Authority waits to hire new airport manager
Despite losing the manager of the Connellsville Airport earlier this month, the Fayette County Airport Authority took no action Tuesday regarding a replacement. In the first week of July, Diana Wally tendered her resignation after nearly eight years of employment. At the time of her resignation, the board appointed two committees, one to find a new airport manager and the other to seek a maintenance manager.
Authority member Tim Mahoney reported that he received several applications for the maintenance position, and the board will begin reviewing the applications this week.
Fiscal assistant Melissa Dionis said 20 applications were received for the newly created maintenance position. However, Dionis said the airport manager position has not yet been advertised. She said four or five people asking about the position have called and left their names and numbers.
Authority Chairman Jesse Wallace earlier said the authority wants to hire someone for the airport manager position with experience. In the meantime, Robbie M. Matesic, senior project manager for airport engineer Benatec Associates, and airport authority member Fred Davis will assist with airport operations.
In agenda items, the authority voted to proceed with seeking bids and awarding contracts for various items, including two lighting projects and improvements to the access road and main hangar apron.
Approval of the contracts is contingent upon the engineer’s review and approval by the Bureau of Aviation. The first set of projects includes rehabilitating the pilot control lighting, improving the vault connection and replacing the runway end indicator lights.
Scott M. Frederickson, senior civil engineer of Benatec Associates, said plans are to open the bids at the August work session and award contracts at the regular August meeting.
The authority voted separately to seek bids and award a contract for the existing access road and main hangar apron project, which includes blacktop of part of the gravel access road and improving the main hangar apron. Frederickson said plans are to open the bids at the Aug. 20 meeting, when a contract could be awarded, contingent upon review by the engineer, solicitor and bureau.
Regarding two projects for which the authority has already received grant funding, the authority voted to seek independent fee estimates for the airport-wide water system Phase 1 design and the airport-wide sanitary sewer system, Phase I planning.
Wallace reported that he recently met with members of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, who offered to provide resources for the Fayette County Airport Authority expansion project. The board voted to use the services of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority on an as-needed basis.
Dionis reported that the airport courtesy van is in need of a transmission. The authority directed Dionis to seek quotes and report back to the board.
Solicitor Mark Rowan reported that he has not yet spoken to the solicitor for Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation regarding a memorandum of understanding with the airport authority. Last month, Michelle Shumar of the county Office of Human Services and head of FACT, said the agency would like to construct a building and locate its transportation headquarters on airport property.