Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes August 23, 2017 PLACE: Terminal Building METTING TIME: 6:02PM ATTENDEES: Airport Manager Scott Ellis, City Assistant Solicitor Christine Tree, Mayors chief of staff A.J. Tourigny Airport Commissioners: Chairman Naylor, Comm. Clayton Raymond, Comm. John Early. Comm. Peter Kettle Note: Comm. Richard Liberatore absent at this months meeting 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 and Comm. Kettle request to record audio.  Public opportunity to speak: Motion to waive the public opportunity to speak Motion to waive Comm. Kettle seconded Comm. Raymond Vote 4-0 2. Previous Month’s Minutes Motion to accept June, 2017 airport minutes motion proposed by Comm. Kettle to accept minute’s seconded Comm. Early Vote 4-0 (17-08-01) 3. Correspondence to the Commission None to report 4. Project review Gale Associates Stu Moncrieff There are four (4) projects that Gale Associates, Inc. (Gale) is administering on behalf of the Fitchburg Airport Commission. They are:  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  Easements over all seven (7) properties included in this phase have been recorded at the registry of deeds.  Gale is working with the Airport, FAA, and Mass DOT to closing this project out. Actions Required by the Airport this month: None this month.  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 approach surface, 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: $ 2,183,850.00 (90.0%) State Share: $ 121,325.00 ( 5.0%) Local Share: $ 121,325.00 ( 5.0%) Total Cost: $ 2,426,500.00 (100%) Project Status:  There is one remaining property where negotiations are on-going. Gale met with the property and his appraiser on 7/18/17 to discussed the proposed easement area. They expect to wrap-up their appraisal by mid-August.  Gale heard from the property owner on 8/20 and he said his appraiser would have the appraisal by the end of this week. Actions Required by the Airport this month:  None this month.  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.  Compost log has been removed. Cook Forest Products has met all of its obligations and Gale has prepared paperwork for Cook’s final payment.  The Aeronautical Study is ongoing. The final design of Runway 14-32 needs to be uploaded as the next step. Gale has expedited the data collection (survey and soil exploration) associated with the Runway project, in order to keep the Aeronautical Study on schedule. Refer to the Runway 14-32 update below for more information. Actions Required by the Airport this Month:  None this month.  Runway 32 End Obstruction Removal (Off Airport Property) AIP No. 3-25-0018-26-2017 Project Description: This project is an obstruction removal project to clear obstructions identified on up to twenty-seven (27) off-airport properties in the Runway 32 approach surface in the City of Leominster. One (1) property is partially in the City of Fitchburg. Estimated Project Cost: FAA Share: $ 1,156,500.00 (90.0%) State Share: $ 64,250.00 ( 5.0%) Local Share: $ 64,250.00 ( 5.0%) Total Cost: $ 1,285,000.00 (100%) Project Status:  FAA has made their grant offer, and City Council is expected to accept the grant at their September 5, 2017 meeting. The MassDOT grant offer will follow.   Gale has prepared the Contracts between Northern Tree Service, Inc. and the City. These contracts have been fully executed by all parties, and the bonds and insurance are in place.  Gale has also prepared notification letters to the property owners. These letters include an invitation to meet with Gale to gain a better understanding of the project and what they can expect. A contact list will be given to each land owner so they know who to call if they have questions.  Gale has been meeting with property owners this week. Five (5) meetings were held on August 21, and five (5) more were held today. Three (3) other meetings are currently scheduled.  A pre-construction meeting was held on August 10, 2017.  Work is tentatively scheduled to begin on September 5, 2017. Actions Required by the Airport this Month:  Work with the City to appropriate the funds for the building portion of this project.  Sign and circulate the Contracts with Goguen, Inc. (forthcoming).  Shift, Rotate, Reconstruct, Mark, Light, and Sign Runway 14-32 and Parallel Taxiway ‘D’; Construct Stub Taxiways ‘E’ and ‘F’; Install REILs and PAPIs on Runways 14 and 32; and Install New Airfield Electrical Vault AIP No. 3-25-0018-27-2018 (Pending) Project Description: This project is to reconstruct Runway 14-32 with a 1.55-degree clockwise rotation, reconstruct parallel Taxiway ‘D’, construct two (2) new stub taxiways, install Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPIs) and Runway End Identifier Lights (REILs) on Runway 14 and Runway 32, install new airfield lighting and signage, and install a new electrical vault. Runway 2- 20 will be decommissioned as part of this project. Estimated Project Cost: FAA Share: $10,800,000.00 (90.0%) State Share: $ 600,000.00 (5.0%) Local Share: $ 600,000.00 (5.0%) Total Cost: $12,000,000.00 (100%) Project Status:  A scoping meeting was conducted on August 10, 2017 at the Airport. Peter Kettle, Rich Liberatore, and Richard Raymond were in attendance on behalf of the Airport Commission. Scott Ellis and Debbie Silvar also attended.  Data collection (survey and soil exploration) will begin tomorrow, August 24, 2017. The surveyor will be on site at approximately 8:30 A.M. The soil exploration work will begin on September 5, 2017.  GZA GeoEnvironmental will be flagging wetlands on the Airport in the coming weeks. This is required for submittal of the Notice of Intent. Gale will coordinate this work with Scott as more information on schedule becomes available.   Gale has prepared and previously circulated a tentative schedule of work through the Runway 14-32 project. Please see the attached.  A design review meeting should be scheduled within the next two (2) months, to review the design considerations, geometry, runup area design, and stub taxiway location.  FAA requested an update to the Master Plan drawings, sheets 3 through 7. The most important part of this is the Ultimate Airport Layout Plan (ALP). Gale has prepared a draft update for review by the Commission. Actions Required by the Airport this Month:  Review and discuss the ALP Update to be submitted to FAA. Comm. Kettle suggested a pictorial display of the airport reconstruction plans be on display in the lobby to help educate the public of the proposed plans  Comm. Kettle Suggest all the major businesses at the airport be provided an electronic copy of the ALP in an effort to keep the tenants aware of the future plans and how it will affect them. To include a time frame of events.  Stu Moncrieff of Gale associates will provide the airport a display for the foyer  Other Items: None. 5. New Business  Panama productions Car Show/Concert September 24 2017 Carlos Silva President of Panema Productions is not in attendance but Scott Ellis has spoken to Carlos by phone and all permits have been applied for according to Mr. Ellis. Scott is asking for the show to end at 7:00pm. Comm. Kettle and Comm. Raymond are in disagreement would like to see the show go to at 9:00 PM to assure the show is a success. Mr. Ellis does not have a copy of the permit he believes it to be 11- 7PM end time. Scott Ellis noted that flyers had been distributed by Panama Productions, stating an 8:00pm end time. Chair Naylor is leaning towards a 7:00pm end time to show respect for the noise levels in the neighborhood. After some debate the commission is in agreement with Chair Naylor to end the show at 7PM keeping in step with a good neighbor environment. Comm. Kettle proposes to direct Scott Ellis to draft a letter to send to Carlos Silva of Panama Productions the commissioner’s intensions to end the show at 7:00 pm issuing a new permit if required. Motion by Comm. Kettle seconded Chair. Naylor. Vote 4-0 (17-08-02) 6. Old Business A. Grand opening New terminal building Motion ribbon Cutting October 5 2017 Motioned Comm. Early seconded Vote 4-0 (17-08-03) B. Airport Blvd entrance Guard Rails Scott Elis thank the Fitchburg DPW and the community service for the work done on the guardrails at the airport entrance C. Terminal building hallway Scott Ellis has acquired an additional camera to cover the hallway area at no additional cost to the airport so there will be no need for an additional door  D. Courtesy car update No additional information at this time Scott Ellis has reached out to three car dealership in the area no feedback yet. 7. Financial Review Fiscal year review will not close out until tomorrow this item will be addressed at next month’s meeting 8. Subcommittee Reports FACT Lease status not addressed at tonight’s meeting 9. Managers operation report Scott Ellis  Weed control is an ongoing issue because of the multiple cracks some of which will be corrected after the runway project is completed  Motion to adjourn Comm. Liberatore seconded comm. Raymond vote 4-0 (17-08-04)  Conclusion 7:19  Next meeting will be Wednesday September 27, 2017 6 pm Motion Chair Naylor to go to executive session by Roll Call Yes Vote 4-0 Roll call completed all commissioners in agreement Recording Secretary Commissioner Clayton Raymond