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Geoffrey Barker alleges irregularities in Plattsburgh airport FBO bid; treasurer says fiscal-stress score tied to airport cash flow
Summary
At the Sept. 26 Clinton County Legislature meeting, public commenter Geoffrey Barker alleged the Plattsburgh International Airport FBO selection used "wrongfully-obtained data" that disadvantaged Volo Aviation and asked the county to rescind and reconsolidate FBO contracts; County Treasurer Kimberly Davis said the state's fiscal-stress designation (score 45) reflected short-term cash-flow timing for Upstate Airport Initiative projects and that reserves remain healthy.
Geoffrey Barker told the Clinton County Legislature on Sept. 26 that the recent selection of a new Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Plattsburgh International Airport was tainted by what he described as "wrongfully-obtained data," a claim he said disadvantaged Volo Aviation and gave an unfair edge to the startup chosen by the county. Barker urged legislators to rescind the two existing FBO contracts and consolidate them back to Volo Aviation.
Barker also warned that any breach of Essential Air Service rules could endanger the airport's federal support. "If any of the rules are broken, then the $3.3 million Essential Air Subsidy will be lost," he said, citing the airport's contractual obligation that SkyWest fly 12 flights per week using aircraft of no more than 50 seats. He raised separate concerns about terminal concessions, saying Tailwinds Restaurant should not apply an "arbitrary utility rate" or accept Canadian currency at par and suggested keeping the existing small concession stand.
Kimberly Davis, Clinton County's treasurer, said the county's recent designation by the New York State Comptroller as "susceptible to fiscal stress" (a score of 45) was expected and driven by short-term cash-flow timing for the Upstate Airport Initiative projects. "This was anticipated due to cash flow for the Governor's Upstate Airport Initiative Projects," Davis told legislators, explaining that the county fronts funding for projects and is later reimbursed and that the Comptroller's review focuses on the General Fund and not on reserves. "This score does not affect the county finances or the budget. Reserves are healthy," she said, and added that 2018 sales-tax revenues are likely to add "an additional $1 million or more" by year end.
Legislators also heard that airport grant projects are largely on schedule. Legislator Robert Hall, reporting for the Plattsburgh International Airport Committee, said most Upstate Airport Initiative projects are expected to be complete by the end of September or shortly into October, and that the new terminal concourse restaurant "looks terrific" and was scheduled to begin operations Oct. 5.
The public comment and finance explanations were recorded as remarks to the full Legislature; no formal action on the FBO selection or the public commenter's requests was recorded in the meeting minutes. The Legislature proceeded to committee reports and to consideration of resolutions later in the session.
