Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes November 16, 2022 LOCATION: City of Fitchburg Legislative Building TIME: 6:07 PM Attendees: Airport Commissioners: Chair Clayton Raymond, David Ginisi, Richard Liberatore Others in attendance: Airport Manager Peter Kettle, Mayor Di Natale, Gale Representative Jackie Marks, Director of City Economic Development Mary Jo Bohart, vhb Project Consultants Luke Mitchell and Brittany Gesner, and Remotely Randal Weidemann from Weidemann & Associates Meeting Protocol: Meeting called to order by Chair Raymond Chair Raymond introduced the Commission members and all other who were in attendance at this meeting. Previous Months minutes-including special meeting minutes: Chair Raymond asked for a motion to accept the September Monthly Minutes. Motion was made by Commissioner Ginisi and 2nd by Commissioner Liberatore to accept the October Minutes. All in favor, 3-0. 22-11-01 vhb Development Vision Plan Presentation: Chair Raymond moved to have the Presentation from vhb consulting at this point in the meeting. Mr. Luke Mitchell and Brittany Gesner used a slideshow presentation to explan alternative site planning and land use strategies on the Airport property, based on its location in the Airport to determine their highest and best use of the non- aviation portion of these properties. Elevation, wetlands and floodplain were all contributing facts in the decision making. Ground lease revenue for structure like warehouse and retail development was discussed along with a vision of a possible hotel built on the property gave the Commission better in-site of just how wide the opportunities are available for future growth on our Municipal Airport. Opportunities for a Solar Farm will also create revenue for the Airport on the site that has limited travel options. Clearly the presentation opened the eyes of the Commission and all who were in attendance of just how many different options of development and growth are out there to make a huge difference in the betterment of the Airport.  Action Items for previous meeting: Building 18-Ken MacLean: Mr. MacLean has started his HVAC project has been completed. Valentine Eye Care: This agreement is completed. Tie Downs (FPA-COOP): The City Solicitor will be drawing up an amendment to the current Tie Down Lease advising rent payable on Sq. Ft. instead of Tie Down rate. Waiting for correspondence from Attorney Pawlak. Action: Airport Manager Kettle RFP-7 and 9 Hangers: Waiting for final Lease Agreement. Action: City Solicitor and Chair Raymond Roofs for Hangers 2 and 3: Job is completed Minimum Standards: This is still an ongoing document in progress. Hope to have this document completed by December or January. Action: Airport Manager Kettle GPU Unit: The Airport will be using their regular electrician to have the GPU unit installed at the Administration Building. Action: Airport Manager Kettle Cullen Smith: Waiting on a Land Lease Agreement. Action: Airport Manager Kettle Steven Dyke: A letter of intent was sent to the City Human Resource Director and to the Mayor. Action: Airport Manager Kettle Twin City Airmotive: Are waiting on a Rental Agreement. Action: Airport Manager Kettle nce to the Commission: Airport Manager received an email from Mr. Harry Gill who is a tenant at the Airport. Members of the Pilots Association asked that his email be added to the minutes as the email reflects the sentiment of the Pilots. From: Harry Gill To: Manager Kettle and others Re: Minimum Standards of the Fitchburg Municipal Airport Peter, I would to share some thoughts with you and the Commissioners. I like many of the plane owners on the field have moderate to low financial means in part due to our passion to fly. It is important to us that we can control the cost of flying by doing what legal maintenance possible our selves in our own hangars. Every year we are required to have an annual inspection for airworthiness. This may take a day to many weeks depending on the circumstances. Doing an owner assisted annual saves us money and down time and is encouraged by the FAA.  The Airport Commission is in the process of adopting Minimum Standards to prevent aircraft inspections from off field inspectors. The concern expressed by the Commission was a perceived liability to the City of Fitchburg of such a person doing work on the field the qualifications of the A and P and IA are determined by the FAA. The planes and hangars are insured by the owners. The lease of the with the City specifically states the City of Fitchburg can not be held liable for anything including expenses to defend the City. There is no history that I am aware of where the action of a mechanic have put the City at risk. It would be reasonable to assume a professional mechanic or technician would be safer than the average plane owner. In 2016 the FAA revised it's hangar use policy on Airports receiving federal funding. As a result the Airport is not obligated to set Minimum Standards. What standards are set must be uniformly enforced without discretion or bias. The FAA permits hangars to be used for maintenance, repairs and building of aircraft. All tools necessary for this work can be stored in the hangar. If the Commission can demonstrate what added risk to the City an outside IA, A and P, avionics technicians or one who washes and waxes airplanes we can then move to mitigate those risks. I would like to see policies from The Commission which support general aviation and treat pilots as valued customers. From memory I can name 15 professionals that regularly do work on planes at FIT that are not associated with an FBO on the field. The Airport runway was recently extended to 5001 feet to encourage jet traffic to land and buy fuel to help support the airport. The one jet on the field requires specialized outside professionals to repair and maintain the aircraft in the hangar. The new runway was built at the cost of a crossing runway and grass landing strips. The center taxiway was eliminated causing delays of planes on the runway and more frequent go arounds. Although we appreciate the new runway, we have lost what was important to us. It is my suggestion that the Commission be reasonable and understanding of the situation of the pilots based on FIT and choose to promote aviation at the Fitchburg Airport. Nov. 13, 2022 Project Review-Gale: Monthly Project Update Jackie Marks began her presentation by giving the Gale Monthly Updates on the ongoing projects at the Airport. Airport Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan update – AIP No. 3-250018-029-2021 As of October 28th , 2022 all parties signed the ALP and the FAA issued the ALP approval letter. The final reimbursement and closeout package was submitted to FAA on November 2nd , 2022. Environmental and Wildlife Hazard Assessment – AIP No. 3-25-0018-XX-2022 FAA confirmed that the Airport's AIP application submitted in April can be applied to a BIL grant. The package is under review by FAA and they will let the Airport and Gale know if any additional items need to be submitted in order to aprove the BIL grant. Other Gale Items: The FAA have notified the Airport/Gale that they do not have the funding necessary to allow for construction of the new ramp within the next two years. This will prohibit the design/permitting effort for this project because the FAA will only fund a design-only grant it the sponsor can accept a construction grant within two years. Manager Kettle advised his disappointment as he believed the  current ramp will not hold out for an additional 2 to 3 years. At this time the project is on hold and removed from the agenda. Fitchburg Pilots Association (FPA) Airport Manager Kettle stated that there was nothing to report. New Business: Twin City Airmotive Agreement We are waiting for the Rental Agreement Document from the Attorney. Action: Airport Manager Kettle and City Solicitor Pusateri Hanger 1 Agreement We are waiting on comments from the tenants of Hangar 1. Action: Airport Manager Kettle G.P.U. (Ground Power Unit) The regular electrician for the Airport will be getting the necessary equipment to start the wiring installation for the GPU unit at the administration Building. Action- Manager Kettle Old Business: Minimum Standards. Chair Raymond lead the discussion by stating that the document is not yet complete but it is a priority for the Commission to get it presented to the pilots. Mr. William Taylor speak in regards to the email sent to the Commission from Mr. Harry Gill. Mr. Taylor requested that the email be recorded and become part of the minutes. Mr. Mark Estabrook asked the Chair on the time frame where the pilots could see a draft or some outline of the document so they could share comments on the MS. Chair Raymond was hopeful that the Commission could get the document out for public display some time in December or January. Mass Development Site Readiness. Mary Jo Bohart, Director of City Community Economic Development introduced members from the consulting firm of vhb. Mr. Luke Mitchell presented a draft presentation of what land usage would be like for our non-aviation properties. The presentation was very well accepted by all Commission members. Action- Mary Jo Bohart / Ed Starzec Tie Down. (FPA-Coop). Manager Kettle is waiting for the Assistant Solicitor to get back to him. Action- Attorney Pawlak / Airport Manager Kettle RFP 7 to 9 Hangar Agreement. No action. Roofs for Hangar 2 and 3. This project is completed.  The Pete Store. Action is on hold as this item is directly related to the Airport Master Plan and the Airport Layout Plan (ALP). Action- Assistant Airport Manager Deb Silvar Convergent Energy. Action on hold as this item is directly related to the Master Plan and the Airport Layout Plan (ALP). Action- Gale Financial Review: Approval of Commitments and Abatement's. There are none Executive Session: There is no executive session. Next Regular Meeting: November 16th , 2022 @ 6pm Regular Meeting Adjourned: Chair Raymond made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:25pm. All in favor. Recording Secretary, Richard Liberatore