Commission agrees to seek $3 million for fuel‑storage expansion and approves $50,000 for initial design work
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Summary
The commission voted unanimously to request a $3 million capital appropriation (to be added to the 2027 capital plan and funded from the fuel revolver) to expand jet fuel storage and authorized up to $50,000 from professional fees to advance design and engineering work.
Commissioner Levitt presented the jet fuel committee's recommendation to the commission on March 24, urging the airport to use a short window in the capital‑budget process to add $3,000,000 to the 2027 capital appropriation (fund source: the fuel revolver) to expand fuel storage capacity. The subcommittee recommended budgeting $3,000,000 to allow the airport to design and permit an expanded fuel farm (discussed as up to four 12,000‑gallon tanks) and proposed spending up to $50,000 now from the professional fees budget to advance engineering and pricing.
Finance staff member Basheva clarified that funds appropriated to a capital article become encumbered in that article and would not automatically revert to the fuel revolver if not used; a town‑meeting action would be needed to reallocate those funds. Commissioners asked about permitting and procurement approaches including P3 options discussed with Titan Fuel; Manager Smith and staff noted that MEPA and NEPA reviews are required and that permitting is unlikely to complete before 2027, but the subcommittee argued that securing the capital article now would put the airport in position to proceed if permitting can be advanced.
Commissioner Levitt moved (seconded by Commissioner Marks) to request adding $3,000,000 to the airport's 2027 capital appropriation, with the source being the fuel revolver, and to use up to $50,000 from the existing professional services budget to advance design. The motion passed unanimously. The commission asked the subcommittee and staff to present the proposal to CAPCOM and FINCOM and to prepare the town‑meeting article for consideration.
