Watchdog groups react to airport evaluator decisions

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – Patricia Armes has been the accounting manager in the airport's concessions department for more than 6 years. Before working for the city, she was an audit and finance manager in CA One Services' concessions department for more than 7 years.

During that time, CA One Services was under a contract to manage concessions companies at Atlanta's airport. Since then, the company changed its name to Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services.

DNCTHS was one of the companies the City Council approved for airport contracts last week.

Armes' past with a winning bidder makes Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation executive director Barbara Payne wonder.

"It's great to come with that expertise and that experience. But, realistically, how objective can that person be?" asks Payne.

On Friday, airport general manager Louis Miller told WABE, Armes' time with CA One did not present a conflict of interest in evaluating the latest contracts. He also said Armes' loyalty is no longer with that company. Instead, he said, she's focused on the airport's best interest. Miller also gave an example of what he would consider conflict of interest.

"If an employee today had ownership with another company, that would be a major conflict," says Miller.

However, Common Cause Georgia executive director William Perry doubts the city's judgment would work elsewhere.

"Could you imagine if a judge sitting on a bench had worked for a company that came before that judges' court? Wouldn't they remove themselves?" asks Perry.

Armes has not responded to interview requests. The contracts have been signed into law. However, a lawsuit is likely.