Meanwhile, at the Airport...

The airport and its need for repairs (and the sudden need for leases from tenants) was back at the City Council last night, when the owner of Bullock Charter, Richard Bullock, stopped by to urge the council to get the $300,000 loan for the repairs in place, no matter when the leases are ready.

We'll start by noting that we know Bullock very well (we've avoided this issue in the past because of our relationship with Bullock). We note that he's one of the most solid individuals we've ever met, and as decent as they come. We'll also note that for over 20 years, he's been the airport's biggest tenant and has paid his rent every month without a lease in place and he has no plans to stop doing so.

Now, the tenant has a problem. The roof leaks and the hangar is general disrepair. It all needs to be fixed. Instead, the council positions Bullock Charter as the bad guy, demanding the company sign a lease in order to get the fixes made. Oh yeah, the city is dragging its feet for some reason on the lease, and needs to find a new manager for the airport because the guy they wisely hired late last year bolted within six months. Great hire.

Bullock Charter has been conducting business in Fitchburg for over 20 years, and in most situations you'd see a community tripping over itself to make sure that business -- one which pays rent, pays big city taxes on jet fuel, and does at least bring customers from other places inside the city limits -- stayed in town and prospered. Bullock hasn't threatened to leave the city, and doesn't mind signing a lease. The company needs the repairs ASAP, whether or not a lease in place.

The council is instead either playing politics or stalling, as the leases remain unwritten. So a long-time company sits by, watching its infrastructure fall apart as the council gets nothing done. There's never been a history of antagonism between Bullock Charter, the airport or the city. Rent has been paid, and will continue to be paid. What, exactly, is the problem here?

It doesn't seem outrageous for the city to demand a lease from its tenants, at the airport or anywhere else. But to hold needed repairs back as a ransom for no real reason is unwarranted in this case, and is an anti-business stance that is as unnecessary as it is witless. The council should end this silly and petty game, and work on the repairs and the lease agreement at the same time. There's no good reason to do otherwise.