mreuther@sungazette.com
Community leaders took turns citing reasons why commercial airline service is vital for the area in a three-hour webinar Thursday.
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania Hearing brought together officials from government, industry, education, and health care.
Frank Pelligrino, chair, Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority, said air service is simply a must for rural communities.
He noted the investments made to upgrade the airport in Montoursville over the years, including a new terminal building.
Pelligrino was among a number of people noting the loss of flight service to and from Charlotte, North Carolina, in the fall after it was launched in August.
mreuther@sungazette.com
The Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority elected Frank Pellegrino as its chair for 2021 during the board’s regular monthly meeting Thursday.
Pellegrino replaces Christopher Logue, who was elected vice chair.
Michael Reed was elected treasurer and Dr. William Martin as secretary.
Scott Williams was retained as solicitor.
The Authority approved a contract with Baker Tilley Virchow Krause LLP to conduct the audit for 2020 at $32,000.
The Authority agreed to have the airport engineer consider bids for work to remove an obstruction at the end of the airport runway.
Airport Executive Director Richard Howell said a cluster of trees has created departure problems for certain types of airplanes.