Changes may come to the way Stewart Airport Commission and the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey communicate as a result of SAC”™s meeting with PA officials at their final meeting of 2010.
At that meeting, Sandra Kissam, president of SPARC (Stewart Park and Reserve Coalition), asked the PANY/NJ to be more forthcoming on issues, saying little information had been made public on key issues, including its capital plan, environmental reviews, and the lease between the state Department of Transportation and the agency that was finalized in spring 2010.
At SAC”™s Jan. 25 meeting, after airport manager Diannae Ehler gave her report to the commission on the airport”™s infrastructure progress and passenger/cargo numbers, HV Biz spoke with longtime SAC chairman Jim Wright, who was unanimously re-elected to continue serving in his current capacity earlier in the meeting.
Wright said several of Kissam”™s December queries were answered by Ehler, although he did not elaborate. “The Legislature created this commission (in 1982) when negotiations were going on with National Express to privatize the airport.” The commission-Port Authority relationship “is unique to the Port Authority, something they have not had to deal with at their other airports,” he said. “But SAC is here to represent the public interest. Sandra Kissam”™s remarks about the need for more transparency with the public were duly noted, and I did agree with many of her points.”
Wright said the SAC will wait for the state DOT”™s attorney, Marie Corrado, to come down to explain SAC”™s role to the Port Authority and to clarify the commission”™s role at the airport. “Ms. Corrado has been with us during all the negotiations with National Express as well as with the Port Authority,” he said. “She”™s the one that can best explain what our function is and how to move forward.”
“We have an obligation to represent the community ”“ from hunters to businesses. We are here to offer advice and to be the voice of the community to influence the decisions made from time to time,” said Wright.
He continued: “At present, there is a great deal of controversy over what is an ”˜airport-related”™ business and what is a non-related business. Is the diner down the road from here an ”˜airport-related business,”™ or the concession stand inside the terminal? We need to have these things clarified, and we are waiting on Ms. Corrado to come down and address these issues, as well as others.”
Wright said the PA reported passenger service was up by 5,000 fliers, “and while that is important, what is also important are the number of carriers and what the Port Authority plans for the airport”™s future. We are looking forward to an open dialogue and realize this is a situation unique to the Port Authority. However, we are an entity created by the Legislature, and, as such, are responsible to carry out the role we were created for: open communication with the airport”™s operators.”
The tentative date for the next SAC meeting is Tuesday, March 29, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Port Authority”™s First Street administrative offices. Â Â Wright hopes Corrado will be at that meeting to clear the air about the commission”™s role at Stewart and to pave the way to a more open dialogue with the Port Authority.
“I”™m very happy to learn this news,” said Kissam, who did not attend last week”™s meeting due to the weather. “The public has concerns that have not been addressed, and I”™m glad to hear that Mr. Wright and the commission are on top of the situation.”
