NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Airport Commission may look at a new management model that could possibly generate revenue and sustain staff.
Commissioner Trevor Gilman said Tuesday that with all of the improvements to Harriman & West, it may be beneficial for the city to work out a one-time lease agreement of the public ramp space to Teamflys, which provides various aviation-related services at the airport.
He said this would clean up billing and move the airport toward a self-sustaining management model.
"It is the first step to a complete management model where the airport could have the revenue to support full-time staffing," Gilman said. "I think it is a possible solution to managing the airport full time when the airport has the revenue to support that rather than the city hiring a few employees and trying to do it themselves."
Gilman, who volunteers his time to Teamflys to help with management, said group already has to mark down all those who use the facilities through Teamflys. This information is submitted to the city for billing.
"I collect all of the data, find out who is on the ramp, who is on the hanger and I submit all of that," Gilman said. "It is basically tracking all of this stuff that I have been doing for years and the city bills out each one and it is kind of billing nightmare."
With added electrical tie-downs, Gilman fears the billing will become even more complicated.
"We've got these electric tie-downs now, and they are not individually metered," he said. "So with the electric part of it, it is going to be even worse. How do we know who has it turned on and who doesn't?"
He said a lease amount similar to what Teamflys pays now could be negotiated. He said there would not be a cost change for current tenants but it would allow the billing of overnight fees and other small fees. He said in time, it could allow the flight school to become a true fixed-base operator.
At other airports, an FBO is a commercial business granted the right by an airport to operate on the airport and provide aeronautical services.
Gilman said this would allow the FBO to perhaps gain some revenue and hire management.
"The goal of this is to take the first step into making the FBO system viable so there is some revenue generated by the FBO to support a staff there seven days a week," he said. "They would ultimately sell fuel, plow the ramp, mow the grass and manage the airport. Many other airports use this management model."
He said the other option is for the city to hire staff.
Chairman Jeff Naughton agreed that the lease would be worth discussing and said the commission will schedule a special executive session meeting in the near future.
"I agree with you because we are about to go back online with the new ramp and electrical outlets and the whole nine yards so there is a need to have a fully functional administrative presence out there," he said. "The system we have in place now is not coordinated."
Because of Gilman's affiliation with Teamflys, he agreed to remove himself from the decision.
In other business, Gale Associates representative Erik Strand said Phase 1 and 2 of the apron project are largely complete.
He said contractors ET&L Construction Corp. are just waiting to receive some electrical components to finish out the projects.
The commission voted to allow the halt of construction until these components come in.
Strand said they also have to apply a slurry seal to the apron once the pavement cures and paint lines.
He anticipates construction can begin again at the end of August and be finished by Labor Day.
Airport Manager Bill Greenwald said he was unhappy with some of the seeding done by J H Maxymillian Inc. in Phase 1.
"I just feel that the work that was done was totally ineffective and it is my recommendation to the commission that we really seek a refund of that money," he said. "That was just totally worthless."
Strand said asking for a refund could cause difficulties because much of the project was grant funded. He added that the state Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Authority want to close out the project as soon as possible and the commission can ask Maxymillian to reseed in the fall under the warranty.
Greenwald said he also had to handle a complaint from a Williamstown resident who was concerned about some aerobatics a plane was conducting.
"It was sort of a high-speed low-level take off that went into a vertical climb with a smoke generator on," he said. "He wanted to know if that was an appropriate departure."
Greenwald said he told the individual that the maneuver was not unsafe and addressed his concerns.
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Summer Course Registration Now Available at MCLA
NORTH ADAMS, Mass.—Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announced that registration for summer class sessions is now open.
Registration is open to MCLA students, interested community members, high school students, those pursuing a master's degree, and college students wishing to transfer credits back to their home institution.
MCLA is offering two summer sessions, held in-person and online. Session A runs May 20 through June 28, 2024, and Session B runs July 8 through August 16, 2024. The College has more than 50 online courses to accommodate the schedules of working adults, undergraduates, and high school students.
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