ROCKLAND, Maine — A citizen committee that advises Knox County officials on management of its airport has a vacant position and Vinalhaven’s town manager has been nominated to fill the seat.
Jeff Northgraves, manager of the Knox County Regional Airport in Owls Head, said Wednesday that the seat represents District 2 on the Airport Public Advisory Committee. That district includes the island communities of Isle au Haut, Matinicus, North Haven and Vinalhaven, as well as the towns of Appleton, Camden, Hope, Union and Washington.
As of Wednesday, just one person was nominated for the seat, he said. Vinalhaven selectmen nominated Marjorie Stratton, the island’s town manager.
Northgraves said towns can nominate an official or a resident to serve, and residents can nominate themselves or others.
“The best thing to do is have them contact me,” he said, either at the airport at 594-4131 or by email at jnorthgraves@knoxcountymaine.gov.
The nine-member committee is charged with providing a “real and visible link between [communities], the airport manager and the county,” according to the county’s website. A focus has been to facilitate communication between airport management and communities, as well as providing “aviation, environmental and business advice” to airport management.
The airport has come under scrutiny recently after a plane crashed there in November, killing three people onboard. A $2 million lawsuit has been filed against the county in connection with the crash.
The committee is scheduled to meet once a month, though Northgraves said it sometimes meets less frequently during the winter months.
Knox County commissioners are expected to appoint a member to the committee at their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 9, the airport manager said.