Vineyard Officials Ask Wider Public Role in Deliberations on Airport
Master Plan
By JONATHAN BURKE
Island officials, from the town of Aquinnah to the Dukes County
Commission to the Martha's Vineyard Commission, have requested a
broader public process in connection with the airport commission's
consideration of its 20-year master plan.
The long-awaited master plan for the Martha's Vineyard Airport
envisions longer and wider run-ways, more hangars, a bigger main
terminal and room for retail shopping - all that but no land for a
new jail.
Airport Commission Asks FAA to Move on Jail, Land Transfer
By ELIZABETH BOMZE
Conversations around the airport commission table on Wednesday night
left both the dormitory housing and new jail propositions for further
discussion. Two proposals, however, will be sent to the FAA: to place a
jail behind the Hot Tin Roof in the southwest corner of the airport
property, and to make a land swap between the airport and the state
forest.
Airport manager Bill Weibrecht attributes the continued delay to the
question of how best to use airport land.
Island residency proved the trump card for Sean Flynn, who was
selected as manager of Martha's Vineyard Airport on Wednesday
night in a 4-3 vote of the airport commission.
The sword of Damocles apparently will dangle a while longer over the
finances of Dukes County government.
The county commission tentatively had slated a meeting for tomorrow
with the finance advisory board to discuss strategy in what could be a
major legal judgment against the county. But county manager E. Winn
Davis said yesterday the meeting had been canceled.
County and Airport Commissions Find Compromise in the Tussle Over
Airport Manager Salary; Lawsuit Remains Pending
By James Kinsella Gazette Senior Writer
Caught in a costly legal battle over who controls the Martha's
Vineyard Airport, the airport commission and the Dukes County commission
have agreed on a compromise to help avoid such disputes in the future.
William J. Weibrecht, the manager of the Martha's Vineyard Airport for the last five years, stunned members of the Dukes County commission and airport commission this week when he announced his intention to quit the job, effective May 20.
Concern over actions by the Martha's Vineyard Airport
commission has spurred a former airport commissioner to call for an
investigation by the Massachusetts attorney general.
Disregarding a prior agreement on airport governance, the
Martha's Vineyard Airport commission last night agreed to pay its
new airport manager outside the Dukes County employee pay scale.
