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Council approves airport27s recommended EAS selection process amid debate over confidentiality
Summary
Airport staff proposed using a confidential executive-session step to form a unified EAS recommendation to USDOT; some councilors opposed executive-session deliberations and favored fully public debate; council authorized the procedure after a close vote.
The Presque Isle City Council narrowly approved a procedure on Aug. 6 that allows city staff and advisory members to use an executive-session deliberation as part of the 2026 Essential Air Service (EAS) recommendation process to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Airport Director Scott Wardwell explained the proposed approach, drawn from practices at a peer airport, saying in part that "the goal of the process really needs to be to provide USDOT with a recommendation that benefits the largest number of air travelers to and from Aroostook County and New Brunswick." He argued that an executive-session discussion among councilors, the airport advisory board and the airport27s air-service consultant would let participants candidly evaluate competing bids without publicly criticizing potential providers, which could hamper future negotiations.
Several councilors voiced reservations. One said she was comfortable debating options publicly and opposed confidential deliberations, observing that council members should be able to disagree without speaking negatively about bidders in public. Another councilor said the council should avoid public criticisms that might damage professional relationships with airlines.
After discussion the council authorized the city manager and airport director to follow the recommended procedure; the record shows a close tally and later references indicate the final roll-call was effectively a three-to-two approval with at least one abstention or absent member during parts of the debate.
The airport director and staff will proceed with the process and bring a formal recommendation forward in accordance with USDOT timelines for EAS selection.
