Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes November 29, 2017 PLACE: Terminal Building METTING TIME: 6:00PM ATTENDEES: Airport Manager Scott Ellis, Mayor DiNatale, Assistant Solicitor Christine Tree Airport Commissioners: Chairman Naylor, Comm. Clayton Raymond, Comm. John Early, Comm. Richard Liberatore Commissioner Kushmerek, Note: Comm. Peter Kettle absent at this month’s meeting 1. Meeting Protocol Motion to suspend the reading of the protocol Motioned 2nd Vote 4-0 (17-11-01)  Chair Naylor introduced the commission members in attendance.  Chair Naylor motioned request to record audio (granted) and approved Commissioner Raymond and Airport Manager Scott Ellis request to record audio. 2. Previous Month’s Minutes Motion to accept October, 2017 airport minutes motion proposed by Comm. Early accept minute’s seconded Comm. Liberatore Vote 4-0 (17-11- 02) 3. Correspondence to the Commission 1. Scott Ellis received a letter regarding an incident at the air port. A pilot stated he was landing on the grass area adjacent to the runway and struck a stick. Scott noted that this runway was not an official landing area and was not published as an approved runway. This area is used at the pilot discretion, land at your own risk. The city is not liable for the minor damage it caused to the pilots aircraft. Scott spoke to the pilot’s insurance company and they agree the Airport is not responsible. 4. Project Review-Gale 2. Runway Construction Armand Dufresne Senior Airport Planner of Gale Associates Inc began the conversation with a brief history of the runway project in order to update the Mayor and the current Commissioners on the runway extension project. 3. Armand Dufresne of gale Associates submitted a copy of a memorandum dated February 6 2012 provided by GZA Geo Enviromental, Inc. Subject: Summary of test pit exploration and observations 4. Armand stated Airport commissioners as far back as far back as the year 2002 have requested to extend the runway to 5000 feet. During this timeframe the city experienced a few different airport Managers resulting in poor continuity on the subject. In 2012 the decision was made to move  the runway to 14 32 rotating the runway as far from the capped landfill as possible. The environmental impact report was completed and published by Gale and distributed. Since then no issues were raised by any of the agencies involved to include DEP, FAA, DOT, etc. at that time. Armand Dusfresne stated that the commission was asked to provide funding in 2013 & 2014 for further investigation to determine the extent of the land fill boundary and depth. 5. Comm. Kushmerek Motion to delay last month’s decision to delay nd acquiring an opinion of a environmental company on how to proceed 2 Chair Naylor Vote 4-0 17-11-03 6. Motion to request Gale to invite Weston and Sampson to discuss with the commission possible remedies for the solid waste solutions to accommodate the proposed extended runway (Vote 4-0 17-11-04) There are four (4) projects that Gale Associates, Inc. (Gale) is administering on behalf of the Fitchburg Airport Commission. They are: 1. 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: • The property owner has received all required documents, and they are circulating for signature. • Execute the Certificate of Vote on Land and Easement Acquisitions. This will get filed with a copy of the recorded easement for the Airport’s records. Actions Required by the Airport this month: • Execute the Certificate of Vote on Land and Easement Acquisitions. This will get filed with a copy of the recorded easement for the Airport’s records. Actions Required by the Airport this month: Execute the Certificate of Vote. Motion to execute to vote 4-0 2. 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. • 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 to the AGIS system as the next step. This step is currently awaiting completion of final Runway design. • Additional obstructions within the 15-degree offset approach are eligible for removal under this project. Gale has reached out to Mike O’Hara at the Conservation Commission to discuss the additional work and the steps necessary to complete it. Gale will push for inclusion of this work under the existing Order of Conditions. • Addition of this work will require a Change Order for Cook and a Supplemental Agreement for Gale. Actions Required by the Airport this Month: • None this month. 3. 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. • 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. • Tree work began on September 11, 2017. The work is on-schedule as of today. • Contracts for the building modifications at 180 Crawford Street have been fully executed. Due to impending weather, this work will be completed in the Spring. • Contracts for the obstruction lighting have been fully executed. This portion of the project must wait until after the building modifications are complete. Actions Required by the Airport this Month: • None. 4. 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 April 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) began on August 24, 2017. The soil exploration work is complete, and we are awaiting the design recommendations from the geotechnical engineer. Based on material excavated during test pits at the Runway 14 end, there exists a solid waste issue that needs to be addressed. Gale will be reaching out to the Airport next week to schedule a meeting to discuss this. • The survey work is ongoing; all data within the proposed Runway environment has been collected, and once processed, Gale will be able to develop the proposed Runway 14-32 profile. This will allow the Aeronautical Study (part of AIP-25) to proceed. • Taxiway ‘D’ will be renamed ‘A’ as part of the project, following discussions with FAA and Scott Ellis. • Preliminary geometry and lighting layout has been completed. The preliminary drawing set was sent out for review on November 10, 2017. • 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 needs to be established before Runway design work can proceed. • Gale spoke with Weston & Sampson, Inc., who are expert in solid waste issues.W&S advised that the existing landfill cap adjacent to the Airport may be able to be extended, which would eliminate the need to remove the solid waste material. Structural piles (e.g. timber piles) would need to be installed in order to build atop the material in place. Actions Required by the Airport this Month: • Discuss the solid waste issue that exists at the Runway 14 end.  • Advise on the level of involvement expected from Gale on this issue. 5. Other Items: • Runway 14 Approach Procedure for Future RWY 14: Need to request removal of “noise abatement” note from procedure design notes, and ask that new approach be designed to align with RWY 14 centerline. Motion to instruct Scott Ellis to request in writing the noise abatement removal to the FAA Motion Comm. Early 2nd Comm Liberatore Vote 4- 0 17-11-05 5. New Business A. Proposed Airport events regulations Chair Naylor is creating new regulations and has included the input of a couple of neighbors and the Mayor of Leominster. Chair Naylor expects to be completed by next’s months meeting. Scott Ellis: informed the committee that some events may require a 7460-1 to be submitted to the FAA 45 days in advance. B. Hanger Space: Scott Ellis Stated some space is available for aircraft storage C. Airport lighting (Unitil) Scott Ellis SRE light is going to be replacing a light and pole over the gate. D. FPA Christmas event Richard Girsch representing Fitchburg pilots association is requesting a event on Saturday December, 9 2017for a Christmas Party and December 10 Santa landing Motion Comm. Raymond 2nd and voted to approve Vote 4-0 17-11-06 6. Old Business A. Hanger 7 repair status Scott Ellis will hand deliver the request of occupancy to the city hall. Previous attempts from the contractor have gone unanswered. Action Scott to deliver request for occupancy to the city hall. B. FCA Lease status The abatement meeting was cancelled and subject will be discussed next month. C. Bullock Lease Mr. Bullock has received his notice from the Airport to increase his rent and he intends to continue the lease. Note the Lear jet currently in the hanger will be leaving permanently D. Emergency and Security plan update Not completed at this time 7. Financial Review No action taken 8. Subcommittee Reports Fact Lease Attorney tree has been in contact with Attorney May and expects some action from FACT soon. Manager operation report 9. Manager report The airport will receive a rental fuel truck while the other truck is repaired  Motion to adjourn Comm. Naylor seconded Comm. Raymond vote 4-0 (17-10-09)  Executive session Not required NONE  Conclusion 7:29pm  Next Airport Regular meeting will be Wednesday December 27, 2017 6 pm Recording Secretary Commissioner Clayton Raymond