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September 5, 2008

Chamber, president ‘part ways’

Chairman says organization needed to change direction, ‘take it to the next level’

By Lauren Ricks STAFF WRITER

The Athens Chamber of Commerce is looking for a new leader to help it change direction.

The Chamber Board of Directors and president Gus Flener have parted ways, according to chairman Mitch West. West did not categorize the move as a firing. He said Flener was given an undisclosed severance package.

“The board is looking at new things. Gus has done a great job getting us where we are,” West said. “We wanted to take it to the next level. Gus was not the right person to get us there.”

West said Flener was told of the board’s decision last Friday.

“Mr. Flener served the chamber and the businesses and residents of Athens admirably for over five years in his role as president, for which he is deserving of the thanks of the board and the community,” West said in a press release.

Flener could not be reached for comment.

West said the chamber board took into consideration action taken last month by the Athens City Council regarding funding. Specifically, the city voted to not disburse funds raised by its hotel/motel tax that are typically distributed to various organizations in Athens that promote tourism.

To receive the funds, those agencies must report periodically to the city how the money is being spent. The city voted to not give funds to the chamber for the coming year after announcing it was in default of reporting requirements.

Athens City Administrator Pam Burton said an organization receiving funds from the occupancy tax signs a contract and agrees to the reporting requirements.

“It outlines what they are to present,” Burton said. “Every month they are supposed to report how they spent the money from the hotel/motel tax.”

City Secretary Pam Watson said the chamber was in default for the 2007-2008 year, adding she does not know how many months the chamber did not report.

He said there are no allegations of misuse of the funds. West said the chamber is working on giving a complete account of how the money was spent.

“We are not 100 percent updated yet, we are about 90 percent,” he said.

Burton said the council would have to re-evaluate the issue and call a public hearing if it were to grant the chamber a portion of the hotel/motel tax. She said it would likely be the next fiscal year before the council addresses the issue.

West said the chamber board’s decision regarding Flener was not made solely on the issue regarding the hotel/motel funds.

He said the board is considering three people for the interim director position. He added he hopes to fill the position with an interim director within 20 days.

In the meantime, he said the chamber will operate its business as usual.

“We have some that we are in the talking stages with, to find out if they are interested,” West said.

He said the interim director is a strictly temporary position and will probably be someone from Athens. West said the board will look both in Athens and outside the city to fill the permanent position.

“There are several qualified people in Athens who could run the chamber,” he said. “We want somebody that is upbeat that will promote Athens, that will promote business in Athens.”

West said he hopes in the future the chamber will cooperate with other groups, such as the Athens Economic Development Corporation, Athens Visitor Initiative Program and the Athens Independent School District.

“I think the chamber needs to work with all the groups in Athens,” he said. “We need to pool all the groups together.”

He said he feels the situation regarding Flener is unfortunate, but he hopes matters will be better for everyone.

“We wish him (Flener) all the luck,” he said. “He has done a great job for the chamber.”

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