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HomeMy WebLinkAbout26.03.19 - Minutes, Hag Regional Airport Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of March 19, 2025 Page 1 of 4 HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION Minutes of the Open Meeting March 19, 2026 The Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission (AAC)held a public meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at the Hagerstown Regional Airport Terminal Conference Room, 18434 Showalter Road, Hagerstown, Maryland. Commission members present: Austin Colby(Chair), Curtis Berry (Vice Chair), Laurence Gross, George Meyer, John Cavey, Rob Ferree and ex-Officio County Commissioner Randall Wagner. County staff members present included Andrew Eshleman(Director of Public Works),Neil Doran (Airport Director), Gene Bolanowski (Airport Operations & Security Manager), Machelle Dwyer (Business Leader, Business Development), Tina Smith(Airline Station Leader), Giselle Butt(Office Manager) and David Douglas (Administrative Assistant). CALL TO ORDER Austin Colby called the meeting to order on March 19, 2026, at 3:00pm. CITIZEN'S PARTICIPATION Tom Riford, Vice President of Rider Jet Center (RJC), spoke about various events happening at RJC including: ➢ The 151h annual Hangarfest event is coming up. Hangarfest is a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. ➢ The 20th Aviation Career Expo will be held on November 6th. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Mr. Gross and seconded by Mr. Meyer to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2026,meeting. The motion passed unanimously. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN Motion was made by Mr. Gross and seconded by Mr. Cavey to nominate Mr. Colby as the Chairman of the AAC. Mr. Colby accepted. The motion passed unanimously. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN Motion was made by Mr. Gross and seconded by Mr. Cavey to nominate Mr. Berry as the Vice Chairman of the AAC. Mr. Berry accepted. The motion passed unanimously. Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of March 19, 2025 Page 2 of 4 AIRPORT DIRECTOR'S REPORT Neil Doran, Airport Director,provided his report including: ➢ Mr. Doran wanted to thank the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) for supporting Hagerstown Regional Airport(HGR)with securing a much-needed third fire truck. ➢ A new canopy has been installed on the side of the fire station to store firetruck 35 out of the weather. ➢ The fence behind the fire station will be moved to make more room for airport equipment. ➢ Governor Moore had in the state's budget a $1.5 million state grant for the Air Traffic Control Tower. The grant will advance the tower design from 30%to 100%. The grant was going to be reduced to $750K and Mr. Doran went to Annapolis on March 16a'and 17t' and heard from Senator Corderman who spoke to the subcommittee, and he believes the subcommittee will keep the grant at the current $1.5 million. ➢ Mr. Doran spoke with Royal Aircraft regarding options to renew their lease for another 10 years. Royal Aircraft were bought by Mountain Air Cargo. ➢ Senator Corderman is assisting HGR on updating highway signs to include the airport's logo. ➢ HGR is researching a liquor license for the airport snack bar. ➢ Appraisals are complete and being reviewed for the Civil Air Patrol and Nick's Airport Inn. ➢ BOCC has also been supportive with HGR requesting additional firefighters' positions. ➢ Zach Toth is HGR's new Facility Manager. ➢ September 2026 will be the busiest September airline schedule Allegiant has ever offered HGR. ➢ Passenger Boarding Bridge was damaged and will be out of service for the next few months. ➢ Mr. Doran attended the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) conference in Hershey, PA. ➢ Landline has seen growth in Toronto with their partnership with Air Canada and is offering Starlink,high speed internet, on all its buses. AIRPORT OPERATIONS REPORT Mr. Bolanowski, Airport Operations & Security Manager, provided his report including: ➢ There are several kickoff meetings for construction projects that will be happening at HGR in the next few years. ➢ HGR has their Tri-annual full-scale exercise drill scheduled in October of this year. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management(MDEM) is assisting HGR with planning efforts. Mr. Bolanowski is working with the county's Emergency Operations Plan(EOP) and Emergency Management Offices to make sure all departments' Emergency Plans are in agreement with one another. Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of March 19, 2025 Page 3 of 4 ➢ HGR is working on a deer permit. HGR is trying to make sure it aligns with the wildlife hazardous management plans to continue to satisfy Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) and state requirements. Mr. Bolanowski has met with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)to update the deer safety map for the deer permit. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)related to operating with a deer permit have been revised. ➢ There was VPOTUS movement on March 71n ➢ Washington County storm water team completed their comprehensive inspection. HGR passed the inspection and all permits are up to date. ➢ Mr. Bolanowski and Mr. Doran will be meeting with Charles County to give a tour of HGR's T-Hangars. ➢ Mr. Bolanowski is working with the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) on a new system for Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)updates. ➢ HGR is getting ready for scheduled Cub Scout tours of the airport. ➢ Remarking of the terminal apron has been scheduled. AIRLINE SERVICES UPDATE Ms. Smith, Airline Station Leader, provided her report including: ➢ Ms. Smith's staff receives meetings pre-flight due to the changes with the Jet Bridge not being in use. ➢ Next week three members of Ms. Smith's staff will receive training on the push-back equipment. COMMISIONER UPDATE Mr. Wagner, County Commissioner, provided his report including: ➢ The County's budgets are near completion. The budget looks good,but$17 million in cuts were made to balance the budget. ➢ Continue effort to fill various County upper-level staffing positions. ➢ Commissioner Harvey resigned so Neil Parrot has been appointed to fill his seat until the general election in November. ➢ Mr. Wagner wanted to set the record straight that the BOCC of Washington County had nothing to do with and had no idea about the warehouse in Williamsport being bought by the federal government. Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of March 19, 2025 Page 4 of 4 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Mr. Horowitz, Director of Business Development, was unable to attend the meeting. In his absence, Ms. Dwyer, Business Leader, Business Development,provided the following updates: ➢ Paul Perini sold his property on Crayton Blvd to a service tire center. ➢ The Panattoni building on Huyetts Crossroads will be leased to Smucker's for five years. ➢ AEK Realty is now the commercial real-estate agency for New Heights Industrial. ➢ Business Development is trying to identify a Maintenance Repair Operations (MRO) for the airport property. AAC MEMBER UPDATES ➢ Mr. Berry gave member updates including: o Young Eagle events are planned. o National Flight Academy (NFA) is being held on July 3ra o Oshkosh is planned for the end of April. ➢ Mr. Colby gave updates on Hagerstown Aviation Museum (HAM); o HAM starts April with Aviation Adventure Day/Young Eagles. This change from Young Eagles to Aviation Adventure Day/Young Eagles is to the focus on youth. o Planning is still ongoing for the STEM Center Makerspace. o In June HAM will be bringing in the B-17 and the B-29. o HAM will be participating in the Washington County's 250'h celebration. o HAM will be hosting Wings and Wheels on September 121h o Mr. Colby just returned from testing drones in the Mojave Desert ADJOURNMENT Motion made to adjourn by Mr. Berry. Motion was seconded by Mr. Meyer. The meeting was adjourned at 3:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted, David Douglas, Administrative Assistant