Sullivan County holds public hearing on proposed hangar lease at county airport

The Sullivan County Legislature opened a public hearing April 24 on a proposed lease of Hangar 6, Bay 8 at the Sullivan County International Airport to Michael Dane and heard public comment before the hearing was closed by motion.

The hearing notice, introduced to the legislature March 20, 2025, said the public hearing would be held April 24, 2025, at 10:15 a.m. at the County Government Center in Monticello. The proposed lessee and property are described in the notice as Michael Dane, Hangar 6, Bay 8.

The hearing attracted brief public comment focused on transparency and availability of the lease document. "We should have a lease signed by the party that is gonna be leasing the part because we're the final signee on it," said Ken Walter, a member of the public, adding that the public and legislators should be able to review what the county and the lessee are agreeing to. Walter also urged that presentations by applicants be made available before public comment so the public can ask informed questions.

"I am Chris Lesser, and could I ask the chair lady for a little overview, a short overview of this hangar?" said Chris Lesser during public comment.

The county's Commissioner of Public Works (name not specified) described the facility. "This is a single plane T-hangar. We have multiple, we have 20-some T-hangars out there," the commissioner said, and confirmed that the county's hangar leases are standard single-bay agreements for small aircraft such as a Cessna. The commissioner said a public hearing is required under New York's General Municipal Law when the county leases a hangar bay.

Commenters and one legislator suggested attaching the lease document to public hearing materials so residents and lawmakers can review the terms in advance; the commissioner replied that the leases are standard and contain no proprietary provisions. A county official referenced by first name only, Josh (County Manager), was deferred to but did not make remarks on the record in the transcript excerpt.

After public comment, a legislator moved to close the public hearing and a second was recorded. The transcript records the motion and second but does not record a roll-call vote or tally in the excerpt provided.

The hearing did not include a recorded decision on the lease itself in the transcript excerpt: no vote to approve or deny the lease is shown, and staff did not report a signed agreement on the record. The notice in the hearing materials indicates the legislature will be the final signatory if the lease proceeds.

The discussion on April 24 was limited in scope: it focused on procedural questions (availability of the lease and timing of applicant presentations) and a short description of the hangar type and fleet size at the Sullivan County International Airport. No budgetary details, rent amounts, lease term lengths, insurance requirements, or other contractual terms were provided in the public record excerpt.

Looking ahead, the transcript indicates that the legislature will continue to handle the lease process; commenters asked that the lease and any assignment documents be provided to the legislature and made available to the public before final action.

Votes at a glance: Motion to close the public hearing — motion made and seconded; vote tally not recorded in the transcript.