By mid-summer, the two cities that run the Pitt Meadows Regional Airport should have a resolution in place to replace its board of directors.
Following the announcement of the resignation of the airport board effective July 31, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are now trying to figure out what will replace it on Aug. 1.
So far, there’s no agreement on how to proceed.
Both cities are trying to figure what will be the future composition of the board of directors, once the existing board steps down.
That could include councillors from each city making up some of the nine seats.
“It is technically possible,” said Pitt Meadows Mayor John Becker.
“To the best my understanding, it would be technically possible to populate the board with council members.”
Becker wants to come up with an interim board – then settle on the final composition once the airport’s long-terming review is completed.
“I think a clarity of vision will help us profile the long-term intentions with respect to economic development of the airport,” he said.
One possible future is gearing the airport towards becoming a major commercial pilot training centre serving Japan, Korea and China.
If that’s the case, the board should have representation from that sector.
Or the airport could focus on just being a centre for local flying clubs, or it could be a mix of everything.
Becker said the review should determine what sectors to focus “on those industry areas that provide the most logical economic return for the airport.”
But so far, all talk about direction for the airport remains behind closed doors as both cities try to find a solution.
Last year, Maple Ridge rebuffed a request from Pitt Meadows to leave the operating of the airport solely to Pitt Meadows.
The board was supposed to have nine members, but has been functioning with five – the minimum required for a quorum, for the past two years, as the cities have not agreed on new appointees.