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HomeMy WebLinkAbout21.02.11 - Minutes Hag Regional AirportHAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION Minutes of the Open Meeting February 11, 2021 In response to the existing State of Emergency, this meeting of the Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission was conducted with a virtual component allowing for AAC Members and Staff participation with a virtual component via remote video/audio conference on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 3:02 p.m. Commission members present were: Norm Morin, Jr., Chair, Jack Miller, Sam Cool, Rob Ferree, George Stone and Ex -Officio County Commissioner Randall Wagner. Airport staff members present were Washington County Department of Business Development- Jonathan Horowitz, Business Development Leader, Garrison Plessinger, Airport Director, Gene Bolanowski, Operations Manager, Peggy Siler, Airline Station Leader, and Richard Lesh, Administrative Assistant. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Norm Morin called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. CLOSED SESSION Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Mr. Cool to convene in Closed Session at 3:05 p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has jurisdiction or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals; to protect the privacy or reputation of individuals concerning a matter not related to public business. The motion passed unanimously. In closed session, the members discussed the potential appointment of specific individuals to a board over which the Board has appointment authority and discussed a variety of personnel matters to include the compensation and filling of certain personnel vacancies with specific candidates, the members provided staff direction in regards thereto. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Mr. Cool to reconvene in Open Session at 3:08 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion made by Mr. Cool, seconded by Mr. Miller to approve the minutes of the January 14, 2021 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. Special Note: Due to County policies the meeting was not open to the public. Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2020 Page 2 of 4 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Mr. Morin reported: The terminal Expansion project is near completion. The floor the installation in the main terminal is almost finished. The Airport Administration staff is waiting on the delivery of the office furniture to move into the refurbished offices. The move is expected to be the week of Feb 22d. Mr. Plessinger reported: • The Ribbon cutting event is still scheduled for March l Ota' and having discussions with the County Public Relations Department to finalize the details. • There is no update for the Runway 9/27 mill and overlay Project. Still waiting for the weather to improve to finish grooving and painting the last 400 feet. • Still waiting for final appraisals for the Land Acquisition of corner of the New Heights Industrial Park (the old Fairchild facility) in order to fix the runway visibility zone issue on runway 2/20. • The H21 Stairs Project (Royal Aircraft Facility) is also on hold until the weather improves. • The new Radios for Maintenance, ARFF, Operations, and Airline Services should be delivered very soon. • The Baggage Belt Loader should be delivered in the next few weeks. • The delivery of the Flail Mower is expected in July. • The Airport received the County Commissioners approval last week for two compact tractors for dual purpose of baggage tugs and grounds maintenance (mowing/snow removal). • The Airport is finalizing the details to purchase the Virtual Perimeter Monitoring System (VPMS), the Foam Testing Machine for the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Department, and the Livescan Fingerprint Machine that were all part of a Maryland Aviation Administration Grant. • The new snowblower has broken again. Mr. Plessinger is contacting the County Legal Department about options. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Plessinger reported the following: The Airport Director position was posted with a deadline for applications on February 19, 2021. It was additionally advertised on the LinkedIn and American Association of Airport Executives websites. Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2020 Page 3 of 4 Mr. Wagner asked if the Advisory Board would like to provide input on preferred attributes for the new Airport Director. The members agreed to discuss and submit the recommendations to the County Commissioners. AIRPORT DIRECTOR'S UPDATE Mr. Plessinger stated his appreciation for the Advisory Board and thanked the members for their time and input. AIRLINE REPORT Ms. Siler reported: A total of 2051 passengers flew on Allegiant so far this year. The Allegiant schedule out to mid- August and the staff will prepare again for seven flights per week during the summer. Ms. Siler is happy to report the Allegiant staff is now using the new ticket counters as well as the newly remodeled office. Allegiant announced 34 new destinations (including three new cities), unfortunately Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) did not receive any of them. After questions from several members, Mr. Plessinger stated an airline consultant would accompany the HGR representatives to the Allegiant conferences, but since Allegiant cancelled the conferences due to COVID-19, no proposals were made for new destinations. Allegiant was not contacted to find out why HGR was not considered for any new destinations. The monitors are installed in the Gate area. Two of the monitors with the flight information are working per FAA requirements. OPERATIONS REPORT Mr. Bolanowski reported: Expected delivery for the new Radios is expected within the next two weeks. Software programming issues has delayed the delivery. Staff training to be scheduled shortly after receiving the radios. The outmoded radios will be used for parts. Skyline is currently working on updating their proposal for the Visual Perimeter Monitoring System. A Site walk was performed on February 4, 2021. Work on the project is scheduled to begin in March, when the ground unfreezes, and temperatures permit drilling and concrete to be poured. Due to State Grant guidelines, the project needs to be completed in May. Shipment for the Live -Scan Machine is scheduled for February 22, 2021. No issues are anticipated in getting the system up and running. Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2020 Page 4 of 4 Since the last snow event, we have had 4 separate storms come thru the region. The forecast is showing more bad weather. Email communications with the Business and T -Hangar tenants have gone out, and have been receiving positive feedback. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS UPDATE Mr. Wagner reported: The new County Administrator is settling in his new position. He is very congenial and approachable. The County is still dealing with filling positions with the Department of Emergency Services and the challenges with COVID-19. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REPORT Mr. Horowitz reported: Business Development is still busy with Commercial Real estate in Washington County. • Found a possible tenant for the New Heights Industrial Park, but an agreement could not be reached. Fortunately, the Company is still looking to lease in Washington County. • The Business Development Department has given out all the COVID-19 assistance funds. It looks like there may be more Government Grants providing assistance coming soon. MEMBERS COMMENTS The members gave their best wishes to Mr. Plessinger for his future endeavors. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ferree to adjourn the meeting at 3:57p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, No n Morin, Jr., tbairl