Eastport is one step closer to the possibility of three years of subsidized air service to Portland with an established airline. The Eastport Airport Advisory Committee, with the blessings of the city council at its December 14 meeting, will proceed with an application for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Small Community Air Service Development Plan grant. The council also agreed to the committee request to contract with a firm that would work to create an agreement with Southern Airways. Airport committee members Ron DeFilippo and Colleen Dana-Cummings presented the council with the proposal, titled "An Opportunity For All of Eastport."
      "We have a unique opportunity to connect Eastport to Maine's intrastate transportation system with direct nonstop flights into Portland's International Airport," explained DeFilippo. The federal Department of Transportation will announce invitations in January to apply for grants for the Small Community Air Service Development Plan. If Eastport is successful with its application, the grant would underwrite the cost of air service for three years. After that it would be up to the city and airline companies to decide whether to continue with the service without the fares being underwritten. DeFilippo pointed to the company Southern Airways Express as the candidate for service. Airport Manager Steve Trieber added that the airport is ready for such use.
      Along with a boost to tourism and local businesses, DeFilippo noted that being able to access medical care in Portland would be a big plus, especially given the reduction in cancer care services in the Bangor area. However, Councillor Ross Lawrence took offense at this way of promoting the air service plan to the council, telling DeFilippo not to use the "cancer card" to gain council support. While the $1.1 million grant would not require a city match, DeFilippo did need council support for a $20,000 contract with the planning and engineering firm McFarland-Johnson, which would work with Southern Airways to iron out an agreement. DeFilippo explained that the fee and contract were dependent on the firm "making a deal" with the airline company.
      The council provided unanimous support to proceed with the grant application and to retain McFarland-Johnson, subject to an agreement with Southern Airways. The question of where the $20,000 would come from was left on the table. Dana-Cummings had noted that there was about $35,000 in the airport fuel fund account. However, airport committee Chair Debra Nelson, replying to Councillor David Oja's query as to why the fuel funds couldn't be used, said that the fuel funds go towards purchasing the quantity of fuel. "We were wondering about the $130,000 COVID relief funds," she added, noting that the council had just allocated $7,500 of the funds to the Eastport Fiber Connectivity Committee. "Maybe we could use $20,000 out of that fund." The council did not move forward with the funding idea.
      Two years ago the city had hoped to partner with Cape Air to provide an air service from Eastport to Boston, through Bar Harbor. DeFilippo explains that the plan did not come to fruition because of a conflict with grant requirements. There is the Small Community Air Service Development Plan (SCASDP) grant and the Essential Air Service (EAS) grant. One is for airports and one is for airlines. The two grant opportunities are not compatible with a rule in place that if an airport receives SCASDP funding they cannot establish air service with an airline receiving EAS funding. The city applied for SCASDP funding. Cape Air received an EAS grant. "This was a huge win for Cape Air, and we are very happy for them and still maintain a very friendly relationship," DeFilippo says.
      Going back to the drawing board, the airport committee found Southern Airways. DeFilippo says that Southern Airways is "a commuter airline flying nine passenger planes like Cape Air. Southern Air flies routes in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and New York State." The airline "would like to expand to Maine, and this plan would offer an entry point and opportunity for them. Southern Air would fly into Portland and continue on to Eastport on a seasonal basis." He says that Southern Air is not receiving EAS grant funding for the new proposed Maine route, so there is no conflict for Eastport to apply for the SCASDP grant, which would subsidize the flights and underwrite the cost. He notes that there would be no taxpayer liability.

Airport manager stipend stalls
      With COVID funds in the air, the airport committee then asked the council for approval to use $21,000 in COVID relief funds designated by the federal government for airport use only and to be used only for airport personnel and personal protection gear. Nelson outlined what the committee had come up with a recommendation for a three-year stipend of $6,000 per year for the airport manager, a three-year stipend of $1,000 per year for an airport volunteer "if he'll take it," and the remaining $1,000 for personal protection equipment.
      The council had in their informational packets a review of the history of the city's promise to pay the airport manager a stipend, beginning back when City Manager George "Bud" Finch was in office. Trieber and Nelson, he wrote, came to him to see if they could purchase and install a fuel farm at the airport and operate it themselves, but after discussions with the city council and the airport committee the city pursued FAA funds to purchase, install and operate the fuel farm.
      Given the added complexity and work load of the fuel farm and its operation to the airport committee and the city, "it was considered necessary to have one [airport committee] member appointed as the airport manager," wrote Finch. "Support for the concept was based on the need for improved airport management, as the fuel farm increased airport opportunities for growth." The position would be volunteer with a stipend funded from sale of fuel profits. The stipend has never been paid over the 12 years Trieber has served as airport manager. Despite the history and forgotten agreement by the city, the council did not second Councillor Jeanne Peacock's motion to use the airport's COVID relief funds as recommended by the airport committee. Councillors Oja and Floyd "Bub" Andrews said they needed more time to consider the issue.
      Audience members at the council meeting expressed their incredulity with the council's decision. Tessa Chaffey Ftorek, Ross Furman, Mark Wigley, Sarah Gormady and more spoke in favor of the expenditure supporting the airport manager's position.
      On Tuesday, December 20, the council scheduled a special council meeting for Wednesday, December 28, at 5 p.m. at city hall to discuss the airport manager's stipend.