Turkia Mullin fired as airport chief, she vows to take action in court

By COREY WILLIAMS
Associated Press

ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) -- The chief executive for Detroit Metropolitan Airport was fired Monday after only two months on the job, following a messy severance deal now under FBI investigation over her former post as economic development director for Wayne County.

Wayne County Airport Authority members voted 5-2 to dismiss Turkia Mullin, saying she violated terms of her employment. She said she is pursuing legal action over the firing.

Mullin received $200,000 in severance in September after leaving Wayne County for the airport post. She began working for the county in 2009. She received the severance payment Sept. 9.

She and County Executive Robert Ficano were criticized about the amount of the payment and the FBI is now investigating the deal. Last month, Mullin repaid the after-tax amount of $135,900.

A resolution calling for the firing pointed to a section in Mullin's contract that dealt with dishonesty, theft, willful misconduct and breach of fiduciary duty.

The vote came after the board emerged from a closed session with its lawyer to discuss Mullin's job.

Board member Suzanne Hall, who introduced the resolution, refused to go into detail about the basis for the firing.

"This resolution is unbalanced, vague and ambiguous and unfair to the authority and Miss Mullin," said board member Samuel Nouhan, who voted against the resolution.

He said there was no evidence that Mullin violated any point of the contract.

Airport spokesman Scott Wintner later issued a statement saying the board "will not discuss any further matters about her contract - which our legal counsel will address with her privately."

Mullin's contract called for arbitration upon dismissal and for her to get three years' pay, which amounts to $750,000. Board member Bernard Parker said because she was fired "with cause," she would not get the money.

"Her ability to run the airport with all the distractions that are taking place ... that was my main concern," Parker said after the meeting at which he voted with the majority to fire Mullin.

The board named its chief financial officer, Thomas Naughton, to serve as interim chief executive.

Mullin told reporters her firing was unjustified.

"Clearly, questions surrounding my severance package should not have resulted in my wrongful termination," she told reporters after the vote. "When I was hired for the position ... I was called an excellent choice and approved unanimously."

Mullins said the quality of her work has not been questioned and she has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

"I now find my career coming to an unexpected, disappointing and abrupt halt," she said. "I am therefore seeking legal remedy."

Ficano has said protocols weren't followed in the severance deal. He suspended two officials involved in the deal and fired a contract worker. The FBI is investigating and agents served subpoenas Oct. 19 seeking records.

The deal upset many county employees who have been forced to take pay cuts as the county battles a $160 million accumulated budget deficit.

Late last week, Ficano was backpedaling from his support for Mullin. He issued a statement Monday saying he understood the board's decision.

"Today's actions by the airport board were painful, but done to end the distraction surrounding the airport director," Ficano said. "It's unfortunate that the promise I have seen in Ms. Mullin ... will not come to fruition under her watch."

Calling Mullin "a strong woman with many accomplishments," he said "the board must move on. They are a competent body, and will do their due diligence in finding a successor."