Carl Beardsley, airport executive director, reviews increased parking rates during the Bi-County Airport Board meeting on Thursday.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
A moment of silence for the late George Bieber, former airport Director of Public Safety, who passed away Friday, June 20.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
The Bi-County Airport Board approved increased parking rates at the airport.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
PITTSTON TWP. — The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International airport Bi-County Airport Board on Thursday heard another glowing report of increased passenger flow, took a moment to remember its former public safety director and approved an increase in parking fees — all action taken after a 30-minute executive session held before the meeting was called to order.
When asked what the reason was for the executive session, solicitor Donald J. Frederickson Jr. said, “security and personnel.”
The Times Leader reached out to Melissa Melewsky, Media Law Counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, who said meetings are usually called to order first, then an announcement of an executive session would follow with an explanation as to the reason for the closed-door meeting.
Melewsky said since the Airport Board meeting was advertised to begin at 9 a.m., it should have started at that time. She said an executive session can be called at the outset after the meeting is convened.
During the meeting, Fredrickson told the board that they could also meet privately with department heads to discuss matters. Melewsky also disagreed with that assessment.
“A quorum meeting held outside the public meeting doesn’t trigger an executive session,” she said. “I would direct the board to review the Sunshine Act to see what would justify excluding the general public.”
Melewsky said the board and its legal representatives should reach out to the Office of Open Records for direction.
“Education is key in these matters,” Melewsky said.
Fredrickson said part of the executive session dealt with the airport’s Law Enforcement Officer program. Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce participated in the executive session behind closed doors. After the closed session, Sanguedolce did not attend the open board meeting, nor did the board report on what was discussed.
Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith attended the meeting and spoke about the LEO program and its financial cost.
In past meetings, Griffith has sought financial help for the LEO Reimbursement Program at the airport. Griffith has said Luzerne County has been paying $12,000 per month to staff an officer at the airport since federal funding for the program was discontinued.
Griffith contends that Luzerne County should not have to pay for this program.
Carl Beardsley, airport executive director, said at a previous meeting that the airport increased its contribution to the program from $30,000 to $60,000 — $5,000 per month.
On Thursday, the airport board did not respond to Griffith’s concerns.
Before the meeting was adjourned, Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan asked Fredrickson if he was sure the board was following the law regarding executive session. Gaughan asked if the laws can be checked and adhered to.
In other business, the board:
• Heard Beardsley’s report of passenger activity that showed passenger enplanements for the month of May 2025 increased 14.4% to 22,282, from 18,608 in the month of May 2024.
In May 2025, 5 departing flights were cancelled, all for weather. This accounts for 380 (1.8%) out of a total of 21,662 departure seats. Also, 8 arriving flights were cancelled, 7 for weather and 1 for IT Issues.
“We have good news to report,” Beardsley said. “All of our airlines are seeing increased numbers.”
• Approved the financial report of Chris Dalessandro, Director of Finance, who said for the month of May 2025, airport operations had an income totaling $198,715, compared to an income of $116,824 in May 2024 — a difference of $81,891. Year to date, the airport’s profit is $615,906, compared to a loss in 2024 of $71,866 — a difference of $687,772.
Invoices received since the last meeting for supplies and services totaling $852,788 were approved. These invoices include major construction project costs of $443,798.63.
• Heard Michelle Aigeldinger, Director of Human Resources, recognize two employees for their dedicated service to AVP:
— Steve Mykulyn, 15 years of service.
— Brian Sukowaski, 30 years of service.
• Approved a parking rate increase to the daily and weekly parking fees effective Aug. 1.
• Observed a moment of silence for the late George Bieber, former director of public safety, who passed away Friday, June 20.
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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.