Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes December 20, 2023 LOCATION: City of Fitchburg Legislative Building TIME: 6:00 PM Attendees: Airport Commissioners: Chair Clayton Raymond, Commissioner Beth Walsh, Commissioner David Ginisi, Commissioner Richard Liberatore and Mayor Steve DiNatale Other in attendance: Airport Manager Peter Kettle, and from Gale Associate, Representatives Nick Ippolito and Andrew Lanza Meeting Protocol: Meeting called to order by Chair Raymond. Chair Raymond introduced the Commission Members and all others who were in attendance. Previous Months Minutes-including special meeting minutes: Chair Raymond asked for a motion to accept the November Minutes. Motion was made by Commissioner Walsh, 2nd by Commissioner Ginisi to accept minutes as recorded. All in favor, 4-0. 23-12-01 Action Items from Previous Meeting: All Action Items will be covered in this meetings agenda Correspondence to the Commission: There were none. Project Review- Gale: Monthly Project Update Gale Representative Nick Ippolito made the monthly update presentation. Environmental Assessment and Wildlife Hazard Assessment: AIP 3-25-0018-034-2023 The last round of wildlife surveys took place on December 13th through the 15th. On December 12th, NewEarth Ecological gave an internal mid-project summary presentation to the Airport and Gale to review findings to date and present preliminary recommendations. Monthly surveys will continue through May of 2024 with a draft of the full Wildlife Hazard Assessment report to be provided in the summer of 2024. A draft copy of the Environment Assessment was presented to the Airport Commission during the November 15, 2023 meeting and was subsequently forwarded to the agencies on November 16th. FAA provided review comments on December 1st and a subsequent meeting was held between the FAA, the Airport and Gale to discuss the necessary changes. MassDot provided review comments on December 12th. Gale is currently assembling a relined draft for consideration by the agencies. This will be submitted in advance of the holiday break. Action- Gale Design and Permitting for Main Apron Reconstruction: A scoping meeting took place on November 30th, 2023. The draft Scope of Services is being prepared now. We are currently waiting for guidance from MassDot/AD on Environment Justice Populations within the vicinity of the Airport and whether or not the presence of this community triggers review by the Massachusetts Environment Protection Act. Once we have this determination, we can finalize the Scope of Services and begin contract negotiations. Survey and Geo-technical services will be performed most likely in the Spring of 2024. Gale anticipates having the design completed and permit applications filed by the late summer of 2024 with bidding to take place heading into winter of 2024. Other Items: The Airport and MassDot are still working towards funding solutions for the Backup Generator that will power the entire Airport. The Airport's 2024-2026 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Plan (DBE) and goal has been submitted to the FAA. Updates to the plan will be submitted as needed. The Airport's Annual CIP meeting with the FAA and MassDot took place on October 11th, 2023. Fitchburg Pilots Association (FPA): Airport Manager Kettle reported to the Commission that the MassDot has approved the Wings and Wheels event sponsored by the FPA but await the approval of the FAA. The event is scheduled for this coming April 28th, 2024 and a voted is needed by the Commission to move this event forward. Chair Raymond made the motion to allow the FPA to host the event. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Walsh all in favor, 4-0. 23-12-02 New Business: There was no new business. Old Business: RFP for Non-Aviation Land Lease Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle explained to the Commission that he had the opportunity to speak with an assistant Manager from a developing group in Hyannis who were involved in a massive build of a Shopping Mall Complex which in turn has shown a huge financial profit. The Developer will provide us with a copy of their RFP and the Agreement that was used to move the project forward. This will be a valuable tool for the Airport as we plan ahead to develop our Non-Aviation land. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / Mary Delaney Veregy Solar Farm Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle reported that Chair Raymond and the Airport Mgr. met with representatives from Veregy Solar to discuss the availability of placing a Solar Farm at the Airport. As it stands at the present time Veregy Solar will start their preliminary investigation of establishing a profitable Solar Farm at the Airport. It was explained that the Array would be set up with a Battery Bank Reservoir where the Airport could tap into usable energy if there is a black out situation. Veregy will make their evaluation of the available land and they will get back to the Airport about mid January. Chair Raymond added that there are a lot of moving parts to establishing a productive and efficient Solar Farm and it takes time. Nothing can be identified until Veregy completes there land assessment. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle Land Lease N Number Holdings Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle, reported that the hangar that will house the LifeFlight Helicopter already has the main framework completed, it is fully insulated and they are in the progress of placing the hangar door. The flooring will be next followed by constructing interior walls for the living quarters. The contractor anticipates this project could be completed as early as mid- March and be completely operational. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / N Number Holdings Spinelli Hangar (RFP) Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle explained to the Commission that Mr. Spinelli has decided to construct a hangar that is just under 6000 sq. ft. It will have two hangar doors on the front and the footprint where the hangar will be constructed is far enough away from the a butters, where the hangar is not approaching on any other properties. Everyone is delighted with Mr. Spinelli plan as he continues to move forward. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle Minimum Standards 2.3: Chair Raymond stated that he has made progress on the Minimum Standards document and he will have a draft for the Commission for the February Meeting. Action- Chair Raymond Crawford Street Safety- Nick Erickson: Airport Mgr. Kettle has been in contact with Commissioner Nick Erickson from the City DPW, and Commissioner Erickson is still waiting to get a report from the MassDot. Recently Commission Erickson and Sgt. Dan Boudreau from the City Traffic Bureau walked that part of Crawford Street and they discovered that vehicles did not cross a specific parcel of roadway were there was a berm in place. Both the Commissioner and Sgt. Boudreau agreed that if a Rumble Strip along with Rip Rap and a Berm, were placed at the edge of the roadway that this could possibly be the most effective way to keep vehicles from crashing into the Airport fences. Mgr. Kettle also added that since the flashing caution arrows were set in place on Crawford St. that there has been no issues of cars veering off the road on to Airport property. Action- Commissioner Erickson / Mgr. Kettle Big Tex Gate Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle did inform the Commission that the agreement with Big Tex has not yet been completed but in good faith Big Tex did submit $21,000.00 to the City. The City Solicitor will get that agreement completed shortly. Action- Mgr. Kettle / City Solicitor Hangar / Building 1 and Hangar / Building 18 update: Chair Raymond reminded the Commission that we had voted to terminate the two Leases for non payment of money owed to the Airport at the November meeting. Airport Mgr. Kettle reported to the Commission that both occupants were served their Termination Notices and that they had 50 days to pay the $8,343 for one hangar and they had only 5 days to pay $4,180 on the other hangar. If no payment was received by the allotted time then the City would move forward in Terminating the two leases. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / City Solicitor Financial Review: Approval of Commitments and Abatement's: There were none. Executive Session: There is no Executive Session scheduled. Next Regular Meeting: January 17th, 2024 at 6pm. Regular Meeting Adjourned: Chair Raymond asked for a motioned to adjourn the meeting. Motion by Commissioner Walsh and second by Chair Raymond at 7:34 pm. All were in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Richard Liberatore Recorder