Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (KAVP) will display banner supporting depot

PITTSTON TWP. —A banner supporting the Tobyhanna Army Depot in its campaign to withstand another governmental review will hang in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport free of charge.

The issue was discussed at Thursday’s meeting of the airport board, and Barry Centini, director, said he will open immediate negotiations with Tobyhanna on getting the banner up and waving as soon as possible. Centini said the banner will hang throughout the review process, known as BRAC — Base Retention and Closure — rumored to be coming by 2017.

The issue arose at Monday’s meeting of the revitalized Blue Ribbon Task Force held at the depot. Airport board members Jim Wansacz and Robert Lawton attended the meeting and were surprised to learn that Tobyhanna inquired about hanging a banner at the airport and told it would cost at least $50,000.

Frank Zardecki, deputy commander at the depot, said past attempts to get a sign at the airport were unsuccessful. Zardecki said the airport wanted to charge the depot “at least $50,000” to hang the banner.

Zardecki also told about 63 task force members that he has seen welcoming signs in other airports in cities with large military facilities. “Tobyhanna is the largest employer in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Zardecki said. “And the depot is critical to the economy of the region.”

But Lackawanna County Commissioner Wansacz and Luzerne County Manager Lawton assured him the sign issue would be brought up at their next meeting, and it was.

At Monday’s task force meeting, Wansacz said he was unaware of the request to hang a banner and he told the airport board Thursday he made several inquiries and learned no board member or employee was aware of the request.

“I believe the discussions were with a third party,” Wansacz said. “Nobody I talked to could figure out where this $50,000 request came from, or who talked to the Tobyhanna people. I think this is just a matter of a communication problem.”

Centini agreed, saying the airport has always valued Tobyhanna as a customer and as the region’s top employer.

“We’ve always supported Tobyhanna,” he said. “We will meet with Tobyhanna and we will keep the banner up throughout the BRAC process.”

The depot is the largest industrial employer in Northeastern Pennsylvania with 3,550 employees; about a quarter of the staff live in Luzerne County. The depot has generated about 12,172 related jobs in the region with an estimated economic impact of $2.8 billion.

Zardecki said Tobyhanna personnel over the last three years alone have provided the airport with $6.6 million in revenue.

Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams suggested the airport establish a clear policy on the hanging of banners and signs in support of area businesses and events.

Source:    http://timesleader.com