Berlin Airport Authority
April 9, 2008
Present were: Chair David Bertrand, Commissioners Ronald Goudreau, Timothy Cayer, Richard Lafleur and Eric Gagne; Jim Ottolini, Eric Kaminsky, Michael Deletetsky, Blandine Shallow, Patrick MacQueen and public were also present
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Commissioner Goudreau moved to accept the minutes of the previous meeting; Commissioner Lafleur seconded and the motion carried.
Financial Reports
Commissioner Goudreau noted that he had a chance to talk with Blandine with regard to questions he had at the last meeting. Ms. Shallow reported that jet fuel and av fuel payments are made through direct deposit. The receipts are brought in at year end.
Commissioner Lafleur moved to accept the financial reports; Councilor Goudreau seconded and the motion carried.
SRE Building Grant
The State requires a letter acknowledging that there is no need to solicit proposals for engineering if the amount of the engineering services is below $100,000. A draft letter confirms that the Airport Authority is aware and approves. Commissioner Lafleur moved to sign and submit the letter to NHDOT; Commissioner Goudreau seconded and the motion carried.
Bid Results
Mike Deletetsky reported that one bid was received from Couture Construction; another was 10 minutes late and was not accepted. With regard to the money, the FAA has not approved the funding yet. If it gets to August, it is likely that the project would not be done this year. Best case is that in June the FAA will find the money, the project will be approved and it will move forward. Couture will be holding the prices until October 31.
Mr. Deletetsky informed the Authority that the State has become a block grant state with the federal government giving it the entire $4 million dollars of federal money and allowing them to disburse as they see fit.
Mr. MacQueen asked if it would make sense to reject bids and do it again. Mr. Deletetsky noted that Couture’s bid has been made public. There is also a tight time frame with DOT requiring the application to be in by April 1 and the bid results have to be in the application package. There was a considerable effort made to get additional bids with advertising as well as direct contact and there are six letters of rejection on file. Mr. MacQueen asked about the 75% funding and cautioned that the Authority not get into a situation where they have to go forward and can’t. Chair Bertrand acknowledged that the basis for going forward was the 2.5% money. Mr. Deletetsky stated that if funding is only at 75%, the project may have to be delayed until next year.
DBE Plan
Mr. Deletetsky reported that the grant requires an updated Disadvantaged Business Enterprise plan. The most recent plan seems to be that of October, 1998. There will be a cost involved but it will be absorbed through the grant and the document that will be created would be good for the entire city.
For the DBE Plan the Airport Authority will have to name a liaison officer and a reconsideration official who is someone not involved in the process to file a complaint to.
The BAA named the airport manager the Liaison Officer. He would be making sure the DBE goals are being met. Chair of the Airport Authority would be the Reconsideration Officer. The plan states where it will be displayed and the logical place is on the City’s web site.
McKinnon Agreement
Mr. Deletetsky reported that Oest Associates hired an appraiser to value the frontage on French Hill Road that the airport owns and the McKinnon’s want to buy. The FAA has made it clear that the assessment is to be based on what value will be added to their property if this piece is added. Oest went ahead with the work and a contract was drawn up indicating that the cost would not exceed $6,500. Mr. Deletetsky stated that he picked up the appraisal on the way to the meeting this evening.
Chair Bertrand asked for the results of the appraisal and Mr. Deletetsky reported that it would be $25,000 for the McKinnon’s to buy the entire piece in question. There are other scenarios that will have to be discussed with the FAA. It is unknown at this time if the FAA will approve of an alternative idea to sell a piece that would become the driveway to the property. If the FAA would agree, the cost would be $2,000; however it would create a discontinuous piece of real estate for the airport.
Commissioner Goudreau stated that it is in the best interest of the airport to sell the entire piece. The driveway option should not be on the table.
Commissioner Gagne moved to go ahead with the proposed contract with the McKinnon’s to move ahead with the appraisal; Commissioner Goudreau seconded and the motion carried.
Commissioner Goudreau moved that the only option to be offered is the sale of the entire piece of property subject to the approval of the BAA; Commissioner Cayer seconded and the motion carried. Commissioner Gagne opposed.
Turnover of Carryover Entitlements
Commissioner Lafleur moved to have the city attorney sign off on the transfer agreement for $300,000 of carryover entitlements; Commissioner Cayer seconded and the motion carried. Chair Bertrand indicated he would sign once the form comes back from the attorney.
Accepting Airport Federal Grants
Commissioner Goudreau moved to accept this year’s appropriation of airport operating fees in the amount of $188.24 and Grants to airport sponsors in the amount of $216.26 and to move forward with applying last year’s appropriation of $578.86 to electricity; Commissioner Gagne seconded and the motion carried.
Airport Manager’s Report
Mr. Kaminsky reported that Wausau may be interested in selling their reception building. They have been informed that the BAA has a right to first refusal and that they will have to submit their request in writing. Commissioner Gagne noted that he will bring the property assessment card by the airport.
The airport has sold $40,000 of sand; which is well over the projection of $25,000.
With regard to insurance, we were able to secure better coverage for less money.
Commissioner Lafleur moved with a second from Commissioner Gagne to approve the airport manager’s report. So moved, the motion carried.
Other
Mr. Kaminsky stated that Jim Ottolini would like to lease space in his hangar to Bell/Heery to store copper and metal. They would provide insurance.
Mr. Kaminsky noted that he reviewed the request with the senior aviation planner at the NHDOT and he was advised that it is not a good idea. In this scenario the entire building would be used for a non-aviation purpose. Chair Bertrand made the point that if the BAA does not abide by the FAA rules potential funding could be put in jeopardy. Commissioner Lafleur added that the expectation that the airport manager would watch someone else’s valuables is out of scheme.
Mr. MacQueen made the point that Federal money is spent to insure access and availability of the airport to pilots. The airport is heavily subsidized for the use of the flying public and it would not be right to allow someone to use that benefit for non-aviation purposes.
There being no further business, Commissioner Goudreau moved to adjourn; Commissioner Cayer seconded and the motion carried. The meeting ended at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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