Tweed - Part Three

First, I want to apologize for the length of this article,but there is a ton of info the public needs to be made aware of.  Secondly, I am not anti Tweed.  I just hate lying politicians and groups Tweed.  Again, my apology.

In recent articles I wrote about Tweed and what it wants to do.  The first exposed how EH was scammed by Tweed and how they planned all along to extend the main runway.  The second asked the simple question why the need in the first place?

I recently found some interesting details on this whole matter.  In her first State of the City address, NH Mayor Harp told of her plans for future transportation needs and she mentioned Tweed.  She said and I paraphrase; "Tweed needs to offer flights to more locations.  We must improve the ability people have to get here and go elsewhere. I will do whatever it takes to work with the neighbors around Tweed, and have planes fly to FLA, Washington and Chicago.  Not next century but in two years".  So, to me she is saying the heck with EH, the heck with the MOA and State Statute, for she didn't sign it.

I found an un-dated Tweed report on line which details Tweed's FY 14-15 plans and issues.  (www.cityofnewhaven.com/mayor/pdfs/without%20contacts/7.3%20Tweed.pdf)  Interesting reading.  Section D details the paving of the southern RSA and extending the runway.  The report also states the General Assembly needs to repeal part of that new statute limiting the length of the runway.  This request will be pushed during this current session.  According to their own report they will need an estimated $400,00 dollars for an environmental study and another $5.8 million for the new RSA and runway.  That's $6.2 million dollars of our tax money.  Tweed will appeal to the FAA for these funds as a Congressional earmark sometime this year or in FY 2015-16.

The best part of the Tweed report is found in the last section, "System Deficiencies and Attention Required".  In part it tells that for the past three years it (Tweed) has had a "substantial operating deficit".  It is not self-sustaining and will not be for any foreseeable future.  Without government support it can only manage public safety and security, cannot pay its bill and will continue to operate at a deficit.   The report further reads, again paraphrasing, "The 2009 NH/EH agreement, endorsed by State legislators from the region, called for $2 million dollars per year in State support that has failed to be forthcoming.  Why would this money be given to Tweed if they violated the MOA? 

Talk of runway expansion is not new.  This was mentioned in Tweed Authorities own minutes of meetings held on March 20 and Nov 20, 2013, reflecting the need to pave over the southern RSA.  The real interesting lite to come out of the report details the financial crisis Tweed is in and even mentions having to turn the airport back over to NH if money is not forthcoming.  Lastly, EH has five voting members on the airport authority commission, there to speak for us as well as the airport.  When did they learn of this plan to vacate the MOA and change the state statute and how did they vote.

So many questions with so little answers.