Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes March 29, 2017 PLACE: Terminal Building METTING TIME: 6:02PM ATTENDEES: Mayor Dinatale, City Solicitor Vincent Pusateri (Airport Manager Scott Ellis absent out sick) Commissioners: Chairman Naylor, Vice Chairman Peter Kettle, Commissioner Clayton Raymond, Comm. Richard Liberatore and Comm. John Early 1. Meeting Protocol was entered into the meeting by Chairman Jack Naylor  Chair Naylor introduced the commission members in attendance.  Chair Naylor motioned request to record audio (granted) approved Commissioner Raymond, Comm. Kettle, Deb Silvar  Public opportunity to speak: No one wishes to speak 2. Correspondence to the Commission  Chair Naylor received a letter from Richard P Doucette Manager FAA Environmental New England Region Subject: Interpolative display material 3. Previous Month’s Minutes  Motion to accept February 22, 2017 airport minutes motion proposed by Chair. Naylor to accept minute’s seconded Comm. Kettle Voted 5-0 (17-03-01) 4. Project Review-Gale Matt Caron There are five (5) projects that Gale Associates, Inc. (Gale) is administering on behalf of the Fitchburg Airport Commission. They are: 1. Phase I Avigation Easement Acquisition (AIP No. 3‐25‐0018‐22‐2013)/(ASMP #: FIT ACQPH1) Project Description: This project is a Phase I avigation easement acquisition project to acquire avigation easements over parcels in the Runway 14 and Runway 32 approaches, adjacent to the Airport. Acquisition of all easements necessary to clear obstructions is a multi‐phased effort to occur over the next few years. Estimated Project Cost: FAA Share: $503,889.75 ( 90%) State Share $ 41,990.81 ( 7.5%) Local Share: $ 13,996.94 ( 2.5) Total Cost: $559,877.50 (100%) Project Status: This project is complete and ready for closeout. Gale has prepared the final reimbursement request and delivered it to the Airport Manager for processing. Actions Required by the Airport this month: None this month. 2. Phase II Avigation Easement Acquisition (AIP No. 3‐25‐0018‐23‐2014) Project Description: This project is a Phase II avigation easement acquisition project to acquire avigation easements over parcels in the Runway 14 and Runway 32 approaches, adjacent to the Airport. Acquisition of all easements necessary to clear obstructions is a multi‐phased effort to occur over the next few years. Project Cost: FAA Share: $ 620,000.10 ( 90.0%) State Share: $ 34,444.45 ( 5.0%) Local Share: $ 34,444.45 ( 5.0%) Total Cost: $ 688,889.00 ( 100%) Project Status Five of the seven easements included in Phase II have been recorded at the registry of deeds. The remaining two properties will be recorded by April 28th. Actions Required by the Airport this month: None this month. 3. Phase III Avigation Easement Acquisitions and Permitting (AIP No. 3‐25‐0018‐24‐2015) Project Description: This project is a Phase III avigation easement acquisition project to acquire avigation easements over approximately 22 parcels in the Runway 32 approachsurface, adjacent to the Airport. Additionally, this project includes permitting efforts necessary to remove obstructions from the Runway 14‐32 approach surfaces. Project Cost: FAA Share: $ 2,138,850.00 (90.0%) State Share: $ 118,825.00 ( 5.0%) Local Share: $ 118,825.00 ( 5.0%) Total Cost: $ 2,376,500.00 (100%) Project Status: Easements: To date, easements over 8 properties have been recorded with 1 more to be recorded once a check is issued by the City. The remaining 13 properties included in Phase III will be recorded by April 28th. Work has commenced for the additional easement needed over a property on Crawford street which will require two obstructions lights. This easement needs to be completed by July 1st in order for the FAA to issue a grant for the tree clearing project in the Runway 32 end for winter of 2017/2018. Gale has prepared a supplemental agreement for the additional work which needs to be executed by several individuals at the Airport and within the City. Please note that costs for this additional easement are contained within the original grant amount. Due to underruns in the original grant there is money available to acquire this avigation easement. Permitting/Historical: In accordance with the MOA between the Airport, FAA, and Massachusetts Historical Preservation Officer, draft scripts of the interpretive display have been submitted to each agency for a 30‐day comment period. In addition, MassDOT/AD and the Fitchburg Historical Commission (the concurring parties) received copies of the draft scripts for comment. Also, the Airport has advertised in the Sentinel & Enterprise the availability for the public to review the draft scripts in the Manager’s office during normal business hours until April 20th. There is still time for adjustments to the draft scripts but we are looking to button this up ASAP. Actions Required by the Airport this month: Provide final comments or suggested changes to the draft scripts. Circulate the Supplemental Agreement No. 1 for signature and return a copy to Gale. Comm Kettle informed at the meeting that he thought a better interpretive display could be made available than the one proposed by the Historical Preservation Officer, where the artists impression of a STEARMAN airplane on the main theme together with the Welcome to the Fitchburg Municipal Airport, could be replaced by a photograph of a real STEARMAN that flies regularly in and out of the airport if one was available. This was agreed by all Commissioners. Mayor DiNatale also advised that he would like to see the Welcome to the Fitchburg Municipal Airport at least 20% larger than what it currently shows on the interpretive display, together with the real photograph of the STEARMAN if possible. Action – Comm. Kettle. 4. Runway 14 End Obstruction Removal and Aeronautical Survey (Off Airport Property) AIP No. 3‐25‐0018‐25‐2015 Project Description: This project is an obstruction removal project to clear obstructions identified on nine (9) off‐airport properties in the Runway 14 approach surface, and to complete an Aeronautical Survey. Project Cost: FAA Share: $ 675,000.00 (90.0%) State Share: $ 37,500.00 ( 5.0%) Local Share: $ 37,500.00 ( 5.0%) Total Cost: $ 750,000.00 (100%) Project Status: Pending final acceptance by the Airport, all tree removal work has been completed. Gale conduced a site walk with Mike O’Hara (Fitchburg Conservation Agent) on November 15. Mike was accepting of the site conditions, and requested that the compost log remain in place until spring. Cook will need to return in the spring and remove the compost log mesh. The compost filler may remain on‐site. Only minor punch list items remain, most of which are administrative. The aeronautical study is underway. After some glitches with the FAA’s Airport GIS system, we have gained access and the project has been set up. Gale’s subconsultant (Col‐East) has uploaded the statement of work and technical plan, for review and approval by FAA and National Geodetic Survey. We are currently awaiting their response. Foliar herbicide treatment in the Runway 14 end is planned for approximately May or June. This includes all work areas within the cleared areas. Gale can adjust the work areas as needed, pending potential litigation from property owner(s). Actions Required by the Airport this Month: None this month. 5. Runway 32 End Obstruction Removal (Off Airport Property) AIP No. 3‐25‐0018‐26‐ 2017 (Pending) Project Description: This project is an obstruction removal project to clear obstructions Identified on up to twenty‐nine (29) off‐airport properties in the Runway 32 approach Surface in the City of Leominster. One (1) property is partially in the City of Fitchburg. Project Cost: FAA Share: $ 1,260,000.00 (90.0%) State Share: $ 70,000.00 ( 5.0%) Local Share: $ 70,000.00 ( 5.0%)  Total Cost: $ 1,400,000.00 (100%) Project Status: A project scoping meeting was held on November 15, 2016. Per FAA request at the scoping meeting, Gale has performed additional obstruction analysis and prepared a cost vs. benefit analysis of removing and/or lowering the hazard beacon poles and utility poles on Crawford Street, and the chimney/roof at 180 Crawford Street. Aerial survey data collected as part of AIP‐25 was used as part of the additional obstruction analysis. This analysis showed that further rotating the future runway by an additional 0.55‐degrees (to 1.55‐degrees total) would provide the maximum benefit in terms of eliminating any displaced threshold. FAA and MassDOT have both agreed to expand the scope of work for this project, to include the chimney/roof work at 180 Crawford Street, and the utility pole work. 95% Plans and Specifications have been prepared for Contract No. 1 (Vegetative Obstruction Removal) and Contract No. 2 (Airport Obstruction Lighting). These were sent electronically last week for review by the funding agencies and the Airport. 95% Plans and Specifications for Contract No. 3 (Modifications to Building at 180 Crawford Street) are awaiting the structural and mechanical drawings. Gale expects the 95% documents will be sent for review by the end of this week. FAA requested that the utility poles along Crawford Street be removed, in lieu of installing obstruction lights. Gale explained to FAA that this is a significant coordination effort with the utility companies and pole owners, and that the work should be included in the FY 2018 Runway reconstruction project. FAA agreed to this plan. For FY 2017, Contract No. 2 will include only the removal of six (6) existing obstruction lights along Crawford Street, and the installation of two (2) new obstruction lights on the building at 131 Crawford Street. Bid documents will be available to Contractors on April 11, 2017. The following is a schedule of the pre‐bid meetings for each Contract: o Contract No. 1 (Vegetative Obstruction Removal): April 17, 2017 at 10:30 AM o Contract No. 2 (Airport Obstruction Lighting): April 19, 2017 at 10:30 AM o Contract No. 3 (180 Crawford Street): April 18, 2017 at 10:30 AM All meetings will be held in Room 106 A/B at the Airport. The bid opening has been scheduled for April 26, 2017 at 11:00 AM, also at the Airport in Room 106 A/B. Actions Required by the Airport this Month: Negotiate final Gale fee upon receipt of the Independent Fee Estimate (IFE). This will likely be sometime next week. Gale will seek Commission approval for the negotiated contract amount at the April meeting. 6. Other Items: Gale is respectfully requesting a letter of recommendation from the Commission. 5. New Business  Rodeo- Carlos Silva of Panema Productions event request to hold a rodeo on Sunday May 21 2017 Carlos Silva This will affect the airport operation on the Saturday before and the  Monday after the rodeo. Motion to accept the May 21 Hours of 12:00 9:00 by Comm. Early and seconded by Co Chair Kettle. Voted 5-0 (17-03-02)  Action Item Chair. Naylor will send a letter to the Leominster city council and the mayor’s office to make the city of Leominster aware of the event.  Chairman Naylor has distributed a copy of the Request to be placed on the Airport Commission agenda form and will implement a standard procedure for the request Action Item Chair Naylor will implement deadlines  Steigelman Grievance 1. Animals in public building 2. Property Complaints 1.) Comm. Kettle passed information relating to the approval/non approval of dogs in Public Buildings to 41CFR 101- 20.311 to Attorney Pusateri for information as requested by him, plus other information relevant to Dogs being in Public Buildings. Comm. Early motioned seconded Comm. Liberatore to table the issue of dogs or pets on the airport issue for further discussion Voted 5-0 (17-03-03) 2.) Property complaints: Chair. Naylor has proposed to Mr. Steigelman submit all his complaints to the mayor’s office for further explanation. Eric Steigelman is particular concerned about a wash out area on Crawford street eroding the soil under the airport perimeter fence. Mayor Dinatale has suggested that Eric schedule a meeting with Joan David (Mayors Administrative Aide) to arrange a meeting with the Mayor’s office Chair Naylor and Comm. Kettle will also attend. Action Item Eric Steigelman- Meeting appointment with mayor’s office 6. Old Business  Update Restaurant/ Fuel Service Ken MacLean Motion to table Comm. Raymond seconded Comm. Early Voted 5-0 (17-03-04)  Motion to set up a subcommittee to explore future revenue streams for the airport that may include restaurant service or alternative fuel service proposals at the Airport Motioned by Chair Naylor to appoint a committee. Chair Naylor appointed Comm. Early Comm. Liberatore Comm. Raymond to investigate alternative revenue streams.  Administrative Building Ribbon Cutting date will be tabled Motion to table Chair Naylor Second Comm. Early Voted 5-0 (17-03-05) 7. Financial Review  A/R Rent and Action plan Rent FCA in question & Autumn Air in question Action Item Chair Naylor will visit Autumn air  Comm. Kettle and Comm. Raymond expressed surprise at not being advised that the FCA had only been paying circa $547 a month for their new premises in the new Admin Building and asked why the Commission had not been informed of this and requested same to be included on the next month’s meeting agenda for discussion with Attorney Pusateri. Action Comm. Kettle will follow up  A/R Fuel and Action plan  Motion by Comm. Liberatore Seconded Comm. Kettle to instruct City Solicitor Pusateri to take action on Kenny Churchill to file small claims against him. Voted 5-0 (17-03-06) Action Item Solicitor Pusateri : Subject Ken Churchill legal action   Motion was made by Chair. Kettle and seconded Comm. Liberatore to accept March’s Financials Voted 5-0 (17-03-07). 8. Manager Operation Report Scott Ellis is out sick at this time 9. Motion to adjourn  Comm. Early and seconded Chair Naylor. Voted 5-0 (17-03-08)  Conclusion 7:55  Next meeting will be Wednesday April 26, 2017 Recording Secretary Commissioner Clayton Raymond