CITY — Denver International Airport Manager Kim Day has put DIA operations chief John Kinney on paid “investigatory leave,” airport officials confirmed today.
“We do not discuss personnel matters,” Day said in an email, when she was asked about Kinney’s status with the airport.
Kinney, whose DIA title is deputy manager for operations, also said he could not comment and referred all questions to the airport’s public relations staff.
Last October, Day placed DIA chief financial officer Stan Koniz on a similar investigatory leave.
At that time, Koniz said Day had cited “insubordination” and “lack of collaboration” as reasons for her action, after Koniz said he raised concerns about the possible excessive cost of the South Terminal expansion plan being promoted by Day.
That South Terminal development program includes a Westin hotel and a FasTracks train station at the existing DIA terminal’s south end, along with a large public plaza that links the station complex with the tented terminal.DIA recently put a $650 million price tag on the first phase of the South Terminal project, which also includes a commuter-rail bridge over Peña Boulevard just east of the highway’s junction with E-470. DIA expects to pay $250 million on a second phase of the project.Last year, Koniz said high costs of the South Terminal project might raise the rates and charges that airlines pay to a level that could make DIA less competitive with other airports. It also might jeopardize DIA’s bond rating, he said.A settlement between Koniz and DIA led to him returning to the airport in a lesser financial position.
DIA spokeswoman Sally Covington said under Career Service Authority rules, Kinney will have an opportunity to respond to any issue that led to him being placed on leave.
