PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Presque Isle City Council voted 5-2 on Wednesday to recommend that the Department of Transportation award United Airlines a two-year contract to provide service to and from Presque Isle International Airport.
In justifying staying with a carrier often maligned by The County public, a majority of councilors pointed to the growth that United had provided at the airport, especially in increased ticket sales.
Many councilors acknowledged there were issues with United and that people had at times experienced severe delays.
But, they said there was no guarantee that service under Silver Airways would be any better. And the amount of connecting national and international flights offered by service to Newark was unparalleled by Silver.
Doug Cyr and Jacob Shaw were the only councillors to vote against adopting United as the carrier.
Cyr said he based his choice on the expensiveness of United’s bid and the clear preference many had for access to Boston over Newark, especially for medical reasons.
Shaw said he personally thought choosing United was in Presque Isle’s best interest but that the groundswell of opposition to its service from his constituents obligated him to support Silver.
While the DOT legally has to consider the feelings of the public in awarding the bid, the decision at Presque Isle City Hall is far from binding. DOT has defied the wishes of city councils in the past, and there is no guarantee United will be flying out of Presque Isle in July.
The council also elected a new chairman of the board. Kevin Freeman replaced Mike Chasse, who said that while he had enjoyed his time as council chairman in 2019, he had “different priorities” for the coming year. Chasse nominated Freeman for the spot of chairman, and he was elected unanimously.
About 20 people attended the meeting, including many who only attended the portion involving the airline bids.
Each of the four people who spoke during public comments were against awarding United the contract. Many condemned the undesirability of Newark International and pointed to the value of flying to Boston, especially for medical reasons.
Sarah Leclair was one of a few who spoke not from Presque Isle. Leclair, who lives in Woodland, said Silver could offer a better way forward for an airport United had made unusable.
“It’s more than numbers. It’s more than emplacements,” Leclair said. “I think they will become part of the community, as compared to United Air, where we are literally the smallest fish in a very messy pond.”
Once public comments ended, each member of the council took turns elaborating on the reasoning for their decisions.
Shaw said that he had long deliberated on his choice, speaking to more than 50 members of the community for guidance. After the survey, he still personally thought United would be the better option. But, the public thought differently.
“Out of anybody I’ve come into contact with, I’d be lying if I said even 5 percent wanted to go with United,” Shaw said. “It’s my job to speak on behalf of what the community wants. And it seems the community wants Silver.”
Councilor Craig Green said that United’s purported cancellation rate was not as high as testimonies may portray. Reading from his smartphone, he listed a variety of statistics that showed United favorably.
“As far as Silver is concerned, I’ll just say be careful what you wish for,” Green said. “You think United is difficult? You may get something far, far worse.”
Reading from a written statement, Freeman said he had put a lot of thought into the public’s opinions, as well as the unanimous decision by the airport advisory board to back United.
He said when it came down to it, United was the only reliable option available.
“If this airport doesn’t back its partner, and doesn’t demonstrate stability, how can we expect that future EAS bidders will come here?” Freeman said.
Councilor Randy Smith may have given the most impassioned testimony of the night. He condemned the amount of vitriol hurled at the council by residents on social media over the decision.
“It’s the truth people, and if it doesn’t fit your thoughts about what’s good for you, suck it up,” Smith said. “I’m going to vote for United Air.”
Those who testified against United watched in dismay as councilors made it clear United would be the choice of a majority of the council.
In other business, the council scheduled a public hearing for a marijuana ordinance at 6 p.m. on Jan. 23.
In a meeting that will also contain members of the Presque Isle Planning Board, the public is invited to voice their opinions on an ordinance that would allow vendors to sell marijuana for recreational purposes in Presque Isle.
The next city council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Feb. 5.
