AUBURN-LEWISTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AUBURN, MAINE

April 5, 2007

A meeting of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport Board of Directors was held on Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, 80 Airport Drive, Auburn, Maine.

Present: Chairman Plourde

Board Members:  Finnigan, Sargent, Lunt and Bickford.

Absent:  Board Members Jean and Metivier.

Also Present:  Airport Manager, Rick Cloutier and HTA representative Mr. Guadalupe.

Chairman Plourde called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

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

VOTED (1) TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF MARCH 1, 2007 AND PLACE THEM ON FILE.

VOTE: 5:0

TREASURER’S REPORT

Chairman Plourde reviewed the treasurer’s report with the board.  He requested to review the deferred maintenance projects for the next meeting.

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

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

VOTE:  5:0

AUBURN HANGAR CONDO ASSOCIATION REVISED LEASE PROPOSAL

Keith Oliver, president of AHCA, requested to revise the AHCA current lease.  The association is requesting to pay up front the taxiway loan pool that was built into the lease agreement ($40,000) and start another 20-year lease with the monthly payments to reflect this change.  The loss to the airport would be the interest rate on the $40,000 for the 20-year period that was built in with the lease payments.  The board requested the airport attorney to review the changes being requested, not all of the condo members are in favor of this change, review of the Condo By-Laws, and a spreadsheet of the 20-year payment period of the current and the proposed lease payments. 

REVISED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT STRUCTURE

Language to add two additional seats to the board of directors was presented for review.  The Airport Master Plan suggests a representation from AVOG (transportation center) and LAEGC (business center) be added for their expertise in those fields and some longevity to the board. 

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MR. SARGENT IT WAS

VOTED (3) TO MOVE FORWARD AND PRESENT TO BOTH CITY COUNCILS FOR APPROVAL TO AMEND THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE TWO ADDITIONAL AIRPORT BOARD DIRECTORS, ONE STAFF MEMBER FROM LAEGC, ONE STAFF MEMBER FROM AVCOG WITH THE AMENDED LANGUAGE AS DISCUSSED.

VOTE:  5:0

UNSOLD AIRPARK LOTS

The Airport Manager stated he was approached regarding the two lots in the airpark on the Kittyhawk Road were available for sale.  Chairman Plourde stated in the past these lots were being held for the highest and best use of land due to land being on the rail side, and to create a cash flow for the airport, it was agreed to long-term lease at that time.  The board is always open to hearing proposals.    

PARALLEL TAXIWAY UPDATE

HTA representative, Mr. Guadalupe was present to update the board on the taxiway bids that were received last week. It was agreed that the bidders for the construction project would have to hold their bids until September.  Five bids were received with the lowest from Sargent Corporation $4.5 million for taxiway and apron.  Sargent has airport experience throughout Maine and HTA has worked with them numerous times.  Runners up were Bridgecorp/Pike, K&K, Shaw Brothers, Gendron & Gendron.  The FAA was pleased with the bids.  Pike was subcontractors on all bids for paving.  Mitigation is currently being processed through the City of Auburn and Androscoggin Land Trust, which can accommodate 25 acres for the airport for wetlands, being turned over to the Androscoggin Land Trust to become green areas for trails and would be under preservation.  This parcel of land would require an appraisal, review appraisal, survey (completed), purchase and sales agreement to be completed and submitted to the FAA for a land grant application by May 1, 2007.  This is part of the taxiway project and would be considered high priority safety project.  

VECTOR UPDATE

The contract between Vector and Airport has been signed.  Equipment will be installed the week of April 16.  Notice has been sent out with the new rates and is posted on the airport website.  The signs on the airfield will be updated on May 1 when service will be in place. 

OPEN SESSION

Scott Higgins, representing Silver Wings, informed the board that after speaking with the Airport Manager on each snowstorm this winter the only response he received was the airport follows the snow removal plan that is currently in place for snow removal.  This last storm according to Mr. Higgins, the west side was completely cleaned and doing the tiedown areas while the east side had not been touched and Silver Wings had a customer arriving that afternoon.  The driveway from Hotel Road to the hangar was also not plowed out for customers coming to the east side to include Skyward and Lifeflight and Platz t-hangars.  Mr. Higgins attempted to plow in front of his area while waiting for maintenance crew to come over and was told he was not authorized to plow.  Mr. Higgins would like this issue resolved and stated the owner, Mr. Pohl, has filed a complaint with the FAA as of today.  Chairman Plourde stated he would do some fact finding on this matter, look at the snow removal plan, speak with the Airport Manager and resolve this issue.  Mr. Tom Ward, Skyward Aviation owner, stated in the years past, if he needed snow removed for whatever reason, he would call staff and request what areas he needed cleaned due to a plane needing to be moved etc…  The east side of the field has increased in businesses, but snow removal procedure has stayed the same. 

ON MOTION BY MR. SARGENT SECONDED BY MR. BICKFORD IT WAS

VOTED (4) TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL ISSUE.

VOTE:  5:0

ON MOTION BY MR. BICKFORD SECONDED BY MR. LUNT IT WAS

VOTED (5) TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:30 P.M.

VOTE:  5:0

Respectfully Submitted,

 Richard Cloutier

        Airport Manager