Airport Board Minutes

April 2006

April 12, 2006

 A meeting of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport Board of Directors was held on Wednesday, April 12, at 5:30 p.m. at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, 80 Airport Drive, Auburn, Maine.

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

Absent:  Ron Jean and Ken Wolf.

Also Present:  Airport Manager, John McGonagill

 The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m.   

 ON MOTION BY MS. ROWELL SECONDED BY MR. LUNT IT WAS

VOTED (1) TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF MARCH 15, 2006 AND PLACE THEM ON FILE.

VOTE: 4:0

Ms. Finnigan arrived. 

TREASURER’S REPORT

Mr. Metivier reviewed the treasurer’s report with the board stating 91% of revenue was collected, items are currently in line and 87% of expenditures are high due to fuel, gas, and legal fees (which legal will be reimbursed by FAA for Crossley currently at $22,000).

 ON MOTION BY MS. FINNIGAN SECONDED BY MR. LUNT IT WAS

VOTED (2) TO ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT AS PRESENTED.

VOTE:  5:0

CENTRAL MAINE SHOCKERS

Matt McKenney, Central Maine Shockers (semi pro football team), is looking to use airport property located outside the fence, by the Giguere Maintenance Garage, for practice and games.  They are currently using a field in Lewiston.  The agreement would be the same as other tenants on the field for use of temporary space at $0.10/sq ft/mo.  They will develop the field at their cost and no permanent structures will be allowed on the field at the end of the 180 days.  Central Maine Shockers will sign a lease and provide the airport with a certificate of insurance naming the airport as an additional insured.  The lease will be drawn up for the next board meeting for review. 

 CROSSLEY PROPERTY UPDATE

Airport Manager updated the board on the last City Council meeting.  Eminent Domain process has been approved and Mr. Crossley has been delivered his paperwork on April 11, 2006.  The property is part of Christian Hill and in the 50:1 slope, which should be acquired for airport safety according to the FAA.  The Airport Manager has requested the attorney to submit an estimate of costs if Mr. Crossley appeals this decision for mineral rights, and to give the FAA a heads up on additional monies that may be necessary for an additional or extension of this grant.

 SNOWBLOWER and TAXIWAY application for grants have been submitted to the FAA as required. 

 BUDGET STATUS FY 06-07

The Airport Manager presented the airport budget with zero growth to  Mayors Guay and Auburn/Lewiston City Councils at the April 4, 2006 joint meeting.  Everyone seemed satisfied and calls were received at the airport office requesting additional information regarding the airport projects.  It was also mentioned by a few councilors to have the airport give a presentation informing the councils of the airport status several times throughout the year, which will be implemented during the next budget cycle. 

 REQUEST FOR LANDING INFORMATION

Ron Potvin, with the Auburn Citizens Budget Committee or Mayors Committee, has requested a listing of the companies landing at Auburn-Lewiston Airport.  The Airport Manager has consulted the airport attorney, unsure of what the list will be used for, to release this information, and will do so upon completion of a written request stating why this information is being requested.  This list contains numerous companies mostly out of state and is not a complete list of transient aircraft coming to Auburn-Lewiston.  There is no control tower to record all planes coming, and the FBO’s on the field also collect fees from landings and have no need to track companies using the airport so only the N number is submitted to the airport office for accounting purposes.  A copy of this information will be submitted to the board when requested by Mr. Potvin.

 PAC MEETING 4

The PAC meeting #4 will be at AVCOG on Thursday, May 4, 2006.  This meeting will be covering capital improvement projects, governance review and the business plan for the airport.  The airport is approximately 60 days ahead of schedule with the master plan.  All data collection should be received by the end of this PAC 4 meeting and presentations to the airport board and city councils will be scheduled this summer. 

 OPEN SESSION

 LEO’S UPHOLSTREY

Linda Beaudin, representing Leo’s Upholstery, informed the board they are looking to locate inside Silver Wings hangar and become an LFBO, (like MTM Helicopters is operating) a lease will be drawn up and Leo’s Upholstery will pay an activity fee of $250/year for operating on the field.  They currently are located at Riverside Drive, by the Roller Dome, and looking to be in Silver Wings by the end of the month.  The draft lease will be submitted to the board at the next meeting for approval to locate on the field and do business.

 Mary Bamford, an airport neighbor, asked how low does Christian Hill need to come down.  Christian Hill is currently at 34:1 slope, which was achieved in December 2005.  The precision approach is shallower for the main runway (50:1 slope).  After the accident of Samantha Smith in 1985, the FAA considers this a safety project, which should be completed, and taking Crossley property is part of the safety buffer for clearance, which is needed. 

 Chairman Plourde announced that the Airport Manager has submitted his resignation to the board, with a final end date to be after the EAA trip to Oshkosh in July, completion of the Airport Master Plan, and getting the new manager up to speed with the ongoing projects at the airport.  He is not leaving the airport for another airport; he plans to stay located in Auburn.  Ms. Gilbert questioned why the airport goes through so many managers, once you get used to one, they leave.  Chairman Plourde stated there are a number of reasons, which include that the Auburn-Lewiston Airport is a stepping-stone for bigger airports, family situation change, and politics.  The Airport Manager stated across the country airports our size is constantly going out for managers after 15 to 18 months.

ON MOTION BY MR. METIVIER SECONDED BY MS. FINNIGAN IT WAS

VOTED (3) TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND TO DISCUSS TCAS DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT AND PERSONNEL ISSUE.   

VOTE:  5:0

ON MOTION BY MS. ROWELL SECONDED BY MR. LUNT IT WAS

VOTED (4) TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND AJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:40 P.M.

VOTE: 5:0

Respectfully Submitted,

  John McGonagill, C.M.

        Airport Manager