Airport board asks county to include members in interviews, elects new chair and vice chair

Board members debated county council’s reinstated interview process for appointments and whether airport board members should participate in candidate interviews. The chair said the board had previously shifted members among seat categories to meet pilot/proximity qualifications and asked the council to let the airport board help frame interview questions to ensure aviation-relevant qualifications are considered.

The chair moved that the board draft a letter to Beaufort County Council asking for that inclusion and recommending that Brian be appointed to fill the seat vacated by Howard Ackerman. After discussion and a second, the motion passed unanimously; the chair signed to initiate the letter and indicated he would deliver it in person.

On officer elections, board members nominated Rich for chair and Tom for vice chair. Both nominations passed by voice vote. The chair noted the normal practice of alternating leadership roles geographically but said timing for the transfer of day-to-day presiding duties will follow the usual schedule.

Why it matters: Appointment processes determine who sits on the airport board and can affect technical oversight of general aviation matters. Board members emphasized pilot and proximity qualifications as factors that are distinct from the county’s general appointment question set.

The meeting adjourned after a brief public-comment period and committee reports.