Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes February 21, 2024 LOCATION: City of Fitchburg Legislative Building TIME: 6:15 PM Attendees: Airport Commissioners: Chair Clayton Raymond, Commissioner David Ginisi, and Commissioner Richard Liberatore Other in attendance: Airport Manager Peter Kettle, Mayor Samantha Squailia, DPW Commissioner Nick Erickson and from Gale Associate, Representative Jackie Marks and Matt Caron 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 January Minutes. Motion was made by Commissioner Ginisi, 2nd by Commissioner Liberatore to accept the minutes as recorded. All in favor, 3-0. 24-02-01 Action Items from Previous Meeting: All Action Items will be covered during this months meeting agenda. Correspondence to the Commission: Airport Mgr Kettle received 3 complaints from residence who live close to the Airport. The complaints were regarding noise from aircraft as they are leaving the Airport. Mgr. Kettle took it upon himself to change the flight pattern out of the Airport. Mgr. Kettle also notified the FAA about the change and to get their opinion. The new flight pattern has been employed for a month and there has been no further complaints from residents at either end of the runway. Mgr. Kettle stated that we are trying to be good neighbors. Project Review- Gale: Monthly Project Update Gale Representative Jackie Marks made the monthly update presentation. Environmental Assessment and Wildlife Hazard Assessment: AIP 3-25-0018-034-2023 FAA and MassDot approved the Draft Environmental Assessment for public release on February 16, 2024. Gale will give a presentation outlining the EA during this evenings meeting. Regarding the Wildlife Hazard Assessment, the next round of wildlife surveys are scheduled to take place from March 8th to March 10th. Gale is looking to the Commission for a vote to allow Gale to post the EA Draft on the Airports website. Chair Raymond made the motion and it was 2nd by Commissioner Liberatore. All in favor, 3-0. 24-02-02 Action- Gale Design and Permitting for Main Apron Reconstruction: The Airport is in the process of obtaining an Independent Fee Estimate (IFE). Once the Commission has received the IFE, Gale will then submit their fee proposal for comparison to the IFE. If the IFE is within 10 percent of Gale's fee proposal, this is considered acceptable. Action- Gale and Airport Mgr. Kettle Groove, Seal and Remark Runway 14-32 (ASMP-2024-FIT-29 and ASMP-2024-FIT-30) This project will include the permitting and design efforts necessary to prepare bid documents and obtain bids for the reconstruction of the Main Apron. The Scope of Service for this project has been approved by MassDot. Owen Silbaugh, Jr. P.E. will be providing the IFE to the Airport free of charge. IFE documents were sent to Owen on February 6, 2024. The same process outlined in the apron project update above should be used for this IFE. Gale is looking for a motion from the Commission to authorize the Chairman to execute a Contract with Gale for the reconstruction of the Main Apron project. This is contingent upon satisfactory contract negotiations through the IFE process. Chair Raymond did ask Gale what the Pros and Cons are of having a grooved runway surface. Matt Caron explained that the grooved surface was very beneficial to large aircraft landing on this type of runway. Airport Mgr. Kettle added that a grooved surface will give better stability to all aircraft to prevent sliding off the runway but he did tell the Commission that there will be deterioration in the groove surface and there will also have to be more maintenance than usual to the runway. Mgr. Kettle went on to explain that the Airport did receive Grant funds to do this project and it should be completed by the end of the Summer. Estimated cost for the project is $410,000.00 with the Airport being responsible for 20% which will be $82,000.00 of which the Airport already have the funds. Chair Raymond went ahead and made a motion to execute a contract with Gale for the Groove, Seal and Remarking project. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Liberatore. All in favor, 3-0. 24-02-03 Action- Gale Other Items: The Airport and MassDot are still working towards funding solutions for the Backup Generator that will power the entire Airport. Medstar Legal- 2024 Grant Application due to FAA by March 1st, 2024. Fitchburg Pilots Association (FPA): Mr. Daniel Walton, President of the Fitchburg Pilots Association (FPA) spoke in regards to the Wings and Wheels Event scheduled for April 28th, 2024. Food will be provided and a good display of aircraft as well. He added that the FPA is also looking ahead in planning another Aero Fair for this coming Fathers Day, June 16th. More information will come available as the date gets closer. New Business: Veragy – Sewage Farm: Airport Mgr. Kettle informed the Commission that the Veragy Solar people did come to the airport and had a look at the proposed site so they could better evaluate the needs of the Airport. When Veragy responded back to Mgr. Kettle they made it known that they were interested in the East Wastewater Treatment Plant that sits just across the river from Airport property. Veragy was hoping to present a Solar Power Plan that would benefit the Wastewater Plant. With this information Mgr. Kettle contacted the DPW Commissioner, Nick Erickson, to filled him in on what ideas Veragy has regarding the City Wastewater Plant. Commission Erickson then continued to say that he is open minded to this new proposal from Veragy and it just might be a worthwhile idea and something to explore further. He would like to sit with Veragy and talk through the issues, to see if there indeed is a benefit here for the City, for the Airport and the DPW. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / DPW Commissioner Erickson Vertiport: Airport Mgr. Peter Kettle explained to the Commission that in 3 years we will be replacing the ramp system. At a recent meeting with representatives from the FAA and MassDot Mgr. Kettle asked about charging points on the ramp that would be used by pilots with electric Aircraft. Mgr. Kettle was told that Charging Stations would fall on the responsibility of the Airport. If the Airport chose to incorporate Charging Stations on our ramp, this action would put a delay on getting the ramp reconstructed by years. Both Mgr. Kettle and the Commission realize the immediate need for a new ramp and a delay in its construction just is unacceptable at this time. The Director of Engineering for MassDot did suggest to Mgr. Kettle about installing a Vertiport Charging System along with a new ramp, but this would again be a delay in construction of a ramp. Chair Raymond commented on the ramp project, stating that any delay on a new ramp was senseless. The electric Aircraft industry hasn't taken off yet and this is not something the Airport can pursue at this time. Commission Liberatore agreed with the Chair adding that the delay to the ramp noting its bad conditions is definitely not beneficial to the Airport as we move forward. The Commission agreed that a Vertiport Charging Station is not recommended at this time. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle Runway Grooving: This project was discussed earlier in the meeting by Gale Associates. Old Business: RFP for Non-Aviation Land Lease Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle explained that a team of City Officials are looking into what is the best potential use for the 16.5 acres of Non-aviation Land at the Airport. An RFPI (Request For Expression of Interest) was sent out on February 15, 2024. Mass Development of Boston is also sending out the RFPI, looking for potential developers as well. Mgr. Kettle continued to say that there is possibly $600 thousand dollars a year in revenue for the Airport and about $1.1 million to the City from taxes. The RFPI will run till the end of March, then an RFP (Request For Purchase) would be sent out to those who showed great interest and who the City thought would work best at the Airport. Mgr. Kettle added that if it all works out according to plan, then the Airport would not need any funding from the FAA or MassDot and the Airport would be self sufficient. Being Self sufficient has always been the ultimate goal for Airport Mgr. and the Commissions as a whole. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / Mary Delaney Veregy Solar Farm Update: This issue was covered in New Business under Veragy Sewage Farm. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle Minimum Standards – Item 2.3 Chair Raymond started the discussion regarding our Minimum Standards (MS) document with his opening statement. He reminded all in attendance that these MS have been in place since 1973, they are still active, but in need of an update. The Airport Commission is currently working to make this document acceptable to the Airport tenants and to all others that are directly effected by the MS document. Chair Raymond explains that high insurance requirements, out dated language relating to obsolete technologies and references to detail defining square footage requirements as it related to specific commercial users, are key issues that need to be resolved in the MS document. Chair Raymond has put a lot of his own time and energy in rewriting this document to make it acceptable to all. This updated version has been passed to the Commission, to members of FACT, FPA, FPA COOP, and to all other interested parties for their review and comment. Chair Raymond stated that this newest document that he has presented is not intended to be a final draft, it is more of a worksheet highlighting the omissions and changes to be discussed in greater detail. The Airport Commission is hoping that all parties involved, will take this MS document and together we will create a Minimum Standards that will help preserve the general characteristics of the Fitchburg Airport Community, while providing a safe and equal opportunity environment to all tenants and future applicants of the Airport. Action – Chair Raymond and Commission Land Lease N Number Holdings Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle, reported that construction on the hangar that will house the Life Flight Helicopter is continuing. At this time interior walls are being built and the contractor believes that the whole project could be completed by mid March or the beginning of April. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / N Number Holdings Crawford Street Safety- Nick Erickson: Commissioner Nick Erickson from the City DPW spoke on the Crawford Street issues. He said while visiting the site with Fitchburg Police Sgt. Dan Boudreau who is the Traffic Officer, it was noted that there is an earth embankment along certain sections of Crawford Street that serves the purpose similar to that of a jersey barrier. The DPW Commissioner felt that this is another alternative that can be used other than a guard rail system or the concrete jersey barrier. Commissioner Erickson is still waiting to get a report from the MassDot Road Division. As soon as that assessment is completed the DPW Commissioner will then report back the Airport Commission. Action- Commissioner Erickson / Mgr. Kettle Hangar / Building 1 and Hangar / Building 18 update: Airport Mgr. Kettle reported that Hangar #1 is now under full control of the Airport and at this time the hangar space is full. Mgr. Kettle also noted that Hangar Building #18 had a roof leak and issues with the downspout drain. These issues have all been corrected. Building #13 also was in need of repair as the cable system in the hangar was unsafe and had to get an immediate repair. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle Financial Review: Approval of Commitments and Abatement's: Airport Mgr. Kettle stated that he had 3 abatement's. The first was for $398 dollars for an over charge in hangar rent. The second was $98.64 for a tie down that an aircraft owner wasn't responsible for. The final one was for $181.22 Airport Trailer Sales which is now Big Tex. Chair Raymond ask for a motion to approve these 3 abatement's. Motion made by Commissioner Ginisi and 2nd by Chair Raymond. All in favor, 3-0. 24-02-04 Executive Session: There is no Executive Session scheduled. Next Regular Meeting: March 20, 2024 at 6pm. Regular Meeting Adjourned: Chair Raymond made a motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:34 pm. All were in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Richard Liberatore Recorder