The Martha’s Vineyard Airport commission mulled a proposal for a food and drink vendor in the so-called tent area of the airport at a meeting Tuesday afternoon. But some members of the commission weren’t so keen on alcohol sales outside of the airport’s restaurant.
“I don’t know what the benefit is of selling alcohol to those taking a 25-minute flight to Boston,” commissioner Bob Zeltzer said.
Mr. Zeltzer took issue with the idea of allowing a vendor to sell alcohol without a distinct purpose other than to turn a profit.
“If you have to wait for a plane and you need alcohol, you have a bigger problem than waiting for the plane,” he said.
But other commissioners disagreed, failing to see any immediate downside to allowing a vendor to sell alcohol at the airport. The proposed vendor would operate within the airport’s secure zone, unlike the Planeview restaurant, adding convenience for travelers, commissioners reasoned.
“It all looked reasonalble to the land use committee,” commissioner and subcommittee member Don Ogilvie said. Mr. Oglivie added that the potential vendor indicated interest in opening shop at the airport this summer regardless of ability to obtain a liquor license.
Commissioner Kristin Zern offered another reason to allow the vendor to operate in the airport: “Well, because we can make a proft,” she said.
Commission chairman Bob Rosembaum said the commission will likely need to revisit the topic at a later date. But, he said, “personally I don’t see a problem with the vendor making money.”
Also at the meeting, director Geoffrey Freeman gave a management report, including figures for the number of commercial flights. He said the airport saw 4,207 passenger enplanements in October — almost double the 2019 count, and four times as many as 2020.
“We did very well this year,” Mr. Freeman said.
Mr. Rosenbaum also informed the commission that an application submitted to the state for funding for the wastewater treatment project upgrade went unreviewed, as it missed the submission deadline. Mr. Rosembaum expressed confusion over the submission, noting that the exact deadline was unclear.
The wastewater treatment upgrade project has been in the planning phase for years, and appeared to be ready to get off the ground until this week. Over the summer the Dukes County commissioners, who appoint the airport commission, cleared the way for the $6.8 million low-interest loan application to renovate the aging treatment facility that services the airport and business park.
Mr. Rosenbaum said he had written a letter to the state expressing his concern and emphasizing the importance of the project, and told the commission he would continue to update them on the situation.
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