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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-5-22Town of Nantucket NANTUCKET MEMORIAL AIRPORT 14 Airport Road Nantucket Island, Massachusetts 02554 Thomas M. Rafter, Airport Manager Commissioners Phone: (508) 325 -5300 Daniel W. Drake, Chairman Fax: (508) 325 -5306 Arthur D. Gasbarro, Vice Chair Sheila O'Brien Egan David C. Gray, Sr. AIRPORT COMMISSION MINUTES 5/22/12 The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by Chairman Daniel W. Drake with the following Commissioners present: Vice Chair Arthur D. Gasbarro, David C. Gray, Sr. and Sheila O'Brien Egan. Also present were Jeff Marks, Acting Airport Manager, David Sylvia, Training /Compliance Officer and Janine M. Torres, Administrative Assistant to the Airport Manager. Thomas M. Rafter, incoming Airport Manager and William F. McGrath, Jr., Compliance Officer were participating via phone. The meeting took place in the 15t Floor Community Meeting Room at the Public Safety Facility, 4 Fairgrounds Road. Chairman Drake announced the meeting was being recorded. a N ° The Commission M /S /P Unanimously approval of the Agenda. c�l G r— The Commission M /S /P Unanimously approval of the April 19, 2012 Minutes. x M The Commission M /S /P Unanimously approval of the May 8, 2012 Minutes. � The Commission M /S /P Unanimously to ratify the May 16, 2012 Warrant. cn Public Comment M 7u C-n CO None. M (7) M rn 0 Manager Update Mr. Drake noted nothing new to report but commented that Mr. Rafter had a successful visit to the Island and was able to secure housing thanks to the efforts of Mr. Gray. Disclosure of Financial Interests by a Municipal Employee & Determination by Appointing Authority Mr. Drake announced due to Mr. McGrath's job title and status having changed, need to go through this process again. The Commission M /S /P Unanimously to approve the disclosure determining the financial interest Mr. McGrath has is not so substantial to alter the integrity of his service. Nantucket Airport Gifts Marsha Kotalac gave a brief history of the gift shop's economical difficulties through the terminal construction as well as the recent decline in air traffic. She is glad the Commission has extended her lease through September but it was unclear what the rent was going to be. Mr. McGrath had suggested at the April meeting the rent should revert back to the original amount. After brief discussion, Mr. Drake asked to postpone a decision on the rent amount to the next meeting and asked Mr. Gasbarro to meet with Ms. Kotalac and come back with a recommendation. FAA Grant — RW 6/24 HIRLS, Airfield Wide Guidance Signs, Wind Cone /Segmented Circle and Perimeter Fence (Approx 5,000 L.F.) Mr. Drake noted we will not hear about the State Grant until the Federal Grant is accepted and approved by Town Counsel. The timing of the project is still uncertain. The Commission M /S /P Unanimously to accept the FAA Grant in the amount of $909,000 for the Runway 6/24 HIRLS project. Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Update Mr. Drake noted the proposal from the Consultant to prepare the PFC application was provided in the packet. Mr. Drake reported hearing from both air taxi companies on their disappointment in the plan to institute a PFC. It could mean a 4% rate hike causing more runoff to the boat. Mr. Drake was told as of May 15t, when the bigger Hy -Line boat stated running again, one of the air taxis lost 70 passengers a day. Mr. Gray and Ms. Egan also received comments. Mr. Gray feels in part we need to educate the public on why we are considering a PFC. Mr. Drake noted while the decision is not a popular one, the reality is the funds could be used to pay the debt service on the terminal plus the local share on past projects as far back as 1990 & two years of future projects. Mr. Drake reported, in answer to the questions from the last meeting, that the PFC cannot be applied selectively to certain flights; and, we are not eligible for the hardship provision which is used only for airports in bankruptcy. After brief discussion, the Commission M /S /P by a vote of three in favor and Ms. Egan against accepting the proposal from Hoyle Tanner and moving forward with the PFC process. Daley Report Mr. Drake reported Mr. Daley is the Town's Financial Consultant and was asked by the Town Manager to look into how the situation between the Town and Airport, resulting in the draft report provided. The report will be discussed in length at a special Board of Selectmen meeting scheduled for May 30tH Concerns over the recommended Town Charter changes and Chapter 90 references were raised and it was the consensus that an attorney, MassDOT and /or the FAA be given the report to offer advice as to whether the recommended changes would go against Chapter 90 and our Grant Assurances. Finance Discussion Mr. Gasbarro reported attending a Finance Committee meeting at which the airports finances were discussed in two parts: the first being where the airport is year -to -date FY2012 as well as how the budget will be handled for FY2013. The second discussion was the continued communication difficulties between the Airport and the Finance Department. Mr. Gasbarro noted with the new Manager starting 5/22/12 Airport Commission Minutes Page 2 of 5 and the Business Manager position being advertised, that we can move forward. He told the Committee that there would a detailed review of the budget to insure we come in under budget for 2012 but noted the hard -to- predict fuel purchasing with fiscal year end approaching but a historically busy Fourth of July week of high fuel sales demand. Mr. Gasbarro assured the Finance Committee the Airport was looking at everything very carefully. Mr. Gasbarro reported part of the problem between the Finance Department and the Airport is the use of two different accounting systems. The Town uses a cash basis system and the Airport uses an accrual basis system. This creates different spread sheets that are difficult to reconcile with each other. General Aviation Building Mr. Drake reported working with Nantucket Architecture, Architectural Consulting Group and Baybutt Construction on the costs of three scenarios: • Ways to cut costs should the project continue — an additional STM appropriation of $400K may be needed for a total borrowing of $3.4M • The cost of terminating the project now — no additional STM appropriation needed, but $850K — 13M to get the building to a watertight status The cost of suspending until after the STM — additional STM appropriation of $1.4M needed for total borrowing of $4.4M After discussion and comments by the architect, Owners Project Manager and Contractor, the Commission M /S /P Unanimously to recommend to the BOS that the project continue as scheduled. Personnel Ms. Torres reported so far there is one applicant for the Business Manager and approximately 10 applicants for the Administrative Assistant position. Mr. Drake checked with Human Resources regarding the proposed salaries of the positions. The response was that the $60K - $75K range for the Business Manager is on track. The $55K - $65K range for the Administrative Assistant position is on the high end. Mr. Drake noted Mr. Rafter, Mr. McGrath, Ms. Torres and Mr. Marks will all be involved in the interview process and as many Commissioners who want to be involved can be. All the applications will be reviewed and the top three to four applicants will be chosen for interviews. After brief discussion, Ms. Torres was asked to place the Business Manager ad in the Cape Cod Times before Friday's application deadline. Mr. Drake reported upon checking with Downtown, non -union personnel are on a 40 -hour workweek. Currently, the Airport non -union personnel are on a 35 -hour workweek. After brief discussion, the Commission M /S /P Unanimously to new non -union positions be on a 40 -hour workweek. Pending Contract The Commission M /S /P Unanimously approved a three year contract with Northeast Fire Equipment & Apparatus Corp for a not to exceed amount of $24,000 for ARFF Truck Inspections. The Commission M /S /P Unanimously approved a three year cooperative services agreement with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services (WS) for a not to exceed amount of $5,000 for mandatory wildlife services training. 5/22/12 Airport Commission Minutes Page 3 of 5 Operations Report Mr. Marks Reported: • RW 15/33 project: Runway paving, grooving and painting is complete. The FAA is surveying the runway now to update the charts. MassDOT and the FAA will be here on June 13th for the final inspection. • Training: Last week ARFF personnel attended three -day mandatory crash rescue training. The Operations Supervisors, Blaine Buckley and Preston Harimon, are currently holding their week long seasonal operations employee training. Mr. Marks complimented them on a job well done. • Fuel sales over the Wine Festival week were low 10K gallons. Fuel inventory being watched very carefully. • JetBlue started service. Their ramp parking space was moved to comply with FAA rules regarding taxiway obstacle free area regulations. This new parking space requires JetBlue to "push back" from the terminal using a tug. The SIDA area will be remarked to comply with the obstacle free zone. • The Summer Arrivals wing is open for the season • Maintenance has completed interior painting, sprucing up the terminal. Mr. Marks complimented the crew, especially Kirby Fowler for his professional painting skills. • Navy personnel here tomorrow to discuss offshore torpedo testing. Should they decide Nantucket is suitable, advertising may be required to alert the community. Mr. Gray thanked the Airport for assisting the Fire Department with transportation on the recent accident on Polpis Road. Statistics Mr. Sylvia reported: • Operations were 26,963 through April. Up 12.36% over last year. April had 7,966 operations versus 7,090 last April • Enplanements were 31,077 through April. Up 17.07% over last year. April had 9,674 enplanements versus 9,055 last April. • Freight had 545,154 Ibs YTD, down 5.91% from last year. • 3 noise complaints for April. 14 complaints YTD. • Noise Abatement Award: 389 flights were observed of which 3 were non - compliant. 1 from Cape Air /Nantucket Airlines and 2 were Island Airlines. Award for the month of April goes to Cape Air. Mr. Gasbarro noted he observed a three -hour window over one day and found 11 non - complaint flights and was curious how Mr. Sylvia processes the noise program. Mr. Sylvia replied he uses 1 -hour blocks each day and listen to the recordings during that hour. Mr. Gasbarro and Mr. Sylvia will meet to go over the process. Mr. Gasbarro reviewed a free service called LiveATC which allows the public to listen to air traffic control and considers this a great public service. Mr. Gray added Live ATC would provide a free computer if needed. Mr. Drake suggested approaching the tower staff and advising them we are considering adding this service. 5/22/12 Airport Commission Minutes Page 4 of 5 Commissioners' Comments Mr. Gray asked about the parking lot system. Mr. Marks reported since the companies visit, it had been working better, but started showing signs of a continued problem today. Public Comment Ms. Kotalac is concerned over the timing of the RFP for the gift shop and asked what the timetable would be between advertising and award. Mr. Drake answered we would get back to her next at the next meeting after priorities and workloads are examined. Having no other business, the Commission M /S /P by the following vote to enter into Executive Session, not to reconvene in Open Session, to review the Executive Session minutes of 3/1/12, 3/13/12, 3/27/12, 4/3/12, 4/19/12 and 4/26/12 for possible release and to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation, which if held in Open Session may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigation. Chairman Daniel W. Drake —Aye Vice Chair Arthur D. Gasbarro —Aye Shiela O'Brien Egan —Aye David C. Gray —Aye eeting adjourned 6:57 PM ly submitted, Janine [A. Torres, Recorder Master List of Documents Used 5/22/12 Agenda 4/19/12 Meeting Minutes 5/8/12 Meeting Minutes Disclosure of Financial Interest by Municipal Employee and Determination by Authority Form Nantucket Airport Gifts Chron History Marsha Kotalac's 4/2/12 Letter to Bill McGrath and Commission Gift Shop handwritten Financials 2006 — 2011 FAA Grant Offer for RW 6/24 HIRLS Project Hoyle Tanner PFC Application Assistance Proposal Financial Advisory Associates, Inc. Report of Financial Management (Daley Report) GA Building Project Cost Overview (Handout) 5/22/12 Email from Bill McGrath to Commission re GA Building (read aloud) Northeast Fire Equipment 7 Apparatus Contract USDA Wildlife Service Cooperative Service Agreement April Statistics Report LiveATC.net Terms of Use 5/22/12 Airport Commission Minutes Page 5 of 5