At the Thursday, June 25, Lancaster County Convention Center Authority (LCCCA) Board meeting, Chairman Art Morris announced that he would step down from his role in the Authority as of July 31. Morris was nominated as Chair in May 2007, and has since led the LCCCA into a much-welcomed period of openness and transparency.
Regarding his exit, Morris was careful to note that the decision has not been motivated by any sort of grievance between himself and the Board: “I’ve truly enjoyed working with this Board, and we’re really fortunate, quite frankly, that we’ve been able to work together so well….” Although the announcement may come as a surprise to some, Morris indicated that he has been expecting to make this move for at least the past year.
Following the meeting, Randolph Carney, a longtime follower of the Convention Center project, explained that previous Chairmen “seemed to be doing everything that they can to limit the public’s access, to obstruct the flow of knowledge to the public. And I personally saw [former Chair Ted] Darcus do everything he could to quiet dissent, to shut up people who didn’t tow the line. And when Mr. Morris came on Board as Chairman, everything changed….But I have to emphasize that, as much good as Art Morris did (and Art Morris did a lot of good), it was basically the same as closing the barn door after the horse got out. Because by the time Art Morris took over, the damage was done.”
The next LCCCA chair will be initially be nominated by a committee consisting of Board Members Sharron Nelson, Laura Douglas, and Julie Dickson.
