Airport Board Minutes

October 2005 

October 6, 2005

A meeting of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport Board of Directors was held on Thursday, October 6, 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, Wolf and Ms. Rowell.

Absent:  Ms. Finnigan.

Also Present:  Airport Manager, John McGonagill; Kathy Tyson CPA (Runyon Kersteen Ouellette) Janice Gould (Dufresne-Henry)

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

Ms. Tyson, with Runyon Kersteen Ouellette, presented the board the completed audit for year ending FY04-05.  The audit was completed ahead of the City of Auburn compared to last year.  The large amount of federal monies received this year (approximately one million) required an Audit Compliance Circular A133 to be completed in addition to the financial report.  There were no disagreements found during the audit and not having any findings is a positive thing for such a large amount of federal money received.  However of note, in 2002 a 50/50 grant was received from the state to start a Runway 22 safety project and was fully reimbursed from the FAA for said project in 2005 (including the share from the state approximately $65,000).  Therefore, in September 2005 the airport returned the state’s share for the 50/50 grant received in 2002.  The Airport Manager submitted the Management Discussion and Analysis this year which is now required in the audit. 

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MR.PARADIS IT WAS VOTED (1) TO ACCEPT THE AUDIT REPORT PRESENTED BY MS. TYSON AND PLACE IT ON FILE.

 VOTE:  6:0

TREASURER’S REPORT

Mr. Metivier reviewed the treasurer’s report with the board stating an increase in legal fees due to lease negotiations.  The airport will also see in a dramatic rise in fuel/gas line items this year due to sharp increases in fuel prices.  

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

 VOTE:  6:0

 ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MR. WOLF IT WASVOTED (3) TO APPROVE THE AMENDED MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2005 RECEIVED AT THE MEETING AND PLACE THEM ON FILE. 

 VOTE:  4:0:2

Mr. Metivier and Mr. Paradis abstained

PARKING POLICY UPDATE AND REVIEW

Copies of the policy were sent to tenants of the airport, the airport attorney and in addition posted on the airport web site.  Comments and suggestions will be accepted until November 15, 2005 and presented for board review/discussion and approval in December. 

INTERMODAL FACILITY LEASE

Ms. Witte (with the FAA) has received and is satisfied with the documentation requested in her letter to the airport dated in December 2004.  Ms. Witte will be sending a letter to confirm that all requirements were met and the airport is in compliance.   

AUBURN FIRE CODE STATUS

Mr. Simard, Auburn Fire Department, reviewed the possibilities for the buildings at the airport and what the next steps to bring the airport up to date.  The next step for hangar #3 (FBO leased by Twin Cities Air Service) would be to get a professional engineer out to complete  a scope of the work with plans to bring the hangar up to code (there are 8 costly items on the list) or if building a new hangar would be less expensive.  Mr. Haskell submitted a letter of proposal with a cost of $4,900.  The board needs to decide if the airport will be going out to bid for an engineer to complete this phase, or will it continue with Taylor Engineering.  Chairman Plourde tabled this item until further discussion with the Airport Manager. 

L-FBO APPLICATION FROM MTM HELICOPTERS

Steve Swan, (MTM Helicopters) approached the airport manager last week and would like to relocate to Auburn-Lewiston.  With no available hangar space to lease to Mr. Swan, the Airport Manager asked him to speak with the two FBO’s on the field (Twin Cities Air Service and Silverwings) for available space in their hangars.  He has come to an agreement with Silverwings and is asking the Airport Board for an application to be an L-FBO on the field.  According to the Minimum Standards, an LFBO is a business that sublets space from an existing airport tenant.  They are required to maintain all insurance and certificate requirements and pay an annual operating fee to the airport.  The LFBO status allows a business to operate on the field without leasing a facility/land directly from the airport. 

ON MOTION BY MR. WOLF SECONDED BY MR. PARADIS IT WASVOTED (4) TO APPROVE THE LFBO APPLICATION FOR MTM HELICOPTER WITH MR. STEVE SWAN ON A YEARLY BASIS

 VOTE:  6:0

COLD STORAGE HANGAR #2 SIDING

The siding has been completed under budget for hangar #2.  The CIP monies saved from this project is requested to fix the roof on hangar #3.  Proposals were requested to power wash, fix the flashing and corrosion, and coat the roof.  It was determined the work could be accomplished for $7,800.

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MR. PARADIS IT WAS VOTED (5) TO USE THE SAVED MONIES FROM THE SIDING PROJECT (FY04-05) TO COAT THE ROOF ON HANGAR #3 FOR $7,800 AS RECEIVED FROM RPC CONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL. 

 VOTE:  6:0

 EXHAUST VENT FOR MAINTENANCE GARAGE

The Airport Manager requested to use the riprap CIP monies to install an exhaust vent in the maintenance garage (3 main bays).  The stacks are high up and cannot just plug into a hose and vent out like a normal automobile garage.  This should be completed for the safety of airport employees. 

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MR. PARADIS IT WAS VOTED (6) TO ALLOW THE AIRPORT MANAGER TO GO OUT TO BID FOR THE EXHAUST VENT FOR THE MAINTENANCE GARAGE AND USE THE RIPRAP FY04-05 CIP MONIES TO COVER THIS PROJECT.

 VOTE:  6:0

OPEN SESSION

Questions were raised concerning the parking policy.  A few tenants spoke out in favor of keeping parking automobiles inside the fence.  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.  If automobiles are not allowed the convenience of parking inside while pilots are out flying, some felt the Auburn-Lewiston Airport will no longer be user friendly.  Chairman Plourde stated all concerns should be directed to the Airport Manager and all land will be inventoried for designated tenant parking.  The area inside the fence is extremely tight for aircraft parking, taxing, and generally speaking automobiles and planes do not mix well.   

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT, SECONDED BY MS. ROWELL IT WAS VOTED (7) TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND DISCUSS ACCESS ROAD EASEMENT, CROSSLEY PROPERTY, AND THE AIRPORT MANAGER’S REVIEW OF HIS CONTRACT.

VOTE:  6:0

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MS. ROWELL IT WAS VOTED (8) TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

 VOTE:  6:0

 ON MOTION BY MR. PARADIS SECONDED BY MR. WOLF IT WAS VOTED (9) TO APPROVE ACCESS TO LOT 12 AND ABUTTING AIRPORT PROPERTY PENDING THE FAA APPROVAL

 VOTE:  6:0

 ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MR. PARADIS IT WAS VOTED (10) TO APPROVE THE AIRPORT MANAGER’S FULL REQUEST FOR INCREASE IN PAY, VACATION, AND MEDICAL BUYOUT AND AMEND HIS CONTRACT ACCORDINGLY

 VOTE:  6:0

 ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MS. ROWELL IT WAS VOTED (11) TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8 P.M.

 VOTE:  6:0