August 10, 2013
On Thursday evening, Aug 8, 2013, the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport Authority met in it’s regularly scheduled meeting. Terry Niblett opened the meeting with a prayer.Vice Chairman John Clements presided over the meeting due to the recent resignation of Chairman Steve Greer. Clements welcomed newly appointed member Calvin Yawn to the board.
Terry Niblett made a motion to amend the agenda to include discussing Dynamic Paint Solutions, appointing a member to be the contact person to speak with Langstaff and Associates, and also to enter executive session to discuss legal matters. All the items were unanamously approved to be added.
Motion was made and approved for the board to go into executive session.
After more than an hour long executive session, the board reopened the meeting.
Vice Chairman Clements announced the board had discussed the litigation with CB&T Bank. Phil Bearden made a motion to accept in principal, the terms of a settlement with the bank. I was unable to determine who seconded the motion. The board voted 5-2 to accept a settlement. Dennis Giddens, Terry Niblett, Lamar Marshal, Calvin Yawn, and Phil Bearden voting yes, while Bobby Slye and John Clements voted no. Clements was not required to vote due to acting as Chair, but went on record as voting no.
The board’s attorney, Ron Daniels explained some of the terms of the settlement. The Bank has offered to refinance the loan, amortized over a 20 year period. The agreement has to be approved by FAA, GDOT, and a Judge. No specification of which judge was made as far as I could tell.
Minutes of some prior meetings were approved with one minor name change being approved.
The longstanding tree removal issue was next addressed. An offer to the Woodards has been made, but no answer to the offer has been made. Phil Bearden will attempt to contact the Woodards by next meeting about the offer.
Lamar Marshal reported that he is still working on a report for the board about the errors and ommissions insurance.
Bobby Slye announced the findings of the Appointment Validations committee. The committee consisted of Bobby Slye, John Coleman, and Lamar Marshal. This committee was appointed at a special called meeting to investigate and report back, the validity of the removal of Jack Burnham and Eddie Driggers, and subsequent appointments of Dennis Giddens and Phil Bearden. Slye reported the boards Attorney Ron Daniels opinion is that the appointments are valid and proper, while the opinion of Attorney Tom Richardson was that the appointments are not legal and appropriate. Slye further told board members that the two opinions have been submitted to the State’s Attorney General for review. (Keep in mind, the committee was to investigate and report its findings to the board. No vote to take or authorize action on the findings has been made by the board.)
A motion to appoint Terry Niblett to be a spokesman for the HGRAA to Dynamic Paint Solutions was made and approved.
Bobby Slye made a motion to nominate John Clements Chairman, but the motion died for lack of a second. A motion was made and seconded to table for now, an election of Chairman. The motion passed unanimously.
Airport Manager Jeff Fordham next gave nis managers report, followed by an update on the electrical overhaul project given by Stan Price.
Terry Niblett told the board that he had spoken to lawyers at Langstaff & Associates (The Lawyers handling the litigation for the board against CB&T Bank) and they wanted someone from the board to be appointed to be the spokesman to them for the board. They didn’t care who, but want one person to speak with instead of everyone communicating with them. Motion was made and approved for Terry Niblett to be that spokesman.
Meeting Adjourned.
The entire meeting (not executive session) is shown below.
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