Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes October 27, 2021 LOCATION: City of Fitchburg Legislative Building TIME: 6:00PM Attendees: Airport Commissioners: Chair Clayton Raymond, David Ginisi, Richard Liberatore, Mayor DiNatale Others in attendance: Airport Manager Peter Kettle, Airport Assistant, Debra Silvar-Lally; of Gale Associates: Nick Ippolito, Matt Caron, Jackie Marks; Solicitor Pusateri, Fitchburg Airport Hangar Tenants: Richard Corley, and Rick Bullock; and Eric Sheffels representing the Principle Group; and Mark Bishop, interested party. • Meeting Protocol: Meeting called to order by Chair Raymond: 6:04pm o Chair Raymond introduced the commission members in attendance. o Previous Months minutes-including special meeting minutes o Meeting minutes September 22, 2021 – TABLED for November Meeting o Action Items from previous minutes o Land Access Rental Leominster Council Meeting on September 23rd? – Vinny? o Mr. Kettle doesn’t believe it was brought to the city council. 3. Correspondence to the commission o Carlos Silva – 2022 o Ipanema Production 2022 event dates have been submitted to the FAA for approval 4. Project Review of Gale Associates o REIL’s and PAPI’s o Test results have been received for grounding work that was required and results show several facilities at airport do not meet several criteria- awaiting feedback, may need more grounding.  o Airport Master Plan o Reviews Chapters 1-3 and have been provided to commission for comment and now available on the airport’s website for public comment/input o Working on Chapter 4, anticipate having Chapter 4 for review potentially in November o Stand by Generator o Awaiting word from MassDOT on pre-applications o Self-Serve Fuel Transfer to Truck/From Truck to Self- Serve o Awaiting word from MassDOT on pre-applications o Peter Kettle has asked that we investigate the runway lights turning off due to their age. Kettle believe solution is when new taxiway is paved, airport can get new runway lights installed as part of a grant. There are two (2) projects that Gale Associates, Inc. (Gale) is administering on behalf of the Fitchburg Airport Commission. They are: 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%) 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%) 5. Fitchburg Pilots Association o Nothing to report at this time 6. New Business o Lease assignment – Rick Bullock o Peter Kettle spoke with Mr. Pantelli and reaffirms that there is no scenario of a monopoly. o Solicitor Pusateri respectfully asks the commission is inclined to move forward in approving the reassignment and promised to review Mr. Bullock’s documentation by next week. o Motion to allow Mr. Bullock to reassign current lease to Mr. Corley (about 6 years): Raymond o 2nd – Liberatore o Vote: 21-10-01 – 4-0 o Mr. Bullock asked what next steps follow- a letter was sent to Mr. Kettle to request to quit tenancy at will 2 or 3 weeks ago; Mr. Pusateri asks to give him until the end of the next rental period (end of November). o Solicitor Pusateri advises tenant do not release anybody without a new lease in place. o Mr. Pusateri clarifies that now that the reassignment has been voted on, Mr. Bullock can now sublet the hangar to Mr. Corley; if the gentleman wants a direct relationship tenancy with the airport, the city would send either a building lease or land lease and would be sent with terms and if deemed appropriate a new agreement could be met. o Solicitor Pusateri advises airport puts out an RFP and notify the public on the lease, however Mr. Corley would be secure in his sublease for that duration of six years. o Carlos Silva 2022 Events o Covered above o Door for Lobby  o Looking to make the lobby more secure and install a door on the kitchen area and hallway. o Peter Kettle will investigate door prices and will need to be approved by the fire department. § ACTION - Peter 7. Old Business • Drone Ordinance o Awaiting answers to questions Chief Martineau has raised regarding the drone ordinance. § ACTION - Peter • Land Access Rental – Leominster DPW o Email sent to Solicitor Pusateri regarding the easement to Leominster DPW; Email sent earlier this evening. • Tie Downs o Awaiting to get meeting with FPA Co-op § ACTION - Peter • RFP – 7 to 9 Hangars o Mr. Sheffels and Priniciple Group has submitted a response to RFP with exceptions they’d like removed from the land agreement. o Solicitor Pusateri and Mr. Sheffels are at an impasse on what can be allowed as an exception vs not. o Solicitor Pusateri suggests two options for moving forward, either the airport puts out a re-worked RFP for more eyes, or, a chance to sit down with Mr. Sheffels and Principal Group to comb through their exceptions. o Chief Procurement Officer can extend the RFP bid for 90 days so both party attorneys can sort out the proposal so it satisfies both parties or send a new and re-worked bid. o Motion to extend for a 90-day period between both parties - Raymond § 2nd – Liberatore § 21-10-02 Vote: 4-0 • Hangar 10 New Door o Accepted quote with FoldTite and have already visited the property; Hiring a civil engineer to prove that the new door will not damage the structure/integrity of the hangar. § ACTION - Peter  • Brazilian Summer Festival o Over 9,000 attendees; $13,000 for the airport. • Doors for Hangar 2 & 3 o Awaiting to hear from MassDOT at end of December • Roof for Hangar 12 and 13 o Contractor came out and sealed both hangars, still found there are still minor leaks that need to be repaired o ACTION - Peter • Crew Car o Crew cars are not owned by the city, but rather the FBO; examples of other airports are not comparable to Fitchburg Airport due to the vehicle owned by the city. § ACTION – Peter & Solicitor Pusateri • Minimum Standards Target by year end o No new developments 8. Financial Review o Approval of commitments and abatements 9. Executive Session • None at this time 10. Date of next meeting November 17, 2021 @ 6:00PM @ Legislative Building 11. Motion to Adjourn – Liberatore 2nd – Walsh Conclusion – 8:30pm