Jack Williams, president of the Big Bear Pilots Association, speaks on behalf of the associaiton at the Aug. 12 Big Bear Airport board meeting.
When the Aug. 12 Big Bear Airport board of directors meeting began, Jack Williams stood up and asked for the Big Bear Airport Pilots Association’s due.
Williams is the president of the association and his first question during public forum was why the airport wasn’t included as a supporter for the Fourth of July fireworks show in radio spots. Williams also wanted a regular place on the airport agenda to provide updates from the association.
Those items were under public forum, but the Big Bear Pilots Association was listed under a business item on the agenda as well. Director Steve Castillo shared that the board’s outreach committee met recently and heard a presentation regarding the association and what it gives back to the district and the community. “They are a brother to the airport,” Castillo said. “Not just a cousin.”
Castillo suggested to his fellow board members that the airport district partner with the Big Bear Pilots Association to help financially with the various causes and events the association supports. Those include the Young Eagles program, Halloween in the Village, an aid station for Tour de Big Bear, the Soroptimist Easter Egg Hunt, the Youth Aviation Adventure and more.
The Pilots Association is a 501(c)3 and has operated on previous donations and the generosity of its members, Williams explained. He said the organization isn’t looking for donations per se, but rather an allowance that the group could tap into when needed to support events and causes associated with the airport.
Director Steve Baker said he recognized the efforts of the association, calling the group a “member of the family.” Baker said he didn’t see any problem with the Pilots Association asking for a donation, but preferred a set amount.
Possibly an annual donation amount, suggested director Joseph Kelly.
Gary Steube, a board member and a member of the Pilots Association, said he couldn’t approve an annual donation because he would directly benefit from the donation as a Pilots Association member. For example, Steube said, a hangar party is planned following the air fair in his hangar. The association pays for refreshments, and that isn’t an appropriate use of public funds, Steube said.
Steube said he favors reimbursing the Pilots Association for things that benefit the airport and community, and that receipts need to be on file.
Board president Julie Smith said a donation to public outreach would be cleaner, but suggested the matter might be a question for the district’s legal counsel to research due to any liability the airport district might incur.
Williams said he is a strong believer in accountability and that’s why he thought the allowance might be a better way to go, but if it’s less work for the district to give an annual check, that is fine. He agreed that legal advice is needed.
Dustin Leno, airport general manager, will review the matter with the airport district’s attorney and bring it back to the board for consideration at a future meeting.
Source: http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net
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