Home > ShortCuts > Archives > 2009 > October > 05 > Entry
Gilliam, despite retirement, joins other Cap Metro execs at Florida conference
Capital Metro CEO Fred Gilliam, who announced last week that he will retire Oct. 16, is in Orlando, Fla., attending an American Public Transportation Association convention this week, along with four other Capital Metro officials. The conference, which began Sunday, runs through Wednesday.
“Fred Gilliam’s last day at Capital Metro is October 16,” agency spokesman Adam Shaivtiz said today in a statement. “He will honor all his commitments on behalf of Capital Metro through his last day and will be reimbursed for any business travel on behalf of the agency.
“He is representing Capital Metro on several panels and committee meetings during the APTA conference. He also serves on the Leadership APTA board of directors on behalf of Capital Metro and is participating in Leadership APTA’s meetings and planning sessions during the conference.”
Joining Gilliam in Orlando at the transit trade group’s annual meeting are board member John Cowman (also Leander’s mayor), executive vice president and chief development officer Doug Allen, Dianne Mendoza, the agency’s vice president for business and community development, and Gina Estrada, the agency board’s executive assistant and board liaison.
Shaivitz said that Mendoza is graduating from the trade association’s leadership program this week, and that Estrada serves on a board-related committee for the association. Allen, who likely will be Gilliam’s interim replacement during a search for a permanent replacement, also serves on committees that are meeting during the conference, Shaivitz said.
The agency, which like many transit agencies is battling budget problems because of falling sales tax receipts, in the past has sent a greater number of people to some national meetings of the trade group.
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.
By Time4Change
October 5, 2009 4:09 PM | Link to this
How nice a paid vacation for a non-prefomer which Austin Tax Payers will pickup the bill for his trip. I hope he gives a presentation on how to promise everything a deliver nothing while earning over 200K per year ……
By BigDaddy51
October 5, 2009 4:13 PM | Link to this
We can only hope that someone in this group attends a seminar on managing projects for on time on budget delivery!
By todd
October 5, 2009 4:17 PM | Link to this
You’d think the CapMetro clowns would be embarrassed to show their faces in front of other people in their profession considering how poorly they have done. On the other hand, guvment workers are rarely embarrassed or concerned about poor performance.
By Jim in Wimberley
October 5, 2009 4:23 PM | Link to this
Have these people no shame for allowing him to waste more taxpayer money? What a joke…….
By Jim
October 5, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this
I hope he stays there. “Honor all of his commitments” translates to spending more taxpayer money to look for a new place to work.
By Joe
October 5, 2009 4:30 PM | Link to this
What pigs at the public trough!!!!!
By Bill
October 5, 2009 4:44 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe he had the audacity to take a free trip at the end of his pathetic performance as acting CEO of Cap Metro. He’s a joke to the department and the city….
By Peter
October 5, 2009 5:46 PM | Link to this
He’s still the CEO and representing Cap Metro at the conference. Get a grip people.
By Jimi Hofa
October 5, 2009 5:49 PM | Link to this
Hey Peter, he may represent you, but he would never represent myself. I would rather sit in jail then to have self proclaimed thug represent me. So Peter, go grip yourself!
By Robin
October 5, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this
Well technically, he is the CEO until October 16th. So he was still representing the organization during that time. But I personally would not want to be networking on behalf of an impoverished and incompetent organization either
By RR Texan
October 5, 2009 6:27 PM | Link to this
Ridiculous! Cap Metro should disclose how much this conference of nothingness cost the Taxpayers.
By Peter
October 5, 2009 6:28 PM | Link to this
Mr. Hofa, So is guess you might as well go to jail until October 16th. Have fun. I can sit back and feel good that there is one less idiot on the streets.
By George Hembry
October 5, 2009 6:50 PM | Link to this
Unbelievable. The AG should conduct an investigation of this clear abuse of tax-payers funds.
By JR
October 5, 2009 8:37 PM | Link to this
I read Kirk Watson’s newsletter to constituents today and almost puked. He said “…Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization – the transportation planning group I chair – …” Now we know why he is not running for Gov. He’s been asleep at the wheel as well. As long as Cap Met leaders pandered to his vision of Austin’s transportation needs he had no problem supporting rail and other items Austinites did not want. Now he acts like someone should provide more oversight and he “has some ideas.” Kirk where the heck have you been the last 8 years? We want answers from you and your cronies as well. Stateman won’t ask questions there as they are afraid of Watson’s power.
By torocaca
October 5, 2009 10:40 PM | Link to this
Why not go? It’s just another vacation on someeone else’s money. Almost like the Obama’s going to a play in New York or to Denmark with Oprah on our dime. Afterall, these folks are the elite. Don’t whine. Just stfu and pay the tab.
By eye see thru u
October 6, 2009 8:35 AM | Link to this
There are lots of alligators in Orlando, Fl.