I have read a lot of court orders in my time, but I have to admit, this recent one is a classic. It isn’t every day you see a judge officially state that we have a “cute” Town Manager. While Judge Pasquale was using the term to describe the Manager’s attempt to cut off municipal services to the airport, those of us familiar with the landscape might find ourselves in rare agreement with the court. Have you seen some of our politicians and administrators lately? By those standards, our Manager is indeed “cute,” though likely not in the way the Judge intended.
However, once you get past the courtroom humor, the airport drama unfolding over the last week reveals a much deeper reality. For over a month, I have been comparing the Plymouth Airport Commission to Vatican City—a sovereign entity acting as a state within a state. But the Vatican, at least, has to answer to tradition. What we have on South Meadow Road is something far more unaccountable: a “Mini-Massport.”
Does this Commission believe they have absolute authority? Let me remind them that even the late Queen Elizabeth II, a monarch who ruled over a significant portion of the Earth, eventually had to acquiesce to the questions of her subjects. When Parliament stopped the funding for her beloved Royal Yacht Britannia, she had to bow to the taxpayers’ will and retire the ship. If the head of a global kingdom has to answer for costs, why does this Commission think they are exempt?
The airport operates under an enterprise account, which is supposed to segregate airport revenues—like jet fuel sales and leases—from general town funds. But let’s be honest: with the latest court order mandating that town services be restored, it is clear that the taxpayers are still subsidizing this operation. It was only a few years ago that actual tax dollars were used to subsidize this account to get it off the ground. So, the taxpayer has contributed far more than just “services”; we have provided the cold, hard cash to make this “Mini-Massport” possible.
Our Select Board appoints this Commission, which gives them the direct authority to put people in charge who align with a broader town vision. We recently saw the Board engage in a major, public discussion regarding ICE policy—a complex issue involving federal and local lines. It finally behooves the Select Board to show that same leadership here. It is time to lift the curtain on this mystery and find out: What is the vision for the Plymouth Municipal Airport for the next 5, 10, and 30 years?
The Town of Plymouth owns the land. While the court focuses on what is “cute,” the core issue remains: what ultimately do we want this airport to be? It is time for the Select Board to stop the “Mini-Massport” theology, stop the music on this tap dance, and demand a clear vision that serves the people of Plymouth, at least in part.
Al DiNardo
– DiNardo is a Town Meeting member representing precinct 17