Sum Up
Minutes of Spaceport Authority Meeting
November 03, 2007
Las Cruces, NM - The meeting was called to order by Chairwoman Kelly O’Donnell at 9:00am. Roll call was taken with seven members present. Officials and guests present included: Mike Holston, Procurement Solutions, Lou Gomez, NMSA, Jerry Larson, UP Aerospace, Shannon Bacon, Sutin, Thayer & Brown, Sarita Nair, Sutin, Thayer & Brown, Jim Hayhoe, Village of Hatch, Kent Evans, City of Las Cruces, Mary Ann Myers, NMSA, Belinda Lucero, NMSA, Alan Perryman, NMTI, Junior Billstone, and Bill Gutman.
Authority Members Present:
Kelly O’Donnell, Chairwoman (conference call)
Jim Manatt (conference call)
Ben Woods (conference call)
William Loomis (conference call)
Richard Holdridge (conference call)
Jerry Hanks (conference call)
Brent Westmoreland
Authority Members Not Present:
Toots Green
Motion: Jim Manatt moved to approve the agenda. William Loomis seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Public Comment: None
UP Aerospace
Jerry Larson presented a statement to the Authority requesting their support of UP Aerospace for their demonstration test flight using a UAV class vehicle. The launch would be confidential with no public or news media. Discussion followed on the agreement between UP Aerospace and Spaceport America. Also discussed was the reason Mr. Larson was given for not allowing the test flight, including a new cultural resource document and areas of interest. Mr. Larson explained that the area where the vehicle will land is defined as having few cultural resources and there is no probability of the vehicle reaching El Camino Real since the vehicle only has the capability of traveling a maximum of 1.3 miles and El Camino Real is about 5 miles away. Discussion followed on the possible risks involved in damaging the cultural resources in which most agreed that the risks would be minimal if even existent. Questions arose on what basis the recommendation not to launch was and Mr. Holston advised that his recommendation not to allow the launch was based on a cultural resource map. The nature of the sites was discussed along with the NEPA process.
Comments:
Alan Perryman voiced his wish that the NMSA support UP Aerospace and advised that if no favorable resolution came about UP Aerospace is welcome to use a NMTI test area.
Executive Session:
Personnel Matters: The Chair stated she would entertain a motion to enter into executive session pursuant to 10-15-1 (H) and (H) (7) of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussion of limited personnel matters, Executive Director Position and further meeting subject to attorney – client privilege.
Motion: Richard Holdridge moved to move into executive session. Ben Woods seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Chairman O’Donnell yes
Director Holdridge yes
Director Loomis yes
Director Manatt yes
Director Westmoreland yes
Director Woods yes
Jerry Hanks yes
Motion carried.
Back in Open Session: The Chair entertained a motion to enter back into open session pursuant to 10-15-1 (H) and (H) (7) of the Open Meetings Act. The Chair stated that no action was taken and the matters discussed in the closed session and were limited to those specified in the motion for closure.
Jim Manatt moved to enter back into open session. William Loomis seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Motion: Jim Manatt moved to proceed with making an offer and negotiating a contract for employment with Mr. Steve Landene for the Executive Director position. Brent Westmoreland seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Motion: Richard Holdridge moved to support the UP Aerospace launch subject to the contingencies in accordance with the UP Aerospace agreement. Brent Westmoreland seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Motion: Jim Manatt moved to adjourn. Richard Holdridge seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 10:40am.
Approved: ______________________ Date: ____________________
Kelly O'Donnell, Chairman
|
