Williams, Renee (OST) hor'6^YT'iffi-.7.j>Lf^ 

From: Devany, Dennis (OST) 

Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 12:44 PM 

To: Robert Hagemann; tiparrotheacls@yahoo.com 

Cc: Williams, Renee (OST) 

Subject: RE: Public Support for Cape Air Proposal for EAS Service 

Thx, Bob. 

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Dennis — O^R 

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From: Robert Hagemann [mailto:roberth(a)co.jefferson.ny.us] ~ o9 ^ 

Sent: Sat 11/13/2010 12:09 PM ^ [jC ' 

To: tiparrotheads@yahoo.com oo 

Cc: Devany, Dennis (OST) 

Subject: RE: Public Support for Cape Air Proposal for EAS Service 

Dear Ms. Bos 

Thank you for reaching out with your interest in and inquiries about commercial air service at the Watertown international 

Airport. As you are seeking input on two important points, I will attempt to clarify both for you. 

The very first action that takes place at any meeting convened by the Jefferson County Board of Legislators is to allow for 

public comment. To that end, please feel free to attend any oversight committee or full board meeting to offer input on the 

essential air service (EAS) program in general or, more specifically, your views relative to Cape Air or any other qualified 

commercial air carrier. In most instances, comments offered by the public fall in line with the general oversight activities 

within each of the four standing committees, as the legislators assigned to each tend to be more involved with 

activities/programs/services that fall within that particular area of responsibility. However, that is not a requirement and 

certainly, when it comes to the full board meetings, any topic that a resident would like to address is welcomed as well. In 

terms of the matter at hand, public discussions either by legislators and the general public are usually focused on either 

the Planning & Development Committee or General Services Committee, depending on the specific topic. All regularly 

scheduled meetings of the board occur on Tuesday evenings and this coming week the scheduled meetings happen to be 

that of Planning & Development (...at 6:30 PM) and General Services (...at 7:00PM). You or members of your club are 

always welcomed to attend any of the meetings of Board of Legislators offering either verbal or written statements that 

you feel appropriate. 

As it specifically relates to comments received from the public regarding the pending decision of the US Department of 

Transportation to award the next two year EAS contract to one of three competing commercial airlines, any written or 

verbal observations received by this office or made directly to any one of our legislators has been passed along to the 

Airport Advisory Committee and, in so doing, the board members throughout the first round of EAS applications and 

during this second application round. One fundamental difference between the other two communities and Jefferson 

County is that the size of our organization allows for a MQX^ supportive committee system that assigns specific 

responsibilities where appropriate, whereas a much smaller public body as is the case in both Massena & Ogdensburg is 

not necessarily afforded that same opportunity. In our case, the Board of Legislators has entrusted in its Airport Advisory 

Committee the oversight of our airport operations, including any recommendation regarding future air service at the 

airport. Regardless, be assured that there is always full accountability to the Board of Legislators on all actions taken for 

the betterment of the residents of the county. 

More to the point about the commercial air service currently being rendered by Cape Air, Jefferson County is most 

appreciative of both the quality & reliability that has consistently been offered by that airline over the past two years. 

Interaction between the airline and the county takes place regularly and has always been most informative and 

professional. We hold a high degree of respect for that organization and it's personnel, and for the niche market which 

Cape Air has so successfully built everywhere but for Watertown, NY. The one fundamental and frequently discussed 

issue that continues to be reviewed by officials of both organizations, for which the County desires to change and Cape 

Air fully acknowledges, is the size of the planes being utilized and, therefore, the lack of increasing enplanements out of 
the Watertown International Airport. On that point, there can be no long term mutually beneficial resolution. For the 

interim time period, however. Cape Air pledges to continue providing the best service possible. Cape Air's current 

proposal to the US DOT includes a continuing flight to Boston as well as opening a ticket office within the greater 

Watertown area. That certainly speaks to the integrity of the airline in attempting to meet the local needs of our 

community as best it can. However, as the airline's success lies with a nine seat plane capacity serving particular 

communities that will most benefit from that type service, for many, many reasons relative to our specific set of community 

needs, it is the one item that will require us to at some point move forward in another direction. Ultimately, when another 

air carrier with a much larger passenger capacity going to a major airport hub is selected, Cape Air would be more than 

welcomed to continue non-EAS sponsored service out of Watertown International Airport. 

I was pleased to learn of the direct assistance provided to your organization by Cape Air. While I knew nothing of that 

situation, I am not surprised in the least about the airline's involvement. You may or may not know that the response time 

given to all three EAS communities by the US DOT this second time around was significantly shorter; a lot of homework 

has had to be done very quickly. A recommendation from the County will be forwarded within that strict time line and it 

will be made based on the long term objectives having already been defined through the Board of Legislators. Please feel 

free to offer any input that you feel appropriate at any point in time, whether in writing or in person via our public comment 

period at any one of our legislative meetings. 

Thank you for your sincere interest in commercial air transportation services at the Watertown International Airport. 

Bob Hagemann 

From: 1000 Islands Parrot Head Club [mailto:tiparrotheads@yahoo.com] 

Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 12:50 PM 

To: RobertH@co.jefferson.ny.us 

Cc: Dennis.DeVany@ost.dot.gov 

Subject: Public Support for Cape Air Proposal for EAS Service 

Dear Mr. Hagemann, 

Over the past few weeks the process of rebidding for EAS service to Ogdensburg, Massena and Watertown has 

been ongoing. While the 1000 Islands Parrot Head Club has had an opportunity in public forum to show our 

support for the Cape Air proposal for continued service in both Ogdensburg and Massena, we have been unable 

to find any public forum in Watertown and Jefferson County to show our support. Can you please advise on 

when we can speak out publicly in support of Cape Air? 

We at the 1000 Islands Parrot Head Club have had the opportunity to work with Cape Air over the past three 

summers in connection with our 1000 Islands Parrot Head Golf Outing to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation 

of Central New York. Cape Air's generous, hands-on support has helped us forward over $10,000 on to Make 

A Wish over the past three years. 

During the last round of bidding, no public forum was offered in Watertown and the Jefferson County 

endorsement of another airline was made at the final hour of the public comment period, giving no time for a 

public response with opposing views. We hope this will not be the case again this time. 

Will you please let us know when we might be allowed to show our support for Cape Air publicly before the 

deadline for public comment has expired? 

Thank you, 

Andrea Bos, President 

1000 Islands Parrot Head Club 

P.O. Box 8363 

Watertown, NY 13601