Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes August 21, 2024 LOCATION: City of Fitchburg Legislative Building TIME: 6:02 PM Attendees: Airport Commissioners: Commissioner Richard Liberatore, Commissioner Paul Hathaway and Commissioner Eric Tkal. Others in attendance: Airport Manager Peter Kettle and via Zoom, Representing Gale Associates is Mark Ottariano Meeting Protocol: Meeting called to order by Commissioner Liberatore who is filling in for Chair Raymond. Commissioner Liberatore introduced the Commission Members and all others who were in attendance. Previous Months Minutes-including special meeting minutes: Commissioner Liberatore asked for a motion to accept the July Meeting Minutes. Motion was made by Commissioner Hathaway and 2nd by Commissioner Tkal to accept the minutes as recorded. All in favor, 3-0. 24-08-01 Action Items from Previous Meeting: Action Items will be covered during the regular meetings agenda. Correspondence to the Commission: There were no correspondence sent to the Airport Commission this month. Project Review- Gale: Monthly Project Update Gale Representatives Mark Ottariano via Zoom presented the updated report from Gale. Environmental Assessment and Wildlife Hazard Assessment: AIP 3-25-0018-034-2023 The draft Wildlife Hazard Assessment was sent to the FAA and MassDot on August 14, 2024. We are waiting for comments and feedback from the Agencies and will know whether or not if a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan will need to be prepared for the Airport following their comments and recommendation. If a Wildlife Hazard management Plan is recommended, this current project is carrying funding to complete the plan. There is no action required by the Airport. Design and Permitting for Main Apron Reconstruction: The contract between Gale and the Airport has been executed. All Sub-consultant agreements have been signed. Geo technical work on the apron has been completed and Gale is waiting for the report. Surveying work is ongoing at the Airport. Gale will notify the Airport of any additional work required. FAA funding is in place for the project after the Airport received and signed the FAA grant offer. MassDot funding is still pending. No action required by the Airport at this time. Groove, Seal and Remark Runway 14-32 (ASMP-2024-FIT-29 and ASMP-2024-FIT-30) The Project is substantially complete. A final inspection with Gale, the Airport, the Contractor and MassDot has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, 2024. Following this, the Contractor will address any remaining items brought upon by the inspection, and the project will be closed out. No action required by the Airport. 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): Airport Mgr. Kettle advised the Commission that the FPA was looking for a discount fuel price for their up coming event, Young Eagles on August 24, 2024. Mgr. Kettle explained that he unfortunately couldn't give a discount but what the Airport could do is to honor the self-serve fuel price which is 30 cents off the fuel truck price per gallon. The FPA was receptive to the offer. New Business: Noise Abatement: Airport Mgr. Kettle informed the Commission that the FAA has updated their Chart Supplement as of August 8, 2024 regarding the Noise Abatement here in Fitchburg for runway 32/14. The FAA Chart Supplement provide pilots with the necessary information and procedure when leaving the Airport. Pilots are required to fly to an altitude of 1350 feet before turning. The Airport Manager has posted Noise Abatement signs on Airport property and it is now on the FAA Chart Supplement. Action-Airport Mgr. Kettle Old Business: RFP for Non-Aviation Land Lease Update: Airport Mgr. Kettle spoke in regards to the Non-Aviation Land Lease. Mgr. Kettle stated that we are waiting for the City Solicitors Office to draw up a new agreement. This RFP is just for the land designated for building a restaurant at the Airport. The RFP will be open for 90 days. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / Mary Delaney / Attn. Lisa Mead Minimum Standards – Item 2.3 Commissioner Liberatore commented on the language issues that are slowing down the progress of completing the Minimum Standards document. Commissioner Liberatore advocated the fact that we need to simplify the document and make it more comprehensible. For now it is still a work in progress. Action – Chair Raymond and Commission Crawford Street Safety Update- Nick Erickson: Airport Mgr. Kettle spoke on behalf of DPW Commissioner Nick Erickson who could not be with us tonight.. Mgr. Kettle explained that DPW Commissioner Erickson is currently working on a paving and roadway reconstruction contract to be put out for bid. The work includes guardrails and milled rumble strips on Crawford Street. Commissioner Erickson is hoping to utilize chapter 90 funding to have this work completed. Bid openings are scheduled to start on September 8, 2024. If we do not get good pricing on the bids, then the City DPW Street Division will install chevrons mounted on signposts in the problem area's of Crawford Street closest to the Airport as previously discussed. Action- Commissioner Erickson / Mgr. Kettle Rocking Horse Enterprises: Airport Mgr. Kettle reported to the Commission that Mr. Bob Montana of Rocking Horse Enterprises is currently working on drawings that are being prepared to present to the Airport Commission and then to the City Planning Board. Mgr. Kettle added that there are now 16 interested parties to purchase a hangar. Action-Airport Mgr. Kettle After Hours Bathroom Facility: The Commission will table this item until Chair Raymond returns. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle Naturals2go: Airport Mgr. Kettle reported that the Naturals2go vending machine is a great success. Everyone who has used a product from the machine was completely satisfied with the quality of the item. It is working out very well at the Airport. Noise Abatement: Airport Mgr. Kettle reported to the Commission that as of August 8,2024 the FAA has posted the Fitchburg Airport Noise Abatement in their Chart Supplement. Financial Review: Approval of Commitments and Abatement's: Airport Mgr. Peter Kettle explained to the Commission that there was a financial issue at City Hall that related to the Airport. The clerk who is responsible for receiving checks and sending out statements for the Airport is out of work at the moment and unfortunately there is no one at City Hall to replace this clerk. August invoices have not been sent out yet nor has the September invoices. Mgr. Kettle did advise the Commission that our retired Assistant Airport Manager, Debbie Silvar is likely to assist in getting these invoices out. Deb will be paid out of the Airport budget but this money is well spent. Mgr. Kettle also advised the Commission that his previous report that the Airport was in the black by $19,000.00 was not accurate. The official result has now determined that the Airport is $36,000.00 in the black. Commissioner Paul Hathaway thought this was very encouraging news considering all of the expenses and the improvements that have been done at the Airport in the past year. Next Regular Meeting: September 18, 2024 at 6pm. Regular Meeting Adjourned: Commissioner Liberatore made a motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:29 pm. All were in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Richard Liberatore Recording Secretary