BIDDEFORD — In September 2007, the city’s airport commission was disbanded. On Tuesday, the city council voted to reinstate the commission and to confirm seven members appointed by Mayor Alan Casavant.

Those appointed to the newly formed commission are: Sheila Neault, Frederick Oliver, Randy Seaver, Lyle Elkins, Tom Bryand, Gerard Bernier and Rick Laverriere.

The commission was dismantled during the administration of former Mayor Wallace Nutting, amidst controversy within the committee and regarding the Biddeford Municipal Airport. Since then, little work has been done at the airport despite repeated requests by former Airport Manager Tom Bryand, who said work is needed to bring the airport up to current Federal Aviation Administration safety standards.

On Jan. 21, the council approved hiring Frank McCutcheon Jr. as the new airport manager to replace Bryand. McCutcheon currently works at the city-run airport.

Also on Tuesday, the council approved amendments to the city’s aviation commission, which included changing “development and expansion” to “maintenance” of the existing facilities and airport services, and adding, “to ensure that it meets existing airport standards and laws.” Another amendment was to add that no more than three commission members have valid and current pilot’s licenses.

The re-establishment of the airport commission and approval of other actions affecting the airport sends a signal that the current council may be more amenable to conducting maintenance work at the airport than previous councils over the past several years.

At its last meeting in January, the council approved entering into an airport planning and engineering service contract with Gale Associates, Inc. of Bedford, N.H. Such a contract is an FAA requirement for the city to be eligible for airport grants if it decides to complete work at the airport. It’s possible some work may take place this year.

According to the Maine Department of Transportation three-year Work Plan, from 2014-16, the state plans to fund four projects at the Biddeford Municipal Airport. Three of those projects are for the current year and funding is “locked in,” according to the work plan narrative. They include: installing a security access gate for $154,000, installing fencing for $288,400 and acquiring an easement for obstruction removal for $154,500.

A fourth project, removing obstructions on the Runway 6 end of the airport for $309,000, is scheduled for 2015-16. It’s uncertain at this time whether funding will be available for that project.

Councilor Bradley Cote said he was concerned that he learned about these projects only because he read about them in the newspaper, and he was also concerned because the council hadn’t voted to proceed with any of the listed projects.

Even though the projects are listed in the DOT’s work plan, said Council President John McCurry, they will not take place without the approval of the council.

“Anything with the airport has to come to the council,” he said.

City Manager John Bubier said all the projects have been discussed by previous councils, but were not given the green light. He said he is trying to get in touch with the DOT regarding these projects.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.