Airport Board Minutes

December 2005 

December 1, 2005

A meeting of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport Board of Directors was held on Thursday, December 1, 2005, at 5:30 p.m. Holiday Social and 6:00 p.m. regular meeting, Auburn-Lewiston Airport, Conference Room, 80 Airport Drive, Auburn, Maine  04210.

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

Also Present:  Airport Manager, John McGonagill; Janice Gould (Dufresne-Henry), Dick Ludders (HTA).

Chairman Plourde called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.   

Chairman Plourde stated the airport is still gathering input regarding parking inside the fence and this item is not on the agenda for tonight’s meeting.  The airport has received lots of written correspondence from pilots concerning this issue and the board welcomes all comments.   

ON MOTION BY MR. PARADIS SECONDED BY MR. WOLF IT WAS VOTED (1) TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 6, 2005 AND PLACE THEM ON FILE.

 VOTE: 7:0

TREASURER’S REPORT

Mr. Metivier reviewed the treasurer’s report with the board stating revenues collected at 58% meeting the estimated amount and expenditures spent at 40% with overages in several accounts including, fuel/oil, gas, and legal fees. 

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

VOTE:  7:0

OLD BUSINESS

BID REVIEW/APPROVAL ENGINEERING WORK HANGAR #3

A generic scope of work for engineering work has been drafted to go out to bid on Hangar #3 due to a code inspection report. 

ON MOTION BY MR. WOLF SECONDED BY MS. FINNIGAN IT WAS VOTED (3) TO APPROVE THE ENGINEERING SCOPE OF WORK AND REQUEST PROPOSALS, SELECTION WILL NOT BE BASED SOLELY ON PRICE, BUT ON QUALIFICATIONS.

VOTE:  7:0

HOLIDAY TOY COLLECTION

The holiday toy collection was successful last year and the Landing Strip Café and Airport have set up the donation area under the tree in the lobby again this year.  Donation of toys will be accepted until December 14 for anyone interested.

OSHKOSH 2006

The EAA Oshkosh ’06 deadline for applications is December 15.  The Airport Manager requested the airport submit an application for a booth like last year.

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MR. PARADIS IT WAS VOTED (4) TO AUTHORIZE THE AIRPORT MANAGER TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FEE OF APPROXIMATELY $2,000 AS REQUESTED FOR A BOOTH.

VOTE:  7:0

LEWISTON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

The City of Lewiston has requested the city departments and airport to submit their 5-year planning document.  The Airport Manager updated the document from last year. 

ON MOTION BY MR. PARADIS SECONDED BY MR. METIVIER IT WAS VOTED(5) TO ACCEPT THE CIP PLANNING DOCUMENT AS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AND TO INCORPORATE IT INTO THE OPERATING BUDGET WHICH CAN BE MODIFIED/ADJUSTED AS THE AIRPORT’S MASTER PLAN DEVELOPS.

VOTE:  7:0

FAA LAND USE INSPECTION

A letter has been received from Ms. LaVerne, FAA, stating the airport has met the criteria as requested.

HANGAR #3 ROOF

The roof coating on hangar #3 has been completed with monies saved from the siding on hangar #2. 

CROWELL PROPERTY

A culvert had to be installed due to a large ditch on the property, to protect the airport from any liability claims.  This project will be completed next week, and the airport will submit request for reimbursement from the FAA/MDOT.  This property should be marketable to expand the rail (property still is in the runway protection zone).

ACCESS ROAD PROJECT

The Lewiston Growth Council and TSI (Technical Services Incorporated) have approached the Airport Manager for a piece of property they can use as an access road.  There are other issues to review with HTA (Hoyle Tanner & Associates) and TSI.  This property will have to be released BY the FAA as with all properties involving the airport. 

PARALLEL TAXIWAY STATUS

The bill has passed in congress to allow the airport $200,000 in grant monies dedicated to the design and environmental review for the parallel taxiway.  The FAA and HTA have been contacted to start moving on this project.

OPEN SESSION

The Chair stated no action will be taken at tonight’s meeting regarding the automobile parking inside the fence at the airport, but all comments are welcome.  The current policy does not allow parking of automobiles within the fence (Rules and Regulations Section 5.1 Operations  g.  No private passenger vehicles shall be authorized to operate on the landing areas, ramp and apron areas, aircraft parking and storage areas, except for the loading and unloading of aircraft, or those specifically authorized by the Airport Manager.)  The Rules and Regulations have not been enforced over the years.  Pilots who voiced their opinion during the meeting were Mr. Light, Mr. Bouquet, Mr. Oliver, Mr. Ward, Mr. Margerison, and Mr. Keith.  There have been four incidents in regards to automobile parking within the past 13 months.  Currently public input continues to flow in, the FAA Engineer and Inspector will be contacted, and comparisons with other GA airports will be gathered.  All input will be summarized into a package for board review sometime in the future. 

Mr. Oliver also requested what is available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act.  The Airport Manager stated we do not fall under the municipal laws because we are a quasi municipal organization and this does not apply to the airport according to the airport attorney.  The airport will contact legal counsel for a written response on this issue and anyone interested in receiving a copy can obtain one in the airport office. 

Mr. Ward also stated by pushing the fence back his customers will not be able to contact him when the electrical gates become operational (down currently due to Silverwings fuel farm installation).  The Airport Manager stated Silverwings will be operating the gate on a video monitor system with a 3-button call box (LifeFlight, Skyward and Silverwings).  Operational hours are set in the minimum standards for all FBO’s on the field and there should be no problem with deliveries, but the Airport Manager will research this issue.  

Just a reminder all information is available on the web site at www.flytome.com.  Anyone wishing to be on the agenda email listing can do so by contacting the airport office by phone 207-786-0631, email manager@flytome.com, or regular mail Airport Manager’s Office Auburn-Lewiston Airport, 80 Airport Drive, Auburn, ME  04210.

ON MOTION BY MR. PARADIS SECONDED BY MS. ROWELL IT WAS VOTED (6) TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND DISCUSS FUTURE LFBO, USER COMPLAINT, AND CROSSLEY PROPERTY.

VOTE:  7:0

ON MOTION BY MS. ROWELL SECONDED BY MR. PARADIS IT WAS VOTED (7) TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

VOTE:  7:0

ON MOTION BY MS. ROWELL SECONDED BY MR. PARADIS IT WAS VOTED (8) TO PROCEED WITH THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCESS FOR THE CROSSLEY PROPERTY.

VOTE:  7:0

ON MOTION BY MS. FINNIGAN SECONDED BY MR. METIVIER IT WAS VOTED (9) TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8 P.M.

VOTE:  7:0