AUBURN-LEWISTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AUBURN, MAINE

 March 1, 2007

 A meeting of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport Board of Directors was held on Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, 80 Airport Drive, Auburn, Maine.

 Present: Vice-Chair Lunt

Board Members:  Jean, Finnigan, and Bickford.

Absent:  Chairman Plourde, Board Members Sargent and Metivier. 

Also Present:  Airport Manager, Rick Cloutier.

 Vice-Chair Lunt called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

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

VOTED (1) TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 8, 2007 AND PLACE THEM ON FILE.

 VOTE: 4:0

 TREASURER’S REPORT

Airport Manager reviewed the treasurer’s report with the board.  

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

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

VOTE:  4:0

 VECTOR PROPOSAL

The Airport Manager received comments back from board members and the attorney regarding Vector’s proposal.  Mr. Coleton was agreeable to the terms and will prepare an amended copy as agreed upon for signature. 

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

VOTED (3) TO ACCEPT THECONTRACT WITH THE PROVISIONS THAT THE AIRPORT MANAGER OUTLINED AS AMENDED. 

 VOTE:  4:0

 NEW LANDING AND PARKING FEES PROPOSAL

These new fees will begin May 1, 2007 and will be based on $1.75 per 1,000 pounds maximum gross landing weight.  All aircraft under 3.500 pounds will not be charged regardless where based. The minimum landing fee charge will be $15 (currently $10).  Overnight parking will also be adjusted to follow the landing weight fees as outlined in the proposal.  Vector will collect all itinerant landing and parking fees and all based and long term parking will continue to be administered through airport management office.  The airport will provide Vector a list of all aircrafts twice a year as currently done for Maine Department of Transportation.  Vector will send the airport to review a list of aircrafts to be invoiced for the month previous before invoices are sent out.  This should eliminate any new based aircrafts receiving an invoice. These new rates will be posted and letters will be sent out to our regular landing customers. 

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

VOTED (4) TO ACCEPT THE NEW LANDING AND PARKING FEES AS PRESENTED BY THE AIRPORT MANAGER TO BE EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2007.   

VOTE:  4:0

 K & K PROPOSAL LETTER

K & K is currently under a lease with the airport to take down Christian Hill.  Mr. Clay McLafferty, K & K, has interest to take down Airport Hill (Beacon Hill as known to some).  Mr. McLafferty would like to remove the hill and have first option to lease out the land from the airport to develop and tie the project with his current Christian Hill lease.  There are numerous items to be researched and with the area expanding around the airport, K & K feels now is the time to move forward for removal of the hill to benefit everyone.  The Airport Manager stated the land, estimated at 47 acres flat, could be leased at fair market value.  Portions of airport land are designated for aviation use and non-aviation use.  The airport needs to follow the FAA rules and requirements regarding RFP’s etc. 

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

VOTED (5) TO HAVE THE AIRPORT MANAGER PURSUE THE OPTION FOR REMOVAL OF AIRPORT HILL. 

VOTE:  4:0

 PARALLEL TAXIWAY UPDATE

Taxiway bid packages have been advertised and will be released on March 6, 2007.  A pre-bid conference will be on March 14, 2007 at 9 a.m.  Closing of bids is March 29, 2007.  Mitigation is currently being researched with different options due to time constraints.  Currently the City of Auburn and Androscoggin Land Trust can accommodate 25 acres for the airport to acquire for wetlands and would be turned over the Androscoggin Land Trust to become green areas for trails and would be under preservation.  This would come under the FAA grant and be 95% reimbursable. 

 CODE VIOLATIONS

Another item has been completed.  We are now in the process of getting engineering plans for the wall between the office and hangar area for Twin Cities heated hangar with funds from this current budget.  FY07-08 budget we will build the burn wall as required for the code violation. 

 SILVER WINGS ANNOUNCEMENT

Linda Arsenault, representing Silver Wings, informed the board of an open house that is in the planning stages for May 26 to include barbeque, aircrafts, antique automobiles and motorcycle stunts.  The Airport Manager reminded Ms. Arsenault that the minimum standards and insurance requirements need to be met.

 Mrs. Gilbert inquired when the airport advisory committee (stated in the master plan) was going to be formed.  The Airport Manager stated he has currently had a full schedule and is looking to start contacting neighbors and tenants in July/August to form a committee.  This is only an advisory committee to the board. 

 Mrs. Gilbert inquired the status of the Native American burial ground dig.  The Airport Manager stated items were found and a phase three excavation will be completed next month to excavate the area where the taxiway will go, recover the items, and move them. 

 Mrs. Gilbert also reported the Christian Hill blasting has affected some of her neighbors and which direction should they forward their complaints.  The Airport Manager stated for them to call his office and he would set up the meeting to include K & K and or Maine Blasting. 

 Mr. Oliver stated a year ago he felt he was stonewall with the previous manager in regards to receiving airport information under the freedom of information act.  After discussion with the current manager, Mr. Oliver understood the manager was under the advice of the attorney and during said period, the status had changed applying to the airport.  Currently, most information is available to the public when requested in writing and a charge for copies can be added per discussion with the airport’s attorney.

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

VOTED (6) TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS HANGAR PROPOSAL. 

VOTE:  4:0

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

VOTED (7) TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 6:35 P.M. 

VOTE:  4:0

Respectfully Submitted,

  Richard Cloutier

Airport Manager