May 31: Rye Brook Airport Advisory Council Meeting

The Rye Brook AAC Meeting Video is here. Consider skipping over the first 45 minutes, and go right to the Q&A.

http://ryebrook.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=2bc0c934-4d18-11e7-b9a7-00219ba2f017

Summary of the Rye Brook Airport Advisory Council meeting.

This meeting, held at the Rye Brook Village Hall about the airport was standing room only, with overflow outside of the room. The meeting was arranged by the Rye Brook Airport Advisory Council in conjunction with David Gelfarb, County Legislator Dist.-6-Republican. It featured Frasca, the consultant hired by the county to issue the Request for Proposals (RFP) from private companies.

The Frasca representative noted that as of May 31st, there are 5 private companies who are making bids to take over the airport. The deadline for all of the bids is July 14th. The consultant initially insisted that the private company will be making most of their money from concession stand sales and airport parking fees, and not from increased airline traffic, commercial or general aviation, and that there wouldn’t be incentives to increase air traffic there. Later he conceded that these are private companies whose goals are to focus on profits, so they could turn around and sell it to the NY Port Authority or do other things he can’t predict, in order to make money. During the Q&A, the Mayor of Rye Brook asked for a copy of the lease that was given to the private companies, but his request was denied.

Upon questioning, David Gelfarb initially stated that he would wait until the private companies’ bids come in, to see if there was a good enough financial incentive in the interests of the county to privatize the airport. He stated that he would not decide to oppose or support a deal without looking at them first. After hearing from a large number of upset residents asking him to oppose it outright, and now, he stated on record that he would oppose the deals. However, he stated that it was up to his constituents to go out and convince and lobby the other legislators to oppose the airport privatization, and he refused to try to convince or discuss the matter with other legislators.

The Rye Brook Airport Advisory Council (RBAAC) consists of ten members appointed by the Board of Trustees for three-year terms. Members discuss issues of interest regarding community impacts from the Westchester County Airport and provides related advisory reports and recommendations to the Rye Brook Village Board. Upcoming meetings here.

 

 

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