Ruth Haines
Taunton Municipal Airport, also known as King Field, is a federally funded public airport located in East Taunton, Massachusetts. The airport is owned by the city and maintained and operated by the Taunton Airport Commission. The commission has faced criticism from city councilors over safety, management, and transparency issues. It is unclear whether Taunton Airport Commissioners are reimbursed for their work, however, they do hold significant power over the airport, including the sole authority to appoint an airport manager and lease land.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Taunton Airport Commissioners | Steve Turner, Steve Rogers, Jonathan Lamaire, Burton Schriber, Zena Shivers, John-Paul Thomas, Robert Adams |
| Taunton Airport Commissioner resignation | Robert Adams resigned in 2023, a year before his term was set to expire |
| Taunton Airport Commissioner appointment | Steven Turner, a 35-year veteran Taunton Police Officer, was appointed to fill Adams' unexpired term |
| Taunton Airport Commission tensions | Tensions and toxicity between Commission members and pilots, described as a "private boy's club" |
| Taunton Airport Commission powers | Sole authority to appoint an airport manager and lease land |
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What You'll Learn
Taunton Airport Commissioner Robert Adams resigned in 2023
Taunton Municipal Airport is a federally funded public airport that serves the aviation needs of southeastern Massachusetts. The Airport Commission has been criticized for its lack of transparency and proper management. In 2022, the City Council called on airport commissioners to address concerns about the day-to-day management of the airport and delays in construction. It is in this context that Taunton Airport Commissioner Robert Adams resigned in 2023.
Adams, who served as Vice Chairman of the Taunton Municipal Airport Commission, made headlines in 2015 for a personal attack on fellow Commissioner William Manganiello. During a meeting, Adams bragged that two business operators had approached him regarding obtaining contracts to provide air charter service at the airport for the First Light Indian Casino. He also revealed that discussions had been initiated and tours of the facilities had taken place.
The details of Robert Adams' resignation in 2023 are unclear, and it is unknown if his departure is related to the previous controversies during his tenure as a commissioner. However, his resignation adds to the ongoing challenges faced by the Taunton Airport Commission.
The commission has faced criticism for its lack of transparency and division among its members. In 2017, Melinda Paine-Dupont, president of the Taunton Pilots Association, called for greater transparency. Similar issues sparked tension between pilots and commissioners in 2016. The commission has also struggled with management issues, with some questioning if the airport should be closed until proper management is in place.
As for reimbursements, while it is reasonable to assume that commissioners may be reimbursed for certain expenses, the specific details are not publicly available. It is important to note that the Taunton Airport Commission has sole authority over appointing an airport manager and leasing land, indicating a level of financial responsibility and discretion.
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Taunton Airport is federally funded
Taunton Municipal Airport is a federally funded airport that serves the aviation needs of southeastern Massachusetts. The airport covers an area of 256 acres at an elevation of 43 feet above mean sea level. It has two runways: 12/30 and 4/22. The former is 3,500 by 75 feet with an asphalt pavement, while the latter is 1,900 by 60 feet with a turf and gravel surface. The airport offers fueling, tie-downs, and hangar space.
The Airport Commission has completed several improvement projects with federal and state funding. These include a $7.3 million administration building and tens of millions of dollars in federally funded upgrades to the property. The airport is one of the fastest-growing in Massachusetts, with a significant increase in the number of based aircraft. The airport's primary runway, Runway 12-30, is paved and has a full-length parallel taxiway. It is serviced by a medium intensity, radio-controlled, edge lighting system.
Prominent businesses and corporations such as Ocean Spray and American Auto Auctions use the airport for transporting goods and personnel. The airport also houses several non-profit organizations, such as the Taunton Airport Association and the Civil Air Patrol. The airport plays a crucial role in the transport of goods from local industries to outbound locations.
The Taunton Airport Commission has faced criticism and controversy in recent years. Complaints about a lack of transparency and tensions with pilots have plagued the commission. In 2022, the City Council called for commissioners to speak publicly about delays in construction and management issues. However, only one of the seven commissioners, Jonathan Lemaire, attended the meeting. Despite the controversies, the commission has sole authority over the airport's management, including appointing an airport manager and leasing land.
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The Airport Commission has sole authority to appoint an airport manager
Taunton Municipal Airport, also known as Taunton Municipal - King Field, is a federally funded public airport that serves the aviation needs of southeastern Massachusetts. The Airport Commission has faced criticism for its management of the airport, with complaints dating back to 2016. Despite these criticisms, the Commission has overseen significant improvements to the airport, including the construction of an administration building and several new private hangars.
The Airport Commission has the "sole authority" to appoint an airport manager, lease land, and make other important decisions regarding the airport's operations. This power was reaffirmed in a 2018 opinion by Buffington, who wrote that the "clear dictate of the Legislature" grants the Commission full charge of the airport, subject only to general appropriation powers.
The Commission has faced challenges in recent years, with tensions between commissioners, pilots, and the public. These tensions led to the resignation of longtime commissioner Robert Adams in 2023, a year before his term was set to expire. Adams cited burnout as the reason for his departure and expressed pride in the airport's growth and improvements during his tenure.
Amid these controversies and management issues, the Commission is in the process of hiring a new airport manager. In the interim, Dick Griffith, the vice-chairman of the Airport Commission, has taken on the role of airport manager. Despite assurances from Griffith that the airport is being run properly, the City Council has called for greater transparency and more frequent updates from the Commission.
The Taunton Airport Commission has the sole authority to appoint an airport manager, and it is currently in the process of doing so. While the Commission has faced criticisms and challenges, it also has a history of overseeing significant improvements to the airport.
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The Commission has faced criticism for a lack of transparency
The Taunton Municipal Airport Commission has faced criticism for a lack of transparency. The Commission has been described as a "private boy's club" by outgoing City Councilor Deborah Carr, who expressed frustration over complaints she had heard during her 14 years on the council. In addition, Melinda Paine-Dupont, president of the Taunton Pilots Association, called for greater transparency from the Commission in a 2017 letter to the editor, and similar issues sparked tension between pilots and commissioners in 2016.
The Commission has also faced criticism for delays in the construction of a new administration building and questions about the day-to-day management of the East Taunton airfield. Only one of the seven commissioners, pilot Jonathan Lemaire, attended a council meeting to address these issues. Lemaire himself expressed feelings of being left in the dark, describing the Commission as "very divided".
The Taunton Airport Commission has also been plagued by years of tensions and toxicity between its members and a segment of pilots at the airport. These hostilities have often been on display during Commission meetings, particularly during public input sessions. The resignation of longtime commissioner Robert Adams in 2023 amid this controversy was seen by some as a step towards positive change. Adams had previously been chair of the Commission and was often at the center of the rift between pilots and commissioners.
In addition to calls for greater transparency, the Commission has faced criticism for its management of the airport. Lemaire, who served as interim manager, acknowledged that the airport "hasn't been managed properly in two decades." The Commission has sole authority to appoint an airport manager and lease land, and its powers are subject only to the general power of appropriation. Despite this, the City Council has questioned the Commission's management, with Carr going so far as to suggest that the airport should be closed until proper management is in place.
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The Commission has been described as a private boy's club
Taunton Municipal Airport is a federally funded public-use airport that serves the aviation needs of southeastern Massachusetts. The Airport Commission has been criticised for its lack of transparency and has been described as a "private boys club" by outgoing City Councilor Deborah Carr. This description by Carr comes after years of tensions and toxicity between members of the Airport Commission and a segment of pilots at Taunton Municipal Airport.
The Taunton Airport Commission has also faced criticism for its day-to-day management of the East Taunton airfield, with complaints about the commission dating back to 2016. In 2017, Melinda Paine-Dupont, president of the Taunton Pilots Association, called for greater transparency from the commission in a letter to the editor. Similar issues sparked tension between pilots and airport commissioners the previous year. In 2022, the City Council called on airport commissioners to speak publicly at a council meeting regarding delays in the construction of a new administration building and questions about the management of the airfield. Of the seven commissioners, only one, Jonathan Lemaire, a senior captain at Delta Airlines, showed up.
Lemaire echoed the sentiments of the pilots, stating that the commission was divided and that he felt left in the dark. He also acknowledged the need for proper management of the airport. The commission has also been criticised for its handling of the appointment of an airport manager, with the interim manager, Dick Griffith, assuring residents that the airport is being run properly.
The Taunton Airport Commission has been marked by resignations, such as that of longtime commissioner Robert Adams, and appointments, such as that of 35-year veteran Taunton Police Officer Steven Turner, amid these controversies and tensions. Adams cited burnout as the reason for his resignation and expressed pride in the growth and improvements made to the airport during his tenure. Turner, on the other hand, was appointed to bring order, greater adherence to procedure, and calmer heads to the commission, fostering positive relationships with those attending the meetings.
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