Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport

In 2012 a new manager, David DevineDavid Devine was hired to replace the terminated manager of 30 years[3]. There is no Bio for Mr. Devine on this site. It is unknown if Mr. Devine has any Airport Management Experience as was required in a Request for Proposal.[4]No other candidates, even those with the required pre requisite of a minimum of 5 years Airport Management were interviewed for the position. Mr Devine was however the President of COPA 149,[5] a local flying club, at the time he was hired. Mr. Devine's position at that time was the Commission needed to be restructured. Since being hired by the commission Mr. Devine no longer is pursuing a restructuring. Shortly before Mr. Devine was was hired, Adrian Verburgh,[6] who succeeded him as President/Captain donated a mobile home to the Niagara Central Airport Commission, which now serves as Mr. Devine's office and clubhouse for COPA 149. Funds for the placement, foudation electrical and sewer hookups for the office were paid for with taxpayers funds, which generally is unacceptable for use by private entities, such as COPA 149. Expenses of near $60,0000.00 were paid for this project, some of it to Mr. Verburgh himself, who is a worker at the Niagara Central Airport, doing electrical and plumbing work. It is unclear if Mr. Verburgh is licensed to perform these duties or if he is an employee of the Commission and subject to Workers Compensation. It is also unclear if sanitary facilities for the new office were approved to be connected to the 70 year old septic system. This office as well as new hangars were constructed contrary to the requirement that it received approval from the Minister of Transport.[7] Presently there appears to be a trailer park setup on the airport property with no sanitary facilities and contrary to zoning bylaws of Pelham where the Airport is situated.[8]

Finances

The City of Welland 2012 Financial Statements[9] show an operating shortfall of approximately $80,000.00, which appears to have been funded through the cash reserved for runway resurfacing. Decreases in fuel sales and stagnant revenues as well as increased management costs appear to be contradicting the stated goal of the commission to reduce tax payer burden. In 2013 the Ontario Ombudsman investigated the Niagara Central Airport Commission because of numerous Ontario Municipal Act violations and concluded [10]they were a 'Local Board" of the Municipalities of Welland, Port Colborne, Pelham and Wainfleet. Members of the commission include councillors from 4 municipalities, which vary in work experience from Insurance agents like Jim Larouche[11] to a former international HR executive, Richard Rybiak.[12]

See alsoSt. Catharines/Niagara District Airport Niagara Falls/Niagara South Airport References1.Jump up ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 24 July 2014 to 0901Z 18 September 2014 2.Jump up ^ Total aircraft movements by class of operation 3.Jump up ^ http://www.inportnews.ca/2012/07/03/flight-school-shot-down 4.Jump up ^ http://www.amco.on.ca/uploads/6/3/9/8/6398028/niagara_central_airport_commissionrfprequestairportmanagementandoperationsaug11.pdf 5.Jump up ^ http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2010/03/03/group-wants-a-separate-governing-airport-authority 6.Jump up ^ http://www.centralairport.ca/about-copa-149.html 7.Jump up ^ http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/private/english/2001/elaws_src_private_pr01005_e.htm 8.Jump up ^ http://www.pelham.ca/zoning-by-law 9.Jump up ^ http://www.welland.ca/Finance/pdf/City_of_Welland_2012.pdf 10.Jump up ^ http://www.ombudsman.on.ca/Files/sitemedia/Images/Reports/Niagara-Sept20-tagged.pdf 11.Jump up ^ http://www.fecoyne.com/who-we-are/our-team/ 12.Jump up ^ http://caselaw.canada.globe24h.com/0/0/ontario/court-of-appeal-for-ontario/2006/09/26/presbytarian-church-of-sudan-v-rybiak-2006-32746-on-ca.shtml