Last modified: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 1:06 AM EST Mayor wants ARA head ousted BY GEORGE W. RHODES SUN CHRONICLE STAFF ATTLEBORO - Mayor Kevin Dumas laid the failure of the industrial business park project squarely at the feet of Attleboro Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Michael Milanoski Tuesday night and called for his immediate resignation. The ARA board would have to ask for the resignation because Milanoski works for it. Dumas took the action before the city council Tuesday in the wake of a report issued last week by a special committee he formed to investigate the financial failures of the ARA. The industrial business park project is $4.2 million in debt and, according to the special committee, there is no way for it to become solvent. Dumas said the cash crisis is the result of mismanagement by Milanoski, although he never mentioned him by name in the four-page statement. He referred to Milanoski only as the executive director. He said Milanoski failed to provide information needed by the board for proper oversight. "The decisions of a board of directors are only as good as the information they have been provided with," Dumas said. The lack of communication of crucial information should lead to Milanoski's resignation, he said. "I cannot escape the fact that the financial stability of the ARA and particularly the IBP project have suffered greatly, perhaps irretrievably, under the management of this executive director," Dumas said. "Therefore this evening I am calling on the ARA board of directors to demand the immediate resignation of its executive director." Dumas said he would hire an economic development director who would also serve as the ARA executive director and would open discussions with creditors to find a way to settle the debts. ARA Chairman Benton Keene III said the board as a group will decide what to do. But he seemed to be leaning toward a change. "It's a tough situation, but if a change is needed it's usually the top person who is sacrificed," he said. "It's unfortunate it's come to this." Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the ARA board issued a statement rejecting the conclusions of the task force report, which criticized Milanoski. In a seven-page news release the ARA found fault with the committee's financial analysis. "We the Attleboro Redevelopment Authority board of directors find the report flawed beyond a reasonable doubt and unanimously reject its conclusions," it said. Milanoski declined to comment until he has read the mayor's statement.