By KIM SMITH DEDAM
Staff Writer
February 27, 2008 04:00 am
—
HARRIETSTOWN -- Town councilors have hired new management staff to run Adirondack Regional Airport.
Both the manager and assistant-manager positions were filled by candidates from out of the area.
Harrietstown Town Supervisor Larry Miller said Ross Dubarry, currently manager at Hayward Executive Airport in Hayward, Calif., was hired to replace former Airport Manager Chris Kreig, who left several months ago to run the new Plattsburgh International Airport.
Corey Hurwitch, operations supervisor at Albany International Airport, was hired as assistant manager for Adirondack Regional.
INTEREST IN AREA
While the new hires live outside the Adirondacks, both are familiar with the area.
Dubarry is looking to make a move back to New York, Miller said.
"His family is from Albany; he's coming home."
And Hurwitch is an avid hunter and outdoorsman who spends a lot of time on weekends in the Adirondacks, Miller said.
Quality of life in Saranac Lake was a big draw for these candidates, Miller said.
"Corey skis, hunts and snowshoes; he wanted to come here."
The town advertised both locally and nationwide to find qualified candidates with experience in general and commercial aviation.
"There is a lot involved in running an airport, with federal regulation from Federal Aviation Administration, Homeland Security and TSA (Transportation Security Administration)," Miller said.
In the end, 18 people applied for the assistant-manager job and 12 applied to manage Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear.
HIGHER PAY
Town councilors upped the salary being offered for the manager's post, Miller said, from just over $48,500 to $58,500.
"When we actually started looking, we couldn't find anybody for these monies. They were all interviewing at other airports."
The assistant manager's position pays $35,500 to start.
Hurwitch is expected to begin March 10, Miller said, with Dubarry following in mid to late April.
"He has a big project to finish out there first," Miller said.
LOOKING FOR STABILITY
Management changes were quickly followed by the unexpected departure of Big Sky connector flights last January.
Turnover has, for about a decade, been a problem, one town officials hope they have solved.
In 1998, Adirondack Regional Airport lost its Federal Aviation Administration 138 certification, Miller said, which allows for expanded commercial service.
"Part of the reason for this was they said we didn't have stable management out at the airport."
Low salary rates have played a big role in losing people, Miller added.
"The salary we had in the budget for the airport manager in 1994 was $19,000, so you can see we've come a long way."
By improving the salary, the board made a commitment to stabilize the airport.
"We're really excited now," Miller said.
CAPE AIR
Meantime, commercial flights under Cape Air have been landing and leaving on time, bringing passengers back to the airport counters, he said.
"We've noticed a pickup in traffic already. Cape Air flies on time, and the early departure means people can actually get to connecting flights out of Boston."
Cape Air successfully won the $2.89 million federal contract to provide Essential Air Service to Adirondack Regional and Plattsburgh International airports.
The company began flying here Feb. 12, a month after the award.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially welcoming Cape Air to the airport in Lake Clear was postponed Tuesday due to inclement weather and will be rescheduled for another date.
DEBT BEING PAID
Big Sky Airline, based in Montana, halted operations with only a few weeks notice Jan. 7, owing Harrietstown in excess of $50,000.
Miller said the company is slowly paying off the debt, some of it in trade.
"We have about half of what they owed us. We've taken some of it in trade for about $17,000 worth of glycol (a de-icing chemical) and new tow bars. We're still working out deals with fuel suppliers out west to get our money back on the fuel."
Having more hands at the airport will be a major relief to town officials, who have been working double-duty to run the airport since Kreig left last November.
"I'll enjoy having somebody out there," Miller said.
kdedam@pressrepublican.com
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