Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes November 17, 2021 LOCATION: City of Fitchburg Legislative Building TIME: 6:00PM Attendees: Airport Commissioners: Chair Clayton Raymond, Beth Walsh, Richard Liberatore, Mayor DiNatale Others in attendance: Airport Manager Peter Kettle, Airport Assistant, Deb Silvar; of Gale Associates: Matt Caron and Jackie Marks. • Meeting Protocol: Meeting called to order by Chair Raymond: 6:05pm 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 December Meeting o Meeting minutes October 27, 2021 – TABLED for December Meeting o Motion to approve – Liberatore o 2nd – Walsh o Action Items from previous minutes o Addressed throughout the agenda below. 3. Correspondence to the commission o None at this time 4. Project Review of Gale Associates o REIL’s and PAPI’s o Grounding system continues to effect the NavAids. Mr. Ippolito of Gale Associates continues to work with D.W. White, the FAA, & MassDOT to try and find a solution to correct the grounding system. A Meeting has been set up for next Tuesday, November 23rd at 2:30 pm to see if there’s a way we can get the grounding system corrected. § ACTION - Peter Alternatively, Mr. Ippolito has reached out to Mollis & North, Inc. to obtain pricing for  the additional grounding work but ask that there is something in writing that they will not be responsible for future damage to the NAVaids from lightning strikes- this option has been floated the the FAA and MassDOT. All funds will remain in existing grant. December meeting should have a clearer direction on how to move forward once and for all. § ACTION - Nick o Airport Master Plan o Jackie Marks of Gale Associates summed up Chapters 1-3 and presented Chapter 4 to the commission titled: Forecast of Aviation Demand- over the next couple weeks the commission will review and digest Chapter 4 and will present comments to Ms. Marks no later than December 1st. Forecast must be approved by FAA for Gale to move forward. 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 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 R4102A & R4102B o Peter Kettle received a main contact over in Devens named William Dodson- relayed to Mr. Kettle that there’s nothing they can do regarding the restricted zone and gave Mr. Kettle an email address to contact. o Peter Kettle relayed that the FAA is now working with both parties and is calling for a meeting to look at the restricted zone. § ACTION – Peter o Lease assignment – Rick Bullock o Mr. Kettle went before Fitchburg City Council and spoke in favor of the lease assignment from Mr. Bullock to Mr. Corley- Fitchburg City Council has approved of the assignment and everything is now moving forward as planned. o Door for lobby o Facilities Director had rescheduled the planned visit to this Friday (11/19/21) and from their Mr. Kettle will begin outreach for estimates. § ACTION – Peter 7. Old Business • Carlos Silva 2022 Events o Non-aeronautical events are now blocked due to FAA restricted events at the airport for aviation events only. Mr. Kettle broke the unfortunate news to Mr. Silva and gave a recommendation for an alternative property in Bolton, MA. • Drone Ordinance o Approved by Solicitor Pusateri; Currently awaiting review and approval from the MassDOT Aeronautics legal division; Promised an answer within a week. § ACTION - Peter • Land Access Rental – Leominster DPW o Awaiting for Mayor Mazzarella of Leominster to sign the documents; once signed airport will receive the $8,600 and will go before the city council for approval. § ACTION - Peter • Tie Downs o Awaiting to get meeting with FPA Co-op § ACTION - Peter • RFP – 7 to 9 Hangars § Both parties (Mr. Sheffels of Principle Group and Solicitor Pusateri) have both been unavailable to meet but plan on meeting over the next couple of weeks. Mr. Sheffels has requested a member of the airport commission sits in on the meeting and has also requested that it be recorded. § ACTION - Peter • Hangar 10 New Door o Consultant came and reviewed the door; even though the door can be manufactured they do not install- all companies who this type of installation live down South. Mr. Kettle connected with a New Hampshire-based company called Macy who will build and install the same door. o In order to engineer this project, Macy needs the original drawings of the hangar- which are since lost- and now need new drawings done up- estimated $7,000 § ACTION – Peter o Motion to approve appropriation of $7,000 to new drawing of Hangar 10 o Motion to approve – Raymond o 2nd – Liberatore § 21-11-01 Vote – 3-0  • Doors for Hangar 2 & 3 o Awaiting to hear from MassDOT Aeronautics; Part of ASMP Grant • Roof for Hangar 12 and 13 o Awaiting to hear from MassDOT Aeronautics; Part of ASMP Grant • Crew Car o FPA is not interested; Solicitor Pusateri will present an idea that he thinks will make all parties involved happy. § ACTION – Peter & Solicitor Pusateri • Minimum Standards Target by year end o Mr. Kettle has presented a draft of the minimum standards to Chair Raymond and encourages comments and will then present the Minimum Standards to Solicitor Pusateri. § ACTION – Chair Raymond 8. Financial Review o No abatements at this time. 9. Executive Session • None at this time 10. Date of next meeting December 15, 2021 @ 6:00PM @ Legislative Building 11. Motion to Adjourn – Raymond 2nd – Walsh Conclusion – 7:25pm