s..field operations were cut back.'In outlining Mayor Jackson's requestfor the resolutions, top alde Ju1e Sugannansaid, "We've been proceeding this far on theassumption that we Cfln operate two airports.That has oot yet been documented."The mayor's statement, presented bySugannan, said, "During our discussionswith airline representath-es around the purchaseof the Paulding site, .... -e have beenassured repeatedly that Hartsfleld will c0ntinueas the primary Atlanta airport ..."The time has come for the city to seekwrlttoo assurances on these matters."While the commHtee refused the resolutionsaffeet1ng the future of Hartsfield inrelation to a second arport, it did passanother resoluoon asking the airlines for aleUer d Intent on proposed expansion ofHartsfield.'Ibe resolution asks the airlines for "awritten statement of Intent on midfield c0nstructionat Hartsfield, to be submitted tothe city by Dec. 31, 19'14."The airlines have declared previouslytheir desire to go ahead v.-ith plans for theexpansion of Ha:1stield, including a midfieldterminal.,,': •. )etl•For Citv01By JIM MERRJNi':RDespite projections of abud~et deficit, the City CouncilFinance Committee Thursdayvoted to create a new jobof "contract compliance officer"with a starting salary of$16,224.According to city payrollfigures, 396 jobs have beencreated under Mayor MaynardJackson's administrationand 255 abolished, for a netgain of 141-Current figures show a 1975general fund payroll of $63million and an overall budgetdeficit of $4.7 milliolL (Thetotal city payroll, includingthe airport and water-se ..... erfunds, Is $87 million for about8,000 workers.)If approved by the fullcouncil Monday, the new ventractcompliance officer'sposition W 0 u I d be placeduncIer Commissioner of AdministrativeServices EmmaDamellThe officer Is supposed toinsure that the tenns of citycontracts, including the"Atlanta plan" for hiring ofminority \l'Orkers, are met bycontractors.The new contract compliancejob \\'3.S formerly a parttimeassignment ror a memberof Mayor JacksQrJ's staff.The position of the mayor'saide \fIho handled that task isIJim Bell, deputy director of: the council staff and formerly• Jacksoo'scontractcompliance• aide, told the conunitteethat a full·time position is, needed to do the job.Finance Omtrru~n~• Olarles Davis alsO told the: committee that the new posi·• lion has the approval of theI avil Service Board.