North Adams Airport to Clean Up Access Badge System
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city will update and address the airport access badge system and policy to tighten up security.
Mary Katherine Eade, administrative officer and acting airport manager told the commission Tuesday that the current access badge system is, quite frankly, a mess.
"It is kind of obvious that it was out of control in terms of the number of badges that have been issued and the number of people actually at the airport," she said. "I have 12 pages of airport users which means about 240."
An access badge for an airport user currently costs $50. Eade, if this was actually enforced, the city should be making more money.
"That would be lovely, but that is not the case," she said. "So there is a lot of work to be done."
Eade said the security software allows her to see the frequency of user access which gives the city a sense of who is actually using the airport and how many access badges are just floating around the city.
Chairman Dan Caplinger asked if he could review the list. An airport user himself, he said he would be able to tell her Eade actually visits the airport.
"I can see who I know and who I don't know and cross-check that," he said.
Eade first suggested putting a three-year expiration on the badges. Although users would have to re-up their badges every so often, lapsed users would be weeded out giving the city a better handle on how many people are actually using the airport.
Mark Candiloro of Turbo Prop, who served on a committee that reviewed airport policies, said members of the committee were split on increasing costs for users.
"Some people thought that the badges should be at a low cost. Others thought a high cost," he said. "Everyone had a different opinion."
He said they dropped the issue because it was ultimately an airport commission decision but felt there maybe was a way to tier airport access. For example, some users could pay a lesser cost whilst those who need vehicle access could pay more.
Caplinger said he thought it was a fine line. The commission wants to encourage use and encourage users to go through the security protocol that comes with getting a badge. But they don't want to price users out or dissuade them from accessing the airport without a badge.
"We want to have people at the airport and have them go through the security process," he said. "We want to give incentive for them to be checked through a security protocol. A fee may discourage that."
Airport user Mike Milazzo thought $50 was too low. He felt the city had to recoup the resources it takes to actually log people into the access badge system. He thought $100 for three years was adequate.
"The people who need it are flying airplanes," he said, "They can probably afford to spend a little more to have access to get out to the airport."
He said more importantly it is a huge security concern having so many badges out and unaccounted for.
"Too many people can open up a gate and drive around on the airport for no good reason," he said.
Eade added that the coded gates are also a concern.
"Everyone and their uncle knows the security codes. I was down there at an event and people were yelling out the gate codes so the people on the other side could get in," she said. "It is not a secure way to do things."
Caplinger said the commission will certainly discuss this issue at the next meeting and noted these security issues are only present now because the city recently secured the airport perimeter with a fence.
"This makes sense. We are going through growing pains," he said. "Basically a year ago we fully enclosed the airport so security is just tighter now."
He said before people literally could just walk on the airport campus.
He did add that he thought it was important to have users buy into any new protocol.
"The system you put in place is only good if people respect it," he said. "So if we can build that respect and get everyone pulling in the same direction I think it will work."
Caplinger said before closing the meeting that future meetings will be held at the newly opened Administrative Building instead of City hall.
"I am hopeful and really happy to be able to do these meetings at the airport," he said. "Maybe get more people and be able to look out the window and see some airplanes."
There will still be a remote viewing option.
Tags: airport, airport commission,
