Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee

TOWN-VILLAGE AIRCRAFT SAFETY & NOISE ABATEMENT COMMITTEE One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York 11550 (516) 489-5000 x3296 – TVASNAC@tohmail.org Meeting Minutes Monday, June 22, 2020 Virtual Meeting via GoToMeetings In Attendance (virtually) Sal Evola, Village of Cedarhurst Dan Plaut, Village of Cedarhurst Larry Quinn, Village of Garden City Ronald Goldman, Village of Lawrence Kurt Langjahr, Village of New Hyde Park James Vilardi – Executive Director Technical issues were encountered at the start of the meeting as well as audio issues on and off throughout the meeting. Executive Director James Vilardi and Secretary Carol Renta introduced themselves to those committee members present for the virtual meeting, and attendance was taken. There are currently two open committee positions – Village of Malverne and Village of Stewart Manor. Mayors have been contacted regarding filling these vacancies. It was decided collectively that since only four villages were represented, a vote could not be taken to approve the November 25, 2019 Minutes, the 2020-2021 Budget and the 2020-2021 Calendar of Meetings. Approval business could not be conducted without a quorum. James Vilardi suggested we proceed with a general discussion regarding what we would like to accomplish as a committee over the next several months. Kurt Langjahr, thanked Supervisor Don Clavin and the Town of Hempstead for supporting the committee once again, as it is a very important function of government. Kurt stated he has been a member of TVASNAC for 20+ years and lives in the North Hempstead portion of New Hyde Park. Kurt states he went to the airport the other day, and it was completely deserted and is obviously hurting the economy. During the pandemic, we have not had any complaints regarding airplane noise in our neighborhoods due to the airport being closed. However, after the pandemic when the airport opens again complaints may resume. Over Kurt’s house in New Hyde Park, he gets a plane overhead every two minutes. Some of the cargo flights they get, but they 1 are fewer, and mostly at night. Kurt commented that the committee has been undermined throughout the years, perhaps by the airlines, and feels that we have to make a strong representation with our elected officials to get things done. Mr. Vilardi inquired as to what the best way is to accomplish our goals. Kurt Langjahr offered:  By holding meetings and electing officials that can actually do something about the problem  Writing letters to the Governor and the President as well as to Congressman Suozzi and Congresswoman Rice to get changes made Mr. Vilardi asked what it is that we actually want to get changed - changing the arrivals and departures?  Dan Plaut stated that we have a very rare opportunity right now, because the airport has essentially been closed down. We should find out from the airports how they intend to re-open and what their intentions are. Are their intentions to increase the amount of traffic, are they talking about new commercial flights, etc. If we can get some idea what their plans are, we can react accordingly. Do we know for example when they plan to open up? What the anticipated dates are? What amount of traffic they are expecting for the summer and the December holidays?  Kurt Langjahr advised that in order for changes to be made, we have to know the result of the Part 150 study being conducted by the Port Authority. As yet, they have not reported on that study as to changes being made. The Part 150 is a study of getting different lanes into the airport, and we have to see if the planes were distributed fairly to the South Shore and North Shore. The North Shore is mostly complaining about helicopters. Kurt stated that he thought the Governor had decided that helicopters have to fly by the North Shore, but they track the route because helicopters fly low at around 2,000 feet and the noise is unbelievable. Now that we did this virtual meeting, maybe we can get someone from the FAA or Port Authority to speak with us virtually, but they might not want to talk to us because they had a bad experience at a meeting in New Hyde Park. The meeting in New Hyde Park was overwhelming, and we could not control the crowd because of the airplane noise complaints. But, we should try to talk to them. We want to know when and how they will open. Mr. Vilardi asked Larry Quinn if there were any concerns that he wanted to add to this discussion concerning the Village of Garden City, but Larry – had audio issues and we could not hear him. Larry left the meeting. Mr. Vilardi asked Kurt Langjahr if we can get the Part 150 study from the Port Authority by request.  Kurt Langjahr responded that he did not think the Part 150 was concluded. We have to follow up. 2   Mr. Vilardi offered to follow up. We have to find out what federal legislation is pending as far as the airport. Mr. Vilardi will get a summary of all legislation pending. Mr. Vilardi reiterated that we should speak with Congresswoman Rice and Congressman Suozzi about our concerns.  Kurt Langjahr suggested the only ones that can do anything about this problem are our two U.S. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. They are the only ones that can do anything for us, but may not want to, as they make sure no airplanes fly over their houses.  Ron Goldman commented that he believes Senator Schumer lives in Park Slope.  Mr. Vilardi stated that we should try and get one of them as a guest at our next meeting and ask them point blank what’s going on. Larry Langjahr stated that there are no planes right now, which is great. If the airports go back to the usual number of planes there should not be any complaints, because we have been asking them to give the planes a wide range and they were doing that. So hopefully when they go back to regular numbers, they will continue spreading them out so…..audio cut out…Larry continued that from his perspective, distribution of flights is…..audio cut out again. AUDIO GONE for a few minutes. Larry Quinn re-joined the meeting. Mr. Vilardi asked if in the past this committee had a point person at the FAA and the Port Authority to contact for information, invite to meetings or notify if we want to make a change. Do we have reliable people that we can talk to?  Kurt Langjahr advised that we have always been able to speak with the tower manger. But, after the meeting a few years ago at the New Hyde Park Road School, the tower manager was very upset when we could not control the crowd. It is very hard to control a crowd that is very upset getting a plane every 90 seconds over their homes, or a helicopter flying over their head.  Larry Quinn stated that the FAA and Port Authority have basically said that technical studies and the Part 150 studies are the only things they will address, and they do not expect to handle individual complaints anymore. If you do not go through the 150 model, they are not going to listen to you anymore.  Mr. Vilardi commented that this does not sound fair.  Kurt Langjahr agreed this is really our problem, and we have to sit down and figure out with Congresswoman Rice and Congressman Suozzi and the Senators from New York how to proceed. They can influence the FAA, which is why they do not want to talk to us, because they control the Port Authority and the FAA. The FAA controls it through the outer ring which is about 20 miles away from us, and 20 miles in to final landing. It’s a problem trying to talk to these people and 3  have a meeting with them. Not sure if we can arrange it, but welcomes James Vilardi to try. However, Kurt feels the tower manager is a very nice guy and will probably talk to us.  Mr. Vilardi added that it does not sound like the tower manager has the authority to make changes to arrival and departure routes so we do not have to speak with him/her at this time. .  Larry Quinn agreed that the tower manager has no authority whatsoever. Mr. Vilardi stated that we have to establish relationships with the people at the Port Authority and the FAA who have the authority to change routes, and we will bring our elected officials into that process. But first, we have to establish who to talk to, and we should discuss that strategy before the next meeting. We do not have to wait until the next meeting to talk with each other, and should keep in touch to figure out what we can do to make some impact before the airports get into full swing again and start with 70- 80% capacity. Before that happens, let’s really try to establish who we have to talk to. We should sit down and get a meeting together in the next 30-60 days before the airport gets to full capacity to find out:  What routes they will be using?  Can they use alternate routes?  How do we disburse the air traffic to cut down on the noise? Mr. Vilardi summarized that in reading past minutes, it does not seem like suing the FAA would have any real impact. We have to establish relationships there, work with elected officials in a more effective way and try and set up conversations with our congressional representatives and senators on a rotating basis so we are in constant touch with them letting them know what is going on in our communities.  Larry Quinn seconded those points. Mr. Vilardi asked if anyone had anything else to add Larry Quinn suggested we contact the Malverne and Stewart Manor Mayors regarding filling their open vacancies on the committee.  Carol Renta responded that she had reached out to both mayors; Malverne never got back to her and Stewart Manor responded that their appointments were on hold for the time being. Mr. Vilardi requested that for the next meeting on July 27, 2020 we make an effort to have more members present so we can vote on the 2020-2021 Budget, 2020-2021 Calendar of Meetings and the Minutes from the November 25, 2019 meeting. Mr. Vilardi adjourned the meeting and stated it was nice meeting everyone and he looks forward to working together. Prepared by: Carol Renta Secretary, TVASNAC 4