FULTON TOURISM COMMISSION PLANS ON HOLD FOR HIRING ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESIGNS

In the final item listed on the agenda for the April 14 session of the Fulton Tourism Commission, designated for public comment, Executive Director Thea Vowell submitted and read her Letter of Resignation to Chair Derrick Jackson and board members Pat Frazier, Melanie Gunn, Terri Harvey, Pat Gossum, Connie Smith and Zac Browning.

The letter, a copy of which was provided to The Current, dated April 14 was addressed to the Fulton Tourism Commission, and stated, as follows:

"Dear Board, After a long debate and with a heavy heart I've made the decision to step out of my role as the Executive Director. With the planning of many wonderful community events underway, I feel it is in everyone's best interest that I step down so the group can take the reins and move forward. My final date working as a director for Tourism is April 29th, 2022.

As you know, over the last nine months to a year, I have had many hurdles to jump over to continue in this position as tourism director. The conflicts I have had have affected my ability to manage my team of volunteers and have left me and many of my volunteers feeling unsettled, uncomfortable and have put people in awkward situations that is no fault of their own. My love for this job and this community has so much to do with the people in it and I cannot sit back and continue to participate in this behavior.

It has been said to me, the "Powers that be" want me gone and it is clear by the actions over the past year that is true. Knowing these folks will not stop, I see no other option but to resign and end this madness.

Tourism has made great strides in growing the tourism industry in Fulton over the past 8 years and I feel privileged to have been a part of it. I have been hands-on for over 14 years and I can honestly say I am proud of all that has been accomplished because of people with only good intentions and a true desire to help and never once worried who received the credit.

I thank you for asking me to step into this position 8 years ago. I hope you all are glad you did.

Sincerely, Thea Vowell"

After a brief discussion, initiated by Chair Jackson, as to whether the letter should be accepted prior to adjournment of the April 14 meeting, or be tabled until the May session of the Tourism Commission, a motion was made by Melanie Gunn and seconded by Pat Frazier to accept Vowell's letter of resignation.

Gossum, Harvey and Smith abstained from the roll call vote.

Jackson, Gunn and Frazier voted in favor of the motion.

Prior to Browning's vote, as it was his first meeting to attend since being appointed to the board, he asked Vowell whether the resignation was what she wanted, or was she being forced to take the action.

Vowell said she did not "want" to resign, but due to circumstances which had occurred, according to Vowell, over the course of many months, she was ready to submit her resignation.

With that, Browning voted to accept the letter.

The meeting was then adjourned.

When the meeting was first called to order at 5:15 p.m., discussion in regard to proposed consideration for approval of the minutes from the March meeting was conducted, first by Jackson.

He said in reading the account of the meeting held March 10, published in The Current, he found that the minutes presented did not match up with the newspaper's account of the meeting. Specifically, Jackson mentioned according to Vowell's minutes presented for approval, she had indicated she would not want to maintain a Tourism office in Fulton's City Hall, as should an administrative assistant be hired, the current office space available would not accommodate two people.

Jackson said the newspaper account did state that information, but also included other reasons for Vowell's statement as to why she would not favor continuing to have an office in Fulton City Hall, namely, related to working under conditions in which leadership did not back her, in her position.

Vowell said she could revise the minutes to reflect the addition Jackson mentioned as to why she would not want to retain an office in City Hall.

Gunn, who stated she was not in attendance for the March meeting, said when she compared the minutes presented by Vowell for approval to the newspaper's account of the meeting, the minutes appeared to not accurately portray what took place at the meeting.

Gunn said the community had read the account of the meeting in the paper, and she saw Vowell's statement regarding the request for a raise in pay, hiring of an assistant and the assistant's pay and hours, with a resignation already prepared at that time, as an ultimatum.

"I don't like ultimatums," Gunn said.

Gunn asked Vowell whether she had been present for the Fulton City Commission meeting, when the entire city commission had endorsed and recommended, along with City Manager Mike Gunn and FHCEDP President Mark Welch, to ask the Tourism Commission to pursue the creation of a full time Tourism Executive Director's position. She said Vowell had mentioned concerns about what has been done to her in the past year, and suggested Vowell state what those concerns have been.

Vowell said the minutes she prepared were "typical" of minutes.

Board member Pat Gossum noted meeting minutes and newspaper accounts are prepared in a different fashion, and most of the time, the newspaper includes more information.

(Editor's Note: Benita Fuzzell, as Editor of The Current, present to cover the meeting, echoed Gossum's statement as to the method by which meeting minutes are compiled, compared to how a newspaper story is prepared for publication. She also stated, rather than board members solely relying on the account of the minutes presented, or the newspaper publication of the meeting, board members should consider relying on the recollection of board members present for the meeting in person, as to the actions taken.)

Jackson, who was present for the March meeting, said he did recall Vowell giving other reasons, in addition to lack of space, for not wanting to maintain her office any longer at Fulton City Hall, relating to leadership.

Discussion then took place as to whether Vowell had mentioned during the March meeting she had prepared her letter of resignation. Board member Terri Harvey said she had thought Vowell had not mentioned the resignation letter during the meeting, but after its adjournment.

Board member Pat Frazier said she did recall Vowell mentioned the letter of resignation she had prepared, during the same statement regarding her request for an increase in pay, the hiring of an assistant and relocation of her office.

Vowell said she would revise the minutes, with the board's additions, and present them for consideration and approval at the next meeting.

Under Old Business, Jackson reported following a Tourism Commission subcommittee meeting which included himself, Gunn and Frazier, regarding the exploration of hiring an assistant for the Executive Director, which he noted lasted approximately two hours, as well as discussion with Mayor David Prater and City Manager Mike Gunn, and consultations with KLC (Kentucky League of Cities), it had been determined it would be in the best interest of the city and Tourism, for the office of Tourism to remain in Fulton City Hall.

Jackson then asked Vowell whether the Tourism Commission has, and operates under a set of bylaws.

Vowell said she believed there was an ordinance which would include that information, however Jackson stated that no one at city hall had seen any bylaws for the Tourism Commission.

Jackson recommended the Tourism Commission attempt to locate any available bylaws, policies or procedures currently in place for the Tourism Commission and review each part of the documents to determine if revisions or amendments should be made. He also recommended no actions be taken as to the hiring of an assistant until other procedural matters were addressed.

Under New Business, Vowell reported she had been in touch with the company from which the Tourism's fireworks show is secured for the July 4 celebration each year, and the price will increase for 2022. She reminded the board that with the cancellation of the 2020 fireworks show, and a deposit having been already made by Tourism for that display, the company had applied the 2020 deposit to the price of the 2021 fireworks show.

Vowell said it appeared the price increased each year, however, in 2021, because the previous year's deposit had been applied toward the cost, the 2021 show had a price tag of $12,000, which had been the average. For the 2022 show, with similar fireworks and time frame, the price would be $17,000.

Discussion then took place as to whether the price would be less if the fireworks show were to be held on the day before or after the actual Fourth of July holiday, and whether it would be wise to seek out other price quotes for the fireworks show. Vowell said the Fulton Railroaders' schedule always included a home game for the Fourth of July to coincide with the fireworks display, launched across the street from Lohaus Field, from Fulton's City Park.

Gossum suggested for the future, communication with the Railroaders could be established, prior to the compilation of their schedule, to allow for a different night for the fireworks show, should the Tourism Commission make that decision.

Frazier shared her concerns about the $17,000 price tag for the fireworks.

"I think we should put in a diligent search, to see what is out there. Just because we have it (the money), doesn't mean we should spend it unwisely," Frazier said.

"I do think the fireworks show is a big benefit to the city," Gossum said, adding the financials indicate the Tourism Commission funds "keep getting bigger" and allow for the consideration of the fireworks funding.

Mark Welch, President of the Fulton-Hickman Counties Economic Development Partnership, provided the board with an update of WAVE, West Kentucky Alliance for a Vibrant Economy, activities, having just completed a session of the most recent Leadership program. He stated the May session, to be held in Fulton County, will cover the topic of Transportation, and in May, Tourism, with that session to be held at Columbus Belmont State Park in June.

He shared that WAVE originally included representation from the four River Counties, but McCracken County/Paducah had now been added to the group, allowing for more of a regional approach to "market regionally, sell locally" with a marketing firm hired to market the entire region.