With an absentee manager, Katama Airfield has been subject of simmering tension this summer.
Timothy Johnson

Town, Manager Part Ways at Katama Airfield

<p>Following a summer of tension at the airfield, the Edgartown selectmen and members of the airport commission agreed to open a new chapter.</p>

Following a summer of tension over management at the Katama Airfield, Edgartown selectmen and members of the airport commission agreed this week to open a new chapter.

Airfield manager George Smith terminated his contract with the town of Edgartown on Sept. 15, commission chairman Hal Findlay told the selectmen Monday.

Mr. Smith, who managed the airport through his company Gentle Wings Aviation, had been the subject of simmering tension over his repeated absence from the airfield during the height of the summer season.

Town officials were concerned about liability issues with no manager present at the grass airstrip.

With the departure of the manager, Mr. Findlay said: “That provides the opportunity for the town to rethink or reevaluate the operation of the airfield.”

Airport commissioners are now recommending separating the operation of the airfield from a lease for the restaurant, the Right Fork Diner. “The restaurant is really a thriving separate business and the airfield is independent,” Mr. Findlay said. “Our commission would like to begin working toward a new operating framework”

Selectmen directed the town conservation commission, which has jurisdiction over the airfield, to begin the process of hiring an airport manager who would be a seasonal town employee. The first step is to meet with the town personnel committee to draft a job description, determine licensing requirements and propose a salary. The addition of a new employee also would require town meeting approval.

Separating the restaurant from the responsibility of the airport manager will also require a number of steps.

“If it comes to the town, it has to go out to bid and there will have to be an RFP (request for proposals) process,” said town administrator Pam Dolby.

In other business Monday, selectmen reversed a decision from last week, and decided to send a letter to Eversource addressing the planned spraying of herbicides under power lines in the town.

Conservation agent Jane Varkonda said further research revealed that the contractors may use any of three herbicides.

The first is known by the brand name Roundup, also known as glyphosate. Selectmen last week determined that herbicide was not of sufficient concern for them to object.

The other two herbicides are Escort, also known as met sulphuron methyl, and Arsenal, also known as imazapyr.

“They don’t tell you which herbicides they’re going to use on a particular right of way,” said Ms. Varkonda. “There is not a lot of up to date information on two of these herbicides, they’re fairly new.”

Board chairman Arthur Smadbeck said he wanted to avoid court action if the town decides to oppose herbicide spraying.

“It seemed like going at it from a legal side, we weren’t winning that battle,” said Mr. Smadbeck. “What I want to do is to send Eversource a letter. I want to ask them to meet with us. If this is a once every three to five-year thing, is this something we could do mechanically? We work very closely with Eversource on many, many, many issues. We really want them to be good neighbors, and we want to be good neighbors. It’s a bit of a two-way street. Rather than do it in court, let’s do it as neighbors.”

In other action, selectman voted to call a special town meeting on Nov. 14 to consider new regulations governing recreational marijuana, which was legalized by Massachusetts voters in a referendum question last fall.

One article will ask voters to adopt an amendment to zoning bylaws declaring a moratorium on locating any recreational marijuana related business, including retail sale or cultivation, in Edgartown. The moratorium under the proposed bylaw would last until Dec. 31, 2018, to give the planning board time to craft a bylaw regulating recreational marijuana.

Another article would authorize police to impose a fine of $100 on anyone smoking marijuana on property owned or controlled by the town, including public streets, beaches and parks.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 09/27/2017 - 11:12

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deshandra brown Edg

So now that the dust has settled, the restaurant will go out to the highest bidder. Its called the rule of unintended consequences.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/29/2017 - 06:46

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John Smith Edgartown

The Chairman's words are consistent with that of delusional thinking. Number One, Eversource are not good neighbors and never will be. Do I need to list their repeated trips here to spray this poison, despite outraged calls to stop? Why are you wasting taxpayers money on paper and ink? Join Tisbury in their lawsuit and stop being such a coward.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/29/2017 - 10:33

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Ben Price Katama

Steve & Dorothy Gentle must be spinning in their graves. Welcome to McKatama!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/29/2017 - 12:28

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Richard Knox, Pilot Katama

I remember Steve Gentle Sr. putting conveyances on the Katama Airpark Property when he sold it to the Conservancy and town. I am in hopes the Gentle, Creato and West families start the process in taking back this gift that has not been appreciated or managed.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/22/2018 - 11:16

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Bill Katama

The airport is closed with a big X on the runway. So why is the sightseeing plane allowed to operate?

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