PENN TWP — Two members of the Butler County Airport Authority have resigned citing a disagreement with the county commissioners.

Chairman Harry Boben and treasurer/secretary Bill Giallombardo are leaving the board, effective this month, Boben said at the authority's meeting Thursday night.

There are now three vacancies on the seven-person board, whose members are appointed by the commissioners.

When the county commissioners took office two years ago, they recommended that the authority find a replacement for Ike Kelly, who was serving as a board member and also as the airport manager, which is a paid position.

Though not illegal, the commissioners prefer that an authority employee does not serve in a dual role as a voting board member, county Commissioner Kim Geyer said in an interview following the meeting.

“It's not a sound practice,” she said.

She compared it to a school superintendent getting elected to the school board in the district that employs them.

The authority disagreed two years ago and the issue was shelved until September when Kelly's four-year term expired and he left the board.

However, the remaining authority members did not comply with the commissioners' request to provide a recommendation for a new member.

Boben said Thursday night the previous version of the authority was highly successful, bringing in more than $22 million in grant money, while only spending $1 million to generate it.

Geyer said during the meeting the commissioners are looking to get new people with new ideas on the board, but Boben disagreed.

“The commissioners shouldn't be telling us who is on the board,” he said.

Giallombardo was not at the meeting.

Geyer said the commissioners will discuss how to proceed with filling the vacancies and they have already heard from community members who are interested.