Airport Commission

Fitchburg Municipal Airport Commission Meeting Minutes October 16, 2024 LOCATION: City of Fitchburg Legislative Building TIME: 6:02 PM Attendees: Airport Commissioners: Commissioner Richard Liberatore, Commissioner Eric Tkal, and Commissioner Paul Hathaway. Others in attendance: Airport Manager Peter Kettle, and from Gale Associate is Jackie Marks. 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 September Meeting Minutes. Motion was made by Commissioner Hathaway and 2nd by Commissioner Tkal to accept the minutes as recorded. All in favor, 3-0. 24-10-01 Action Items from Previous Meeting: Action Items will be covered during the regular meetings agenda. Correspondence to the Commission: There were one correspondence sent to the Airport Commission this month and it will be discussed under New Business in the agenda. Project Review- Gale: Monthly Project Update Gale Representatives Jackie Marks presented the Monthly project updated report. Environmental Assessment and Wildlife Hazard Assessment: AIP 3-25-0018-034-2023 On September 25, 2024, the FAA and MassDot confirmed no additional changes to the Wildlife Hazard Site Visit (WHSV) report were needed. New Earth could then begin developing the Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP). New Earth provided Gale with a pre-draft WHMP on October 11, 2024 for internal review. Gale reviewed the document and provided comments on October 16, 2024. We anticipate a draft to the Airport for review early next week. Once the WHMP is finalized, this project can be closed out. There is no action required by the Airport. Design and Permitting for Main Apron Reconstruction: Gale Associates were pleased to announce that the preliminary design of the apron has begun. 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) Gale Associates announced that the MassDot closeout report has been completed and sent to the Airport Commission for review and signature. No action required by the Airport. Design and Install Wildlife Fencing (AIP 3-25-0018-0XX-2025-TBD) A scoping meeting for this project was held on October 10, 2024. A scope of work is being developed for this project, based on feedback received during the scoping meeting. Once the scope of work is finalized, the Airport will need to solicit services for an independent fee estimate. 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 preparing a request for reimbursement from the FAA and MassDot. New Business: VASI Lights: Airport Mgr. Peter Kettle explained that the old (VASI), the Visual Approach Slope Indicator assembly that our pilots use to make their approach into the Fitchburg Airport was replaced with an updated VASI system and there was a person interested in purchasing our old assembly. Mgr. Kettle has been speaking with Mr. Gerald Farwell, the owner of the Brookline N.H. Airport. Mr. Farwell knew that we had an old VASI assembly and he was hoping to purchase our unused system for $100.00. Mgr. Kettle made note to the Commission that we would never be able to use this old assembly and he was looking to the Commission for their approval to sell off the assembly to Mr. Farwell. Commissioner Hathaway made a motion to sell the old VASI assembly to the Brookline N.H. Airport for the sum of $100.00. Commissioner Takl second the motion and the vote was carried. All in favor 3-0. 24-10-02 Action- Airport Manager Kettle Terrain Tower Lights: Airport Mgr. Peter Kettle explained to the Commission that there are 11 signal lights on poles that encompass the valley that the Airport sits in. About 3 to 4 years ago the FAA was discussing whether or not these pole lights had a purpose. Today's aircraft have built in systems that depict terrain, so the question remains, are these pole lights really needed? Airport Mgr. Kettle received a call from Mr. Robert Barry Leominster Ma. and he wanted to notify the Airport that the Pole light at 191 Cross St. Lunenburg Ma. was not functional and has been out for over a year. Mgr. Kettle investigated and found the burnt out light sitting on a 70 foot high pole. Mr. Barry was hoping the pole could be removed if the light could not be repaired. Mgr. Kettle informed the FAA of the situation and Mgr. Kettle had to file a form #7460 to the FAA. Mgr. Kettle added that whether or not we remove or repair this pole light, there is going to be a significant cost involved. We are waiting for a response from the FAA. Action- Airport Manager 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 the City Legal Dept. has completed the Contract Agreement for the RFP and the document is presently in the hands of our Chairman Clayton Raymond. This RFP is for the restaurant only. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / Chair Raymond / Mary Delaney / Attn. Lisa Mead Minimum Standards – Item 2.3 Commissioner Liberatore Tabled the discussion of the MS until Chair Raymond's return. Action – Chair Raymond / Commission Crawford Street Safety Update- Nick Erickson: Airport Mgr. Kettle did speak with our DPW Commissioner Nick Erickson and the Chapter 90 State Grant Funding has been approved. The Airport now has the money necessary for doing the guardrail work closest to the Airport. Mgr. Kettle is hoping that the guardrail systems will be installed before the winter months. Action- Commissioner Erickson / Mgr. Kettle Rocking Horse Enterprises: Airport Manager Kettle stated that he has been in contact with the FAA regarding the construction idea's for 30 new hangar's that we wish to pursue. Mgr. Kettle explained how we need the cooperation from the FAA and the FAA permission to follow through on our idea's of how these new hangar's will sit on the designated site. The design for these hangars is for the hangar to catch as much sunlight as possible. This becomes more crucial in the winter months where the sunlight will help keep the hangar doors from freezing up. Airport Mgr. Kettle has submitted available dates to the FAA for a meeting with them so we can sit down and explain our idea's and design's with them. This will then allow us to have a true site plan drawn up by the engineering company. The most important thing at the moment is to get approval from the FAA so we can continue to move forward in this planning stage. Action-Airport Mgr. Kettle After Hours Bathroom Facility: The Commission will table this item until Chair Raymond returns. Action- Airport Mgr. Kettle / Commission Financial Review: Approval of Commitments and Abatement's: Nothing at this time. Next Regular Meeting: November 20, 2024 at 6pm. Regular Meeting Adjourned: Commissioner Liberatore made a motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:41 pm. All were in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Richard Liberatore Recording Secretary