Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Special Meeting Minutes November 20, 2017 PLACE: Terminal Building METTING TIME: 6:00 PM ATTENDEES: Airport Manager Scott Ellis, Assistant Deb Silvar, City Solicitor Vincent Pusateri Commissioners: Clayton Raymond, John Naylor and Chairman Jack Naylor, Comm. Liberatore, Peter Kettle and Comm. Kushmerek 1. Meeting called to order Chair Naylor announced Commissioners in attendance Comm. Kushmerek Motioned to dismiss with the meeting protocol 2nd Comm. Raymond SP-17-11-01 Permission to record Audio Comm. Raymond Airport Managers assistant Deb Silvar 2. Runway 14-32 reconstructio/Expansion project MONTHLY PROJECT UPDATE FITCHBURG AIRPORT COMMISSION Fitchburg Municipal Airport Fitchburg, Massachusetts November 20, 2017 Stuart Moncrief, P.E. & Armand Dufresne of Gale Associates, Inc 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: Buried solid waste at the Runway 14 end is complicating efforts to finalize the runway and taxiway geometry. The current ground conditions prohibit the construction of the Runway 14 end pavement in traditional fashion. Metal, plastic, rubber, glass, ash, etc. were all observed in most of the recent test pits.  There are options to remove or cap this material in place, but development of a plan to construct pavement in this area will require further exploration and testing. The results of further exploration and testing will be used to develop a plan to proceed. Costs for additional exploration, testing, removal, capping, mitigation, and longterm monitoring are NOT eligible for reimbursement by FAA. Gale coordinated a meeting and conference call at the Airport with a solid waste management expert, to discuss the issue at the Runway 14 end. Commissioner Liberatore and Scott Ellis participated on behalf of the Airport. Gale has received a proposal from GZA GeoEnvironmental to conduct a risk precharacterization for the area of solid waste. The estimated cost is $87,000 to conduct soil borings, collect samples, and have the required testing completed. Gale has completed the preliminary design for the new Runway 14-32 with a length of 5,000-feet. Guidance from the Commission (regarding Runway length) is required before Gale proceeds with the next phase of design. Actions Required by the Airport this Month: Discuss the solid waste issue that exists at the Runway 14 end. Comm. Early: proposed to investigate possibilities of relocating the proposed runway to avoid known solid waste areas. Comm. Raymond stated he would like to continue to pursue the current extended runway proposal to accommodate the new 5000 foot runway as it is proposed. Chair Naylor reminds the commission the city is not in the position to provide additional money if required to remove solid waste for the runway project. Chair Naylor reminded the commission that there woul be no federal funding for solid waste removal if required. Comm. Kettle has proposed to shorten the taxi way to shrink the area to be disturbed for the new extended runway. Comm. Kettle stated to the commission of the significance of extending the runway to 5000 feet. Pointing out the 5000 foot runway is required to attract prospective businesses to the entire North Worcester County area. Comm. Kushmerek motioned to use best business practices to acquire the services of an environmental remediation company to provide the commission with their opinion on how to proceed with the solid waste issue. 2nd (SP17-11- 02 Vote 5-0) The airport commission received a copy of the Proposal provided by Gale Associates from GZA. Geoenviromental, INC Scope and Fee estimate for Enviromental (LSP) Services Dated November 7, 2017 File NO. 01.P000560.18 No action taken on the GZA proposal 3. Adjourned 7:20 Recording Secretary Commissioner Clayton Raymond