Re: Petawawa Declines Request for Airport Funding, January 8, 2018, myFM 104.9
On January 8, 2018, myFM 104.9 reported on a meeting of the Town of Petawawa council that mentioned the Pembroke & Area Airport. A written report appeared on the myFM website, a copy of which is included in this Media Statement. There were several statements made in the course of that report that deserve to be addressed on behalf of the Airport. As Chair of the Pembroke & Area Airport Commission, I am making that address.
myFM reported that the Town of Petawawa council has stated that no agendas or minutes for Airport Commission meetings are being provided. This is untrue.
The Airport Commission is made up of appointed individuals from Whitewater Region, Laurentian Valley, Pembroke, Petawawa, Deep River and Laurentian Hills and Garrison Petawawa. All agendas and minutes are sent by email to all Commission members at the same time. All Commission members were asked if they were receiving the agendas and minutes and all said they were with the exception of Petawawa. When asked to provide dates when agendas and minutes were not sent, Petawawa’s representatives were not able to do so.
This was conveyed before Christmas to the Town of Petawawa under my signature. No response was received.
In addition, the minutes of 2017 Airport Commission meetings have been included in Petawawa’s own council packages throughout the year, which are available to all members of their council.
Councillors James Carmody and Theresa Sabourin are the appointees for Petawawa on the Airport Commission. They commented to myFM that “the commission seems to fly by the seat of their pants” and further that “there are concerns about accountability.” This is untrue.
Commission meetings are open to the public and members of the public do attend these meetings. The meetings follow an approved agenda, and all decisions are put to a majority vote and moved by motion if required. Members of the Commission always have a chance to speak on issues and bring items forward. The Commission is accountable to their municipal owners, and provides minutes to all Chief Administrative Officers for its owner municipalities on a regular basis.
Further, the Airport undergoes a financial audit every year by our accounting firm, Dean Sinclair. Copies of the financial report are also provided to Commission members, and each owner municipality. There has never been any allegation of accountability issues by the accounting firm, and in fact, they often praise the airport for their smart use of limited financial resources.
Finally, the media report mentions that the Town of Petawawa is not on board with the Project Runway fundraiser. While it is disappointing that the host municipality of the Airport is choosing not to support Project Runway, they are certainly not required to do so. The only financial requirement of all municipal owners is their annual levy – $1.41 per capita. (The airport costs each ratepayer $1.41 annually.) If a municipal owner chooses not to contribute more than that, they are not required to do so as per the Airport’s bylaws. As Project Runway is a fundraiser, it was an option for municipal owners to contribute. Thus far, Deep River, Pembroke, Laurentian Valley and Whitewater Region have chosen to be supportive.
It was not my preference to single out one municipality’s conduct at meetings. I prefer to handle issues the way we had done so until recently – by discussion and agreeing around the Commission table. However when the Town of Petawawa chose to make their allegations public, I felt that, out of respect for the people at the Commission table and our staff, they should be addressed.
On behalf of my fellow Commission members who give their time to important decision-making at this airport, the staff who operate this facility in a smart and accountable manner, our councils and our supporters, let me assure you that you can most definitely be proud of this facility.
The Pembroke & Area Airport is one of the most successfully-run, municipally-owned enterprises in Renfrew County. It is also a critical component to our quality of life, in supporting more than 100 local businesses, and in supporting Garrison Petawawa, with whom we have an exceptional relationship. Our staff is constantly applauded on their service levels – an incredible feat for a staff of 2.5 individuals. This region is proud, deeply so, to have this Airport available, and as we speak to community groups about this facility, others are getting on board to help ensure this Airport continues to be a valuable asset to all of Renfrew County.
As Chair of the Pembroke & Area Airport Commission, I am confident in saying that I, along with our other Commission members, will continue to work with the Town of Petawawa to help them also be proud of this facility and its valuable role, not only in their community, but for all of Renfrew County.
Allan Wren, Chair
Pembroke & Area Airport Commission
