Nantucket Airport Commission approves package of leases and a $788,448 NEPA task order
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Summary
The commission unanimously approved a package of leases and contracts, including a $788,448 McFarland Johnson task order for NEPA/MEPA work tied to an upcoming FAA grant deadline, after commissioners pressed staff on timing and minor contract language fixes.
The Nantucket Memorial Airport Commission voted unanimously April 14 to approve a package of leases and contracts that staff said are necessary to move several capital projects forward and to meet an impending FAA grant deadline.
Airport manager Warren Smith reviewed the packet, which included a 10-year TSA lease (3% annual increases), seasonal license agreements and operating contracts, a DJ Products aircraft tug ($14,736.92), an amendment to Slate Aviation’s lease to add three parking spaces ($4,500), a McFarland Johnson task order for NEPA/MEPA environmental work ($788,448) described as grant-eligible, and a McFarland Johnson amendment for MassDOT compliance services ($133,004.95). Smith told the commission the NEPA/MEPA task order has a May 1 grant submission deadline from FAA New England ("all grants are due on May 1," he said).
Commissioners aired a series of questions about the NEPA task order’s timing and vendor continuity. Commissioner Levitt asked whether awarding a task order to McFarland Johnson could create two concurrent consultants if a new master professional-services contract is selected after the current contract expires. Consultant Brian Lasdun replied that task orders would “survive the expiration of the master agreement” but could not be amended if McFarland Johnson were not reselected, meaning two consultants could be on unfinished work concurrently (Lasdun: "our task orders would survive the expiration of the master agreement, but we would not be able to amend anything").
Commissioners also requested small technical corrections—examples included fixing a capitalization error in the DJ Products contract and revising the Slate Aviation parking-rate language so future annual rate changes would apply if the commission later adjusts airport rates. Smith said staff would make those corrections.
Commissioner Buscaren moved to approve “all of the pending contracts and leases, as outlined by Mister Smith,” a motion seconded by Commissioner Marks. The commission approved the motion by unanimous roll call.
What happens next: staff will finalize ministerial edits identified during the meeting and proceed with contract execution. The NEPA task order will be processed to meet the May 1 grant deadline; staff told commissioners they had asked FAA New England whether a deadline extension was possible and would convene a special meeting on April 28 if an extension were granted.
