2-16-05 According to a statement made by our Planning Commissioner, Pat Modugno at the January 22nd, 2005 meeting:
"In my 20-some years (in public life), I've seen very few cases as egregious as this one in terms of ongoing violations,". "Quite frankly, if I had my druthers, I'd shut this thing down today just to put the operator in the penalty box."
He was ready to terminate the airport’s permit until he heard "significant support for the airport’s continued operation from two alleged community groups."
Andy Fried, the president, was given an opportunity to present the official Agua Dulce Town Council position. Fried, a facilitator of the "negotiate in secret" policy, then spoke of supporting continued operation of the airport.
A careful review of his statements indicate he was thoroughly unclear as to whether he was speaking for the Town Council or as an individual, and as he did not make his position in writing, there is nothing to compare it to.
Fried was asked point blank at the January 26th, 2005 Town Council meeting if the council had taken any formal position on the airport and he responded clearly that "NO positions have been taken".
Fried needs to agendize the airport issue and have the Town Council vote on a position supporting closing the airport and having them apply for a new permit with the necessary environmental documents or to allow its piecemeal expansion without Environmental documents.
At a minimum, Fried must notify LA County Department of Regional Planning that his comments were his personal views and were misconstrued to be the official Agua Dulce Town Council position.
Joanne Swanson then stood up and testified as an "official" of the Agua Dulce Civic Association and presented a position of supporting continuing the airport. She claims the CIVIC supports the addition of helicopters, large multi-engine turbine driven commuter aircraft, massive increase of hangers and of air operation.
Her claim was that the Civic Association was to give the airport these increases in trade for making the airport a private airport. The Civic's comments, written by Swanson, indicated that her comments were the "official" Civic Association position. This is in direct opposition of the survey the CIVIC took in December 2004.
Of course, Joanne Swanson and Nancy Young’ claim they can disregard the residents and the charter when convenient. It is the same way they took over of the Civic Association in November, 2004. This didn’t seem to bother them very much. The two then sent out a survey to 1,000 people in Agua Dulce, which results were overwhelmingly to close the airport and as high as 93% to ban helicopters and turbine driven aircraft. It is important to note Swanson refused to call it a survey but instead a fundraiser! She cashes your check to support her opinions and ignores your opinions.
Ms Swanson then totally ignored the vote of the community and decided to take a position directly opposite the community’s position by supporting in writing and testifying to keeping the airport open and allowing helicopters and turbine driven aircraft.
She justifies her position in a statement on January 26th, 2005 that "I had to do it because Barry needed these things to make a profit at the airport." The Civic Association charter, under Article 16, Section 3 and 4, states:
Only persons authorized by the Association may speak on behalf of the Association to or before local, county, state or federal government authorities.
Prior to the Association taking a vote/stand, on issues of paramount concern to the residents and property owners of Agua Dulce, the general membership shall be notified two (2) weeks prior as to the time and place of the meeting to present the issue(s), discuss the issue(s), and vote.
As you can see, she ignored the charter. Under Article 4, Section 5(a)(5) the Civic Association charter states:
5. Members shall not imply either in verbal or written communications that they speak for the Association unless they are expressing a previously established Association position, or they are Committee Chairs where the position of the committee has been endorsed by the Association.
This clearly indicates her actions are sufficient to have her removed from the Civic Association for ignoring its members. She is using her questionably elected position in an "I know better" support of the airport, against over-whelming opposition to the airport by the Civic Association members. Further, all the new members she is reaching out to are pilots using the airport, people who do business with the airport or are employed there, and would all be prohibited from voting under the conflict of interest section of the Civic Association charter cited at Article 4, Section 5(a)(4).
Members shall not vote on items where they have a conflict of-interest, which is defined for this purpose as something which could bring personal benefit or loss to the member. Possible conflict-of-interest issues shall be decided by the majority of members present.
CCAD
Their official position is to shut the airport down and to require the airport to obtain new permits along with environmental studies, which matched their written position supplied to LA County Department of Regional Planning.
Overall - Brink Group
With the airport controlling the School, Joanne Swanson diametrically misrepresenting the Civic Association membership, and Fried’s convenient blurring of his personal support into Town Council support, does it surprise you that your lifestyles and property values are still under siege.
Maybe a lawsuit against the School, the Civic and the Town Council is in order?
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