In a letter to the newspaper, former UEA director Nick Cortolillo opts for straight, no chaser:
"The city of New Albany wanted unlimited access to the enterprise association’s revenue and (Mike) Ladd was in the way."
The complete letter to the editor follows.
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UEA leader’s removal a bad sign
Let there be no mistake about the purpose of the special meeting of the New Albany Urban Enterprise Association board Friday morning. It was to terminate Executive Director Mike Ladd and allow the city of New Albany unrestricted access to the revenue of the not-for-profit organization.
The Saturday News and Tribune article about the termination of Ladd cited several comments from enterprise association board member David Duggins. It should be noted that in addition to being a newly appointed (last two months) member of the board, he is also the newly appointed (by Mayor Jeff Gahan) director of economic development for the city. Duggins was also a previous director of the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Association, which was, and still is, administered by the city of Jeffersonville.
Can you start to see a connection? How much time do you think it will take for the enterprise association to go from an independent not-for-profit organization to a city of New Albany administered and managed entity?
There were several comments attributed to Duggins in the article that suggest that Ladd mismanaged the association. I don’t believe any of them. I know for a fact that Ladd has been working hard in expanding the revenue of the organization and working with state legislators and officials to keep the association and the Indiana Urban Enterprise Programs in place and flourishing.
I also know that he has done this in the face of politically motivated interference that has plagued him and the UEA board for the last three years and apparently will continue with the Gahan administration.
Back to my original point. The city of New Albany wanted unlimited access to the enterprise association’s revenue and Ladd was in the way.
— Nick Cortolillo, retired executive director, New Albany Urban Enterprise Association
As I mentioned to Duggins, I assume he and Gahan will be using board seats at other organizations to address their respective leadership issues just as publicly via similarly called special meetings in the very near future. If not, Cortolillo's conclusions will be bolstered beyond much doubt.
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