Update From Aviation Counsel on FAA Grants

I spoke to the City of Linden's outside aviation attorney, Justin Marchetta, this morning. I called him last week, and he returned my call today. Here is a summary of what I learned:

• The idea of a moratorium on future grants came up at a meeting on the field between the city engineer, other city representatives, Dudley and Marchetta. FAA representative Cohen was the one who floated the idea.
• The resolution to forego future grants is symbolic, intended to send a message to the FAA that the city finds the investigation into 20-year old projects to be a substantial burden. The city is not happy with the FAA looking over its metaphorical shoulder and putting its finances under a microscope. The city is blacklisted from getting new grants anyway until the compliance issues are resolved.
• Be that as it may, the decision is not permanent. A lot depends on elections and politics.
• Marchetta has recommended, and city leaders are considering, hiring a professional airport manager and putting him or her on the city payroll. This would be a replacement for Dudley, but a watchdog who has the knowledge and skills to see through Dudley's misinformation and disinformation.
• Hiring a professional manager, if it happens, will happen after the next election, because of budgetary concerns.
• Meanwhile, any issues on the field can and should be brought to the attention of the city engineer and attorney Marchetta. Don't even bother reporting anything to Dudley's operation. Send info to me or Tom, and we'll inform Marchetta and the engineer, follow up and report back.
• Marchetta was aware of the issues with the inept, negligent and dangerous attempt at sealing the vast cracks on the airport movement areas. He learned about it in the last couple of days (he didn't say how he learned of this). He has spoken to the engineer about it. The engineer may not know about airports, said Marchetta, but he does know about paving, and they plan to do something about the so-called sealing, and about the resulting FOD.

​That's all folks. Not all bad.