Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes June 24, 2024 LOCATION: City of Fitchburg Legislative Building TIME: 6:30 PM Attendees: Airport Commissioners: Chair Clayton Raymond, Commissioner Erik Tkal, Commissioner Paul Hathaway and Commissioner Richard Liberatore. Others in attendance: Airport Manager Peter Kettle, Gale Associate Representative, Matt Caron. Representing the City Solicitors Office is Attorney Matthew Provencher and Chief Of Staff for the Mayor's Office is Alexander Vera. 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 May Meeting Minutes. Motion was made by Commissioner Liberatore, 2nd by Commissioner Hathaway to accept the minutes as recorded. All in favor, 4-0. 24-06-01 Action Items from Previous Meeting: Action Items will be covered during the regular meetings agenda. Chair Raymond addressed the Commission and wanted to comment on the FPA-COOP and Mr. Bill Taylor's comments about how the renegotiation's are being handled regarding their Land Lease. At the May meeting Mr. Taylor expressed his concerns regarding the way the Airport Manager, Mr. Peter Kettle is handling the renegotiation process. Mr. Taylor expressed how he was less than pleased on the way things were going and Mr. Taylor went on to accuse Mgr. Kettle as being a bully and acting in an unprofessional manner. Chair Raymond finds all of these comments by Bill Taylor to be very incorrect and the Chair rejects all of the negative talk against Airport Mgr. Kettle. Correspondence to the Commission: There was one letter received from Veregy and Airport Mgr. Kettle stated that it will be reviewed under Old Business. Project Review- Gale: Monthly Project Update Gale Representatives Matt Caron made the monthly Gale update presentation. Environmental Assessment and Wildlife Hazard Assessment: AIP 3-25-0018-034-2023 The final round of wildlife surveys took place on May 20, 2024 thru May 22, 2024 with the draft WHA summary report expected the week of July 15, 2024. Gale will review this document and then pass it on to the FAA for their review. Design and Permitting for Main Apron Reconstruction: The contract between Gale and the Airport is circulating within the City. Once the contract is in place, sub agreements can be executed, and the survey and geotechnical exploration work can be scheduled. Gale will inform the Airport in advance of this work taking place. Matt noted that the reconstruction of the Main Apron will be in fiscal year 2025. Action- Gale and Airport Mgr. Kettle Groove, Seal and Remark Runway 14-32 (ASMP-2024-FIT-29 and ASMP-2024-FIT-30) Matt reported that the grooving of the Runway is complete and the settling basin has been removed and restored, but it still needs to be seeded. The sealant is in progress and the contractor is touching up areas as needed. Matt did say that there was a delay on the remarking of the runway where as the work scheduled for the middle of the week has now shifted to begin on Saturday for the remarking. The Runway will be operational on the following day, Sunday. Action- Gale / Airport Mgr. Kettle Other Items: Medstar Legal- Gale assisted the Airport in preparing and submitting an FAA and MassDot Grant Application to recover funds associated with the Medstar lawsuit. We are currently awaiting any possible grant award and will submit a reimbursement request when and if a grant is issued. Fitchburg Pilots Association (FPA): Mr. Glenn Reinhart, member of the Board of Directors for the Fitchburg Pilots Association spoke on the recent Aero Fair event on June 16, at the Airport. Weather was just perfect which helped to draw people to the Aero Fair. The Tractor Tour at the Airport remains a very popular attraction giving people a better overview of the facilities and a better understanding of the operations of the Airport. Life Flight had a good group viewing their new Hangar and Medical Helicopter. The Fitchburg Fire Dept. Smoke trailer assisted youngsters and their family to better understand fire safety. In all there were 9 pilots who donated their time and their aircraft to bring young people ages 8 to 17, for a most memorable plane ride experience. Thirty-Six boys and girls got to enjoy flying, many for the very first time. Commissioner Paul Hathaway commented on what a great event this truly is and he thanked the Fitchburg Pilots Association for extending aviation out to the community and surrounding towns. He stated that everyone should have a better understanding of aviation and how important aviation is to the community. New Business: Rocking Horse Enterprises – Bob Montana: Airport Mgr. Kettle reported to the Commission that he has been speaking with Mr. Bob Montana who is the owner of Rocking Horse Enterprises. Bob Montana is a building contractor and an agent for steel and Bob is a certified utilities connector in New England. Mr. Montana has expressed interest in constructing 30 T-Hangars, 3 units of 10 and 1 large Box Hangar at the far end of the old 20 runway. At the present time Mr. Montana is working with McKenzie Engineering in putting together preliminary plans to present to the City Planning Board. Each will cost approximately $ 110,000.00. Mgr. Kettle explained that there are already interested people in purchasing these hangars. Mgr. Kettle added that Mr. Montana can purchase steel at a very reasonable price and being certified in utility connecting will save the project about 1.8 million dollars. Mgr. Kettle is hoping to be moving forward on this in about a months time. At the present there is no RFP for this project. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle After Hours Bathroom Facility – Comm. Paul Hathaway: Commissioner Hathaway explained to the Commission how the FPA and the FACT groups have after hour events at the Airport and there is no restroom facility to be used. Mark Estabrook and Daniel Walton are working with Airport Mgr. Kettle to come up with the best solution to this problem. Commission Hathaway spoke of two alternatives that the group have come up with that makes the most sense. First it was suggested to install a port a-potty that would cost about $154.00 a month and it would be placed in a well lighted area most convenient for the Pilots. The second alternative was to have the pilots use the rest room in the Administration Building. This would require permission from the Mayors Office. Airport Mgr. Kettle then explained how he is currently working to get the Admin Building open after hours. Mgr. Kettle stated that a Memorandum of Understanding is being put together by the Mayor and Attorney Mead, of the City Solicitors Office, is currently working on that document, hopefully it would be ready for our next meeting. There would be some kind of insurance clause and other noted rulings in the document, but this would secure the use of the restrooms in the Admin Building after hours for pilots and their guests. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / Chair Raymond Naturals 2 go: Airport Mgr. Kettle has made contact with a Vending Machine Company who is interested in putting one of their machines in our Administration Building. Mgr. Kettle advised the Commission that there is no cost to the Airport, that the company uses quality fresh foods, that the company will also provide a microwave unit and that the Company Naturals 2 Go will maintain the vending machine at all times. Mgr. Kettle added that they would supply a one million dollar insurance liability clause and any additional terms the City would need to allow the machine on Airport property. Commissioner Hathaway thought this venture was a great idea and that he suspects that it will be well received by those who work and visit our Airport. Chair Raymond made a motion to entire into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Company and that the terms will be reviewed at a later date. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Liberatore and the motion passed 4-0. 24-06-02 Action -City Solicitor Mead / Airport Mgr. Kettle Old Business: RFP for Non-Aviation Land Lease Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle spoke in regards to the Non-Aviation Land Lease. He reported that the RFP was withdrawn about six weeks ago, but the City Procurement Office will be issuing out a new RFEI (request for expression of interest) in about two weeks. The new RFEI is for both the available restaurant lot and the non-aviation property. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / Mary Delaney Land Lease N Number Holdings Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle, reported that this project is complete and is now going to be removed from the agenda. Minimum Standards – Item 2.3 Chair Raymond noted that there has been no action on his part at this time. Commissioner Hathaway has offered to assist the Chair in streamlining the document along with the help from FPA President Mark Estabrook. Action – Chair Raymond and Commission Crawford Street Safety Update- Nick Erickson: Airport Mgr. Kettle spoke on behalf of DPW Commissioner Nick Erickson. Mgr. Kettle explained that we are still waiting for the MassDot Traffic Bureau to get back with the DPW Commissioner in regards to the Crawford Street situation. Action- Commissioner Erickson / Mgr. Kettle High Resolution Stereoscopic Camera (HRSC) Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle reported that the work has been completed. The Mayor did receive a letter from MassDot thanking the Airport and all others involved in the project. The Airport runway will again be calibrated in a years time and this will happen for the next 5 to 7 years. Action-Airport Mgr Kettle Veregy Letter: Airport Mgr. Kettle advised the Commission that because there is not a larger need for electricity on the Airport, Veregy is going to put this project on hold until they see a larger demand for power for the Airport. Airport Mgr. Kettle is removing Veregy from the agenda. Action- Mgr. Kettle Financial Review: Approval of Commitments and Abatement's: There were none. Executive Session: There is an Executive Session scheduled for this meeting night for the purpose to discuss the Land Lease Agreement with the FPA COOP. Chair Raymond motioned that we take a roll call to entire into Executive Session once we close the regular meeting. All were in favor 4-0. Next Regular Meeting: July 17, 2024 at 6pm. Regular Meeting Adjourned: Chair Raymond made a motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 pm. All were in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Richard Liberatore Recording Secretary