North Adams Council Accepts Airport Grant, But Not Without Comment
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The management of Harriman-West Airport continues to generate heated debate between the City Council and the mayor.
Acceptance of a $22,700 grant from the state for controllers at Gates 1 and 5 last week reignited sparring over whether the city is in compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration and appointments to the Airport Commission.
The five-member commission is down to two people. There's been a series of resignations over the past six months — in part because of a dispute over a lease agreement — but the commission's had difficulty hanging on to members for years.
The commission more recently turned into a tug-of-war between Mayor Jennifer Macksey and some members of the City Council after she withdrew a nomination before the council and made the appointment herself. The city solicitor opined that the city's charter, saying the mayor has appointing rights, superseded state law. The council conceded the matter, but not happily.
Councilor Lisa Blackmer pointed to the definition of an airport commission in the grant assurance paperwork that clearly states it has "members appointed by the City Council" per state law.
"I know you did get an opinion, but I disagree," she said. "We don't have an Airport Commission. Somebody can sign something, but I'm not sure how they can sign if they can't vote on it. I don't think that the chair has these omni-powers that they can do things without a vote of the actual commission."
Councilor Peter Breen noted that the two members, Chair James Haskins and Robert Grandchamp, had at least been appointed by council. But his concern also focused on the 20 years of compliance required as a grant assurance — and now there is essentially no Airport Commission.
"Whatever we decide is going to be for 20 years, also, when we signed papers last year, in the month of June, it was the same grant assurance of paperwork," he said. "It was for 20 years also. So unless we have that, we are out of compliance. And I'm looking at in the last 25 years, we have spent $19 million.
"Are we ready to give millions of dollars back?"
Macksey said the language is standard and that Mass Aeronautics, a division of the state Department of Transportation, "completely understands the situation."
"They know the history of the dynamics of personalities, and they know that we're doing everything that we can," she said. "They still feel that it is a safe airport, and we're going to continue to find volunteers. But who wants to volunteer for something like this when they get bashed every time they try to do something."
Airport user Michael Milazzo, who has been at odds with the commission, during hearing of visitors said again that the city has been out of compliance with federal grant assurances. He's spoken at several airport and council meetings on the issue.
"The mayor's letter states right here that these grant assurances is what it's been, is normal course of business, and she's also saying that you're guaranteeing these conditions will be met for 20 years, the entirety of the duration of this contract," he said. "It's unclear that the grant assurance paperwork came to you guys with no signature that I can see from the Airport Commission. You don't have a commission. You have no manager."
Macksey indirectly disputed his statement, telling the council that the major problem is "personalities" and with only two commissioners, the city had to step in.
"Despite what others say, this is the standard language that's provided us from Mass Aeronautics," said the mayor. "If we were so corrupt and so off kilter, they wouldn't continue to give us any more money."
Blackmer said she didn't like the mayor coming to the council saying this had to be done immediately when there were all these problems to be solved. Macksey said the council could just reject the money. The debate got snippy at times with Blackmer saying she was tired of being interrupted and the mayor that she didn't like the tone.
Breen said the problems at the airport were compounded by commissioners and the manager leaving over disagreements on operations, the lack of any interest in the proposed restaurant, letting the hangar be used gratis instead of leasing it, and other missed opportunities.
"We are losing money on an operation that we put $20 million in in the last 25 years," he said.
Councilor Peter Oleskiewicz said it had been terrible at the airport for years.
"I think everybody thinks it's their own personal playground, and this is my opinion. But this has to come to an end, because this is, it's an embarrassment to the city," he said.
Councilor Andrew Fitch described the debate as "a nightmare of a situation" that was all over the place.
"It sounds like we are in compliance at the moment. In order to receive these funds, I will gladly put on our next council meeting agenda for July 8, a request for a presentation from Mass Aeronautics and the city solicitor to make sure that we continue to be in compliance," he said. "But if we are in compliance right now, let's accept these funds and repair these gates, because that's really what we're talking about."
The motion passed to accept the grant funds, with several councilors pointing out it would Council President Bryan Sapienza's signature on the paperwork.
"I will support this, but I also will support in the future if an RFP comes in to sell the airport," said Councilor Keith Bona.
Tags: airport commission, federal grants, harriman west,
