April 7, 2005

A meeting of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport Board of Directors was held on Thursday, April 7, 2005, at 5:30 p.m. at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport, Conference Room, 80 Airport Drive, Auburn, Maine  04210.

Present:  Chairman Plourde; Messrs. Metivier, Lunt, Paradis and Ms. Finnigan and Rowell.

Absent:  Kenneth Wolf.

Also Present:  Airport Manager, John McGonagill; Mr. Pohl, Silver Wings Aviation, Inc.; Mr. Gendron, Ramada Inn.

Chairman Plourde called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.    

Chairman Plourde congratulated Mr. Lunt for his reappointment from the Auburn City Council for another 3-year term to the Airport Board of Directors.

ON MOTION BY MR. METIVIER SECONDED BY MS. FINNIGAN IT WAS VOTED (1) TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF MARCH 3, 2005 AND PLACE THEM ON FILE.

VOTE:  5:0:1

Mr. Paradis abstained.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Mr. Metivier reviewed the treasurer’s report with the board, stating overall the budget is looking good, some expense line items were already expended due to snow removal, cost of heating and gasoline, and airfield maintenance.  Revenues sheet is showing landing fees and fuel flowage is currently behind estimated amount. 

ON MOTION BY MR. PARADIS SECONDED BY MS. FINNIGAN IT WAS VOTED (2) TO ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT AS PRESENTED.

 VOTE:  6:0

OLD BUSINESS

SILVER WINGS LEASE

A meeting was held with Mr. Pohl (Silver Wings), Gary Simard (AFPO), Eric Ellis (State Fire Marshall), Charlie Deangelis (Auburn City Electrician), Gary Smith (High Tech Sprinkler Fire Protection Co.) John McGonagill.  An agreement was drafted between parties after it was determined the operations Mr. Pohl would be conducting from the White Hangar.  It was agreed a non-foam system currently installed was acceptable.  The agreement also states that this issue will be revisited in one year to determined if the operations are continuing as agreed or been upgraded and a different sprinkler system should be installed.  Mr. Pohl stated his operations would remain the same for the entire lease period.  He has no plans to be a manufacturing company (cutting, welding, etc which require a foam system $150,000).  He stated his insurance company would not insure him, if he had a foam system due to the damage, it would cause the aircraft.  The letter of agreement will be attached to the Silver Wings lease.  Currently it has not be signed and received back from Mr. Ellis.  The codes the fire department use are the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and they are used across the United States.  It is unlikely these codes will change within the next year.  The airport is currently in non-compliant with other hangars on the field according to an inspection completed a couple years ago.  The board stated areas of hangar use need to be defined in lease and to accept responsibility of use from tenant.  Delete the sentence that puts the responsibility on the airport.  Extending a five-year period with no increase would be changed to reflect a review of fair market values for the last 5 years of the 25 year lease.

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MS. FINNIGAN IT WAS VOTED (3) TO APPROVE, WITH THE AIRPORT’S ATTORNEY REVIEW, THE LEASE WITH SILVER WINGS WITH THE CHANGES DISCUSSED TO INCLUDE THE LAST 5 YEARS (YEARS 21-25) REVIEWED.  IF PERCEIVED LEASE VALUES IS BELOW 20% FAIR MARKET VALUE AS ASSESSED BY THE BOARD AND SUBSEQUENTLY APPRAISED BY TWO APPRAISERS ONE SELECTED AND PAID FOR BY THE AIRPORT AND ONE SELECTED AND PAID FOR BY THE TENANT.  THIS APPRAISAL SHOULD BE PERFORMED AT SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO EACH OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS IF FAIR MARKET VALUE IS APPRAISED BY THE BOARD AT NEAR 20% BELOW VALUE.  THE LEASE SHALL BE NEGOTIATED (BETWEEN YEARS 21-25) AND ADJUSTED USING THE FAIR MARKET VALUE ASSESSMENT DURING THIS PERIOD IF A HIGHER VALUE IS ESTABLISHED THAN THE CURRENT LEASE RATE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR.   

VOTE:  6:0

MULTI MODAL LEASE UPDATE

The multi modal lease is dated 1992. The FAA had some concerns regarding the multi modal lease with the City of Auburn and a meeting was set up with city officials, Ms. Finnigan and Mr. Miller; Chairman Plourde and the Airport Manager; and Ms. Witte, FAA.  The concerns of the FAA were that procedures were not followed and would like to have this project completed within a 60-day period if possible.  A Request of Release and Deed of Release need to be completed and forwarded to Ms. Witte.  She is waiting for the documentations for the environmental actions that took place and Mr. Miller will be contacting the state to get the documents.  Ms. Witte is expecting all the paperwork that would have taken place when the lease was assigned in 1991 be completed and forward to her.     

NEW BUSINESS

SIGN RENTAL AGREEMENT WITH RAMADA AND GENDRON SEAFOOD

Mr. Gendron with the Ramada would like to put a sign on the fence between the terminal building and the Twin Cities Air Service building.  The metal sign would be no larger than 4’ X 8’ to advertise the hotel. All signs will be installed by airport employees.  He has also contacted a car rental agency and taxi service and will publish their numbers on the sign for added service when TCAS is not open.  Customers who fly in late or early hours will have a number to contact on the sign when no one is around for information. 

ON MOTION BY MR. METIVIER SECONDED BY MR. PARADIS IT WAS VOTED (4) TO APPROVE THE DRAFTED LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE RAMADA INN AND GENDRON SEAFOOD AS PRESENTED. 

VOTE:  6:0

REPORT OF THE AIRPORT MANAGER

FEMA SNOW REIMBURSEMENT FOR FEBRUARY 10-11 STORM

The airport has applied for reimbursement for the February 10 storm and was accepted for an estimated $4,000 for costs relating to overtime labor and equipment.  March 8-9 storm has been approved and the airport will be submitting their application for this storm.  A third storm is still undecided if reimbursement is available.

The road that goes to our beacon on Martindale has washed out and into a neighbor’s yard.  Work previously was completed on that road last summer relating to the beacon project.  The city, project contractor for the beacon, our project consultant, and airport employees have been involved at repairing the damage to the road and neighbors property.

KGI UPDATE

The advertisement for our tower is out on the KGI site and posted on the airport’s web site www.flytome.com.

CHRISTIAN HILL

Blasting is continuing and we are still 2.08 feet short of our 34:1 slope to bring our minimums back down for the hill.  A couple of blasts will hopefully put us to 34:1.  Mr. Youland, K & K Excavation, is currently reviewing the drafted lease as discussed at the last airport meeting and should be ready for discussion at the next airport meeting in May.

MASTER PLAN UPDATE

The grant application has been forward to the FAA, deadline is May 1, 2005.  FAA will be funding this as a total project instead of two stages as was previously discussed. 

ON MOTION BY MR. METIVIER, SECONDED BY MR. PARADIS IT WAS VOTED (5) TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS CLIENT FILE REVIEW.

VOTE:  6:0

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT, SECONDED BY MS. FINNIGAN IT WAS VOTED (6) TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:15 P.M.

VOTE: 6:0