Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes April 28, 2021 PLACE: Zoom Webinar TIME: 6:00PM Attendees: Airport Commissioners: Chair Clayton Raymond, David Ginisi, Elizabeth Walsh, Mayor Stephen DiNatale Others in attendance: Airport Manager Peter Kettle, Matt Caron, Nick Ippolito, Jacklyn Marks, Solicitor Pusateri • Meeting Protocol: Meeting called to order by Chair Raymond : 6:02pm • Chair Raymond introduced the commission members in attendance. 1. Previous Months minutes-including special meeting minutes • Meeting minutes March 31, 2021 – NO MOTION – tabled for next meeting o Motion to approve – o 2nd - 1A. Action Items from previous minutes • Opening of the terminal building – will be opening up on May 5th 2. Correspondence to the commission • None to report 3. Project Review of Gale Associates • 1st Project – Runway expansion complete – awaiting FAA confirmation • Master Plan Project - $326,400 RFP for Gale FY21 Grant completely covered by the FAA Action: Chair Raymond’s signature on DocuSign Motion to approve Gale’s fee, grant application: Motion – Raymond 2nd – Walsh 28-04-02 Vote – 4-0, Approved There are two (2) projects that Gale Associates, Inc. (Gale) is administering on behalf of the Fitchburg Airport Commission. They are: 3A. Runway 14-32 Final Design and Construction – AIP No. 3-25-0018-028-2019 Project Description: This project will include the 95% and Bid Set Documents necessary to allow competitive bidding of the Runway 14-32 Reconstruction Project. This project will also include Bidding and Construction Phase Services for the new Runway 14-32. Estimated Project Cost: FAA Share: $ 13,832,100.00 (90.0%) State Share: $ 768,450.00 (5.0%) Local Share: $ 768,450.00 (5.0%) Total Cost: $ 15,369,000.00 (100%) Project Status: • This project is now substantially complete. • Gale has received notification from the FAA that the flight check scheduled for Friday, April 30th will need to be rescheduled due to inclement weather. The tentative window for the rescheduled flight inspection is sometime between May 1 and May 15th. • Upon successfully commissioning the NAVAIDs, Gale will prepare an estimate to release final retainage and move to close the Project out. 3B. Airport Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan update – AIP No. 3-25-0018-029-2021 (TBD) Project Description: This Project includes an update to the FIT Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan which were last updated in 2008. It is anticipated that this project will review the adequacy of the Airport’s landside and airside facilities, including hangars, aprons, taxiways/taxilanes, aeronautical and non-aeronautical uses, fencing, improved approach procedures, etc. Estimated Project Cost: FAA Share: $ 332,400.00 (90%) State Share: $ 000.00 (5.0%) Local Share: $ 000.00 (5.0%) Total Cost: $ 332,400.00 (100%) Project Status: • Master Plan scoping meeting with FAA, MassDOT, representatives from the Airport and City occurred on January 14, 2021. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the scope of work elements and general direction of the project. • Following the March 2021 Airport Commission meeting, the Commission solicited an Independent Fee Estimate for the Master Plan. • Gale’s proposed fee for the Master Plan is $326,400. As long as Gale’s fee is within 10% of the IFE’s fee the FAA will find it acceptable. • Please note that the total grant amount will include an additional $6,000 for ‘Sponsor Administration’ costs. ‘Sponsor Administration’ costs include items such as the IFE invoice. 4. Fitchburg Pilots Association • Airport Manager Kettle advised the Commission there was no update from the Pilots Association at this time. 5. New Business • Legislative Building Update Airport Manager Kettle requested to know when the Commission meeting can be held in the new Legislative Building? Mayor DiNatale advised the Legislative Building is available for future commission meetings, barring other meeting interference. ACTION – Kettle to discuss with Chief of Staff Hare and set up accordingly. • RFP Hangars land lease Airport Manager Kettle advised no RFP to go out yet; Proposed RFP sent to Procurement Director; Following up with Attorney Pusateri; Proposal for a meeting with Mary Delaney and Attorney Pusateri. ACTION – Kettle to set up. • Hangar Building/Fire Inspection Airport Manager Kettle advised the Commission that he had a successful fire and building inspection – only areas of concern were out-of-date fire extinguishers and are currently being corrected; Will be done every single year ACTION - Kettle • I.F.E. Chairman Raymond advised he had received the IFE from Monty and as within 10% of the Monty figure GALE can go ahead and apply for the Grant. A vote was held and all approved. ACTION – GALE. • Contract Fuel – TITAN Pitch to accept TITAN Contract Fuel cards moving forward; Normal discount is 20 cents. Contract Fuel will never be more than that and set up on individual basis by TITAN. Minor update in the electronics swipe machine to accept the Contract Fuel cards.  • Runway Lights The main runway Lights did not turn on for 8:50 PM, Local pilot landed without lights; A raccoon blew out the Summer Street transformer and cut electricity; Pitch to have solar farm supply backup battery packs or backup generator to supply Airport electricity in case of a future outage. Nik Ippolito of GALE Associates proposed we contact MassDOT Aeronautics to see if there is money available from an ASMP Grant and will contact them accordingly. ACTION – GALE. 6. Old Business • S2 Box Repair The $5000+ money grant was received by the City and will be put back in to the Airport budget. • Joe Spinelli & five additional people – Now 7 to 9. Utilities for the new hangars were discussed and Kettle advised the Commission that all locations were received from the various suppliers to the airport and that MKenzie Engineering were advised accordingly. The Land Lease changes were also discussed and it was agreed that Kettle would send the “Proposed” Land Lease Agreement suggestions to the City Attorney. ACTION - Kettle to send lease to Attorney Pusateri for review again • Drone Presentation After May 5th once building is open; discussion about Kettle presenting the drone presentation to Lunenburg, Leominster, and Fitchburg police. Either all at the Airport or individual locations to suite the police departments. ACTION – Kettle. • RFP Solar Farm Letter submitted to Procurement Director by Kettle. P.D. requested specific technical specifications; Awaiting response from other similar solar farms to see how they did it. ACTION - Kettle  • Land Access Rental – Leominster DPW One-time $ amount 8,680.00 and will have access for life; Consulted with Solicitor Pusateri; Advised to float deal by FAA before bringing to a vote and also to check on land value with Alan Foster the realtor appraiser. ACTION - Kettle Motion to contact Jorge Panteli of FAA for opinion Motion – Chair Raymond 2nd – Mayor DiNatale 28-04-03 Vote – 4-0, Approved ACTION - Kettle • Self-Serve Fuel Farm Kettle advised system still not working 100%. A new strainer was installed to make the solenoid function correctly and we are looking to see how that works going forwards. ACTION - Kettle 7. Financial Review • Approval of commitments & abatements. Kettle has Commission permission to sign and approve both. ACTION - Kettle 8. Manager’s Operation Report Helicopter landing strip created - aircraft carrier landing system which regulates the movements of the helicopter for easement of landing; Agreed rental of land as $200 an hour with S.S.C.I. and Bob Cloutier the helicopter pilot. ACTION - Kettle One of the 7 to 9 third parties interested in building a large hangar for jets advised he would like to build one of the nine hangars on his own due to the long process of the hangar development project; Solicitor Pusateri advises we put out one RFP. Kettle advised all parties know this will have to go out to RFP and no individual will have a single choice other than  going out to RFP. Action - Kettle 9. Executive Session • None at this time 10. Date of next meeting: May 26, 2021 @ 6:00PM 11. Motion to Adjourn – Chair Raymond 2nd – Mayor DiNatale Conclusion – 7:48pm