Berlin Airport Authority
February 16, 2012
Present: Paul Grenier, Mike Rozek, Diana Nelson, Dori Ducharme, George Pozzuto (6:10), Russ Otis (6:30)
Others Present: Eric Kaminsky
Chair Grenier welcomed new members Ducharme and Nelson to the BAA.
Minutes
Commissioner Rozek moved to approve the minutes of August 11, 2011; Commissioner Nelson seconded and the motion carried.
Financials
Mr. Kaminsky explained that every gallon of fuel sold is monitored and we can go back 10 years on the fuel report to see trends. Fuel is now sold to transient aircraft as there are no longer any large aircraft at the airport like those owned by Wausau or Dan Dagesse.
Mr. Kaminsky confirmed that he would reach out to Mr. Dagesse who is still doing business in the area. Commissioner Ducharme asked why the first quarter’s revenues are so high and Mr. Kaminsky replied that flying is an economy driven business. Commissioner Pozzuto entered the meeting at this time (6:10 PM).
Commissioner Rozek moved to accept the financial report; Commissioner Nelson seconded and the motion carried.
Lease Status Report
Mr. Kaminsky reviewed the report depicting tenants of the airport who have complied with the requirements to pay, sign a lease and provide insurance. Chair Grenier proposed to send certified letters to those tenants who have not complied and begin the process of having the properties cleared of hangars so that the land can be leased.
Commissioner Pozzuto moved to send a certified letter to tenants who have not complied and begin the process of having hangars removed at their expense; Commissioner Rozek seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Election of Officers
Chair Grenier called for nominations for the position of Vice Chair and Commissioner Nelson nominated Mike Rozek to be Vice Chair of the BAA. Chair Grenier twice asked if there were any other nominations; there being none Commissioner Nelson moved that Mike Rozek be named Vice Chair; Commissioner Ducharme seconded and the motion carried.
Secretary
Chair Grenier called for nominations for the position of Secretary and Commissioner Rozek nominated Dori Ducharme to be Secretary of the BAA. Chair Grenier twice asked if there were any other nominations; there being none, Commissioner Rozek moved that Dori Ducharme be named Secretary; Commissioner Nelson seconded and the motion carried.
Airport Manager’s Report
Mr. Kaminsky reported that as part of the most recent CIP project, the airport purchased a snowblower with funding from the State of NH and the FAA. The Federal grants have a Made in America clause that Tenco assured us was met. They are the company that manufactured the snowblower. The bid went to the lowest qualified bidder and the airport was obligated to accept Tenco as the lowest bid. We were notified that there may have been fraud involved because the equipment was manufactured in Canada, disassembled and reassembled in the US. The State, FAA and engineer did their due diligence. This could potentially be serious for Tenco.
Engineer Interviews
Chair Grenier stated that he would not participate in the interview process for the airport’s engineering firm because his son is an employee of one of the candidate firms. He asked Vice Chair Rozek to take over the meeting.
Vice Chair Rozek indicated that each firm would be given 20 minute; adding that each would be asked the same questions and treated the same. Commissioner Russ Otis entered the meeting at this time (6:30).
Firms interviewed were: Dubois & King; Hoyle, Tanner & Associates; AMEC ; HEB & Gale Associates.
At the conclusion of the interviews, Vice Chair Rozek gave Mr. Kaminsky the opportunity to comment. Mr. Kaminsky said that he liked Hoyle Tanner for “thinking outside the box”; however Oest (AMEC) has been the airport’s engineering firm for 15 years. There is a sense of loyalty and they are viewed in a good light with the State. HEB/Gale was very knowledgeable and it would be nice to have local team on board. He recommended AMEC.
Vice Chair Rozek commented that he thought Dubois & King was weak in the interview. He liked Hoyle, Tanner’s presentation. He thought it important to stay within the state and he expressed concern about Berlin taxpayer dollars subsidizing the airport. He went on to say that HEB is doing work for the city and Brian Smith of Gale Associates seems very familiar with airports.
Commissioner Nelson established that she would rule out first presenters (Dubois & King); she very much liked Hoyle, Tanner’s interview. She measured the ability of the firm by their enthusiasm and AMEC had no energy. Her selection was HEB first and Hoyle, Tanner, second.
Commissioner Pozzuto said that AMEC seemed to be playing familiarity; Hoyle, Tanner has good experience and with the Yorks, the team was very professional. He established that he’s had experience with HEB and likes their commitment. He was impressed with the Hoyle group but either Hoyle or HEB would be good.
Commissioner Otis was impressed with Hoyle Tanner and their marketing proposal which was outside the box. They thought of ways to generate revenue and make the airport more self sufficient like foresting; and diesel to loggers.
Commissioner Ducharme indicated that she had many of the same points and would not repeat them. She was disappointed that the actual certificates of insurance were not in the Hoyle document.
Commissioner Nelson moved to accept HEB/Gale Associates as the Berlin Regional Airport’s engineer of record; Commissioner Ducharme seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Nelson moved to adjourn; Commissioner Ducharme seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The meeting ended at 8:20 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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