COUNTY COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY

CHARTER FOR

AIRPORTS AVIATION BOARD (BCAAB)

I.          PURPOSE:

            To assist the County Council of Beaufort County by providing technical, financial, business, and marketing advice that helps to ensure and promote public aviation facilities and services that are safe, economically self-sufficient, and sensitive to the needs of the community.

lI.         GOALS:

            (a)       The operational goal of the AAB is to ensure safe, secure airport facilities;

            (b)       The administrative goal of the AAB is to provide County Council with accurate, timely advice that has been vetted and approved at public meetings of the AAB; and,

            (c)        The financial goal of the AAB is to operate County airports without undue subsidies from the Beaufort County General Fund.

lII.        MEMBERSHIP:

            (a)       The AAB will consist of eleven (11) members who are committed to the purpose and goals of the AAB and the enhancement of the Beaufort County airports;

            (b)       In the appointment of candidates, Council will give due consideration to balancing AAB membership, to the extent possible, between aviation and non-aviation members and by considering the geographical, racial, gender, educational, and professional characteristics of all AAB candidates;

            (c)        Because of the need for diverse backgrounds and experience for this Board, membership thereof shall be as follows:   

            One member nominated by the Town Council of the Town of Hilton Head Island;

            One member nominated by the Board of the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce;

            Two members who reside in close proximity to the Hilton Head Island Airport;

            Two members who reside in close proximity to the Beaufort County Airport;

One member who is an active pilot and aircraft owner based at the Beaufort County Airport;

One member who is an active pilot and aircraft owner based at the Hilton Head Island Airport;

            Three members with documented training and/or professional experience in one or more of the preferred fields listed below;     

·         An active or retired pilot with commercial or military experience;

·         Law Enforcement, Airport Security, or the Practice of Law

·         Accounting or Financial Management

·         Engineering or Construction Management

·         Public Relations, Marketing, or Airport Management

            (d)       Council will make known the need of specific vacancies and request assistance from the local media in notifying citizens of qualifications for each vacancy;        

lV.       ELECTION OF OFFICERS:

            Election of officers and committee chairpersons will be conducted annually, with elections held at the first AAB meeting of the new fiscal year; beginning July 1 of each year.

            (a)       Officers will be elected to one-year terms and limited to two consecutive terms;

            (b)       The AAB chairperson will be elected annually, is limited to two consecutive terms, and shall rotate between AAB members from South of the Broad and North of the Broad; and,

            (c)        Committee chairpersons will be appointed to a one-year term, with no term limits, by nomination of the AAB chair and a confirmation vote (simple majority) of AAB members.

V.        POWERS AND DUTIES:

            (a)       The role of the AAB is to provide advice and recommendations to County Council; in that role, the AAB will have the assistance of the Airports Director in all matters pertaining to its Purpose and Goals as stated in Sections l and ll of this Charter.

            (b)       In addition, the AAB will develop and deliver a summary report of its activities to the appropriate County Council committee on a quarterly basis;

            (c)        Meet at the call of the Chairman or the Airports Director and will normally hold scheduled monthly meetings;

            (d)       Deliver, within 30 calendar days of each meeting, a copy of approved meeting minutes that include the diversity of opinions expressed, and any AAB recommendation(s), to the Airports Director and to County Council via the County Council Secretary;

            (e)       Promote aviation and public understanding of its economic value to the community, and serve as liaison to organizations designated by the County Administrator;

            (f)        Recommend aviation service and facilities goals for Beaufort County;

            (g)       Recommend preparing and updating Airport Master Plans and recommend to Council the adoption of completed plans and amendments;

            (h)       Recommend actions necessary to maintain adequate growth space, airspace clear zones and noise buffers around County airports;

            (i)         Monitor the financial operations and  performance of the Airports with regards to significant aspects of the Profit and Loss statements, balance sheet, and capital plan, including revenues, expenses, credit, and performance relative to the annual budget;

            (j)         Recommend matters related to the planning and construction of new facilities;

            (k)        In cooperation with the Airports Director, maintain ongoing contact with the FAA, the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission and other appropriate agencies, to solicit their support in achieving County aviation goals, reporting the results of those activities quarterly, as stated in paragraph (a) above;

            (l)         Report to County Council the anticipation and results of discussions with the FAA, the state of South Carolina, the local municipalities, or other aviation authorities that could impact zoning, capacity, construction, or grants to County airports;

            (m)      Recommend rules and regulations for each County airport that promote operating safety, security of private equipment, and fair allocation of County aviation resources;

            (n)       Monitor the performance of fixed-base operators and other commercial entities operating at County Airports and advise the County Council, County Administrator, and Airports Director of required corrective action to enforce performance standards;

            (o)       Review and recommend rates and charges for the use of airport facilities, and review and recommend other charges to improve the airports financial operating performance within the guidelines of good business practices; and,

            (p)       At the request of the County Administrator, the AAB will pursue other studies, recommendations or assistance as the need arises in the pursuit of quality service and facilities and may, if deemed necessary by the AAB Chair, establish ad hoc committees in this regard.

            Adopted this ---- day of -----------, 200---

                                                                        COUNTY COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY

                                                                        BY:_____________________________________

                                                                                        Wm. Weston J. Newton, Chairman                   

ATTEST:

___________________________________

      Suzanne M. Rainey, Clerk to Council