 Changes To Ferry, Terminal and Airport Operations Announced Job Cuts Among Changes Announced By Director of KGB-DOT by Dick Kauffman April 04, 2002
Allen's notification memo addressed to the Airport Personnel and copied to Gary Paxton, KGB Interim Manager; Clark Corbridge, HR Director; the Airport Affairs Committee Chairman and the Airport Tenants, announced changes to terminal operations, airport operations and ferry operations. Allen's announcement of changes also included the elimination of several job positions some of which sources report include positions which have been held by workers for up to 17 years. According to Allen, these changes are being made with the goal of ensuring a safe and secure operating environment in as efficient a manner as possible. Allen wrote, "Some of these changes are exciting - others painful." All of the changes unless otherwise noted will occur on June 30, 2002. Ferry Operations: Changes in ferry operations announced by KGB DOT Manager Allen, include the operation of one ferry this summer during the peak season. Operation of one ferry will reduce costs and is effective immediately, Allen wrote in his April 3rd memo. Allen stated, "The Oral Freeman capacity will allow for such action and still meet public demand. We cannot increase the number of crossings per hour, but we are working on ways to speed up processing at the toll booth to ensure all loads are full and on time." Other than the plan to speed up processing at the toll both, Allen did not address a plan in his memo to accommodate any possible backlogs of traffic and passengers that might occur with the use of one ferry. Sources report any consideration to speeding up processing by placing the demands on the ferry workers could impact safety. The M.V.Oral Freeman which will be the only ferry in operation this summer is the state's first FAA-funded ferry vessel and Ketchikan's newest ferry. The vessel is 116' 6" long and has a beam of 48 feet. It was the first ship built by Alaska Ship and Drydock which is located in Ketchikan Alaska. The M.V.Oral Freeman is now in service on a daily basis and has a crew of two, a captain and a deckhand according to information provided on the KGB web site. The vessel has a United States Coast Guard approved capacity of 22 vehicles and 148 passengers - a count which includes the passengers in the vehicles. To reduce haul-out costs and provide systems maintenance, Allen wrote that "the Department is currently negotiating a long-term contract with Alaska Ship and Drydock." In his memo Allen stated, "the contract will fix prices at today's rates and include systems maintenance for little additional cost." Remaining ferry maintenance work will be performed by ferry deckhand personnel, he said. With the elimination of a second vessel during the summer, this necessitates the elimination of four relief deckhand positions and temporary deckhands will be used on an as-needed basis, Director Allen wrote. Terminal Operations: Addressing changes in terminal operations Allen wrote, "The new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has assumed responsibility for airport and air carrier compliance with federal security requirements. One of their goals is to provide a higher level of law enforcement presence at the screening checkpoint. They initially accomplished this by tasking our Law Enforcement Personnel (LEP) to standby during screening operations. TSA next relieved our LEP of this task by assigning National Guard personnel to perform this function with our LEP still nearby to respond when necessary," According to Allen's memo, the National Guard is pulling out of Ketchikan International Airport by April 20, 2002, with a nation-wide pullout by May 1. Allen stated in order to maintain an armed presence during screening operations the Transportation Security Administration is directing airports to once again position their Law Enforcement Personnel at checkpoints. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires a contract and will reimburse the Borough for this service according to Allen. Allen stated the TSA intends to put their own federal officers into these positions by November 2002. He wrote, "When they do, the Department's requirement to provide a quick law enforcement response will no longer apply." According to Allen that means the Ketchikan Department of Transportation Services would no longer need fully-qualified Law Enforcement Personnel (LEP) to comply with airport security requirements. He further wrote that the "TSA intends to hire their officers from the local area, and I have every expectation that our officers would qualify for such positions." Other tasks currently being performed by the airport's Law Enforcement Personnel (LEP) in support of air operations, such as SIDA badge processing and training, safety and security inspections, and wildlife dispersal, will have to be reassigned according to Allen. The Ketchikan Department of Transportation Services established a temporary safety specialist position late last year to classify the temporary employee assigned to guard the gate and monitor traffic flow after 9/11. In his notification memo Allen said, "While creating the job description we added many of these other LEP functions just in case TSA mandated the kind of change we are currently facing. We plan to examine our core functions and the tasks necessary to perform those functions, then assign the tasks within the organization." Allen wrote that the "Department may hire additional personnel to perform these tasks. Airport Operations: Regarding changes in airport operations Allen wrote, "We have examined our functions in support of FAA certification/safety compliance and made dramatic changes there as well." Allen announced that the Ketchikan Department of Transportation will reduce the permanent Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) standby response team from two to one fully-qualified [team] as authorized by the FAA. The equipment is designed to provide proper initial response by one [team], and other emergency agencies already provide necessary back-up response according to Allen. Under this new guideline Allen wrote "we will maintain four ARFF qualified personnel to provide proper coverage. While ARFF standby will be their primary mission, other duties will be assigned that can be performed while on standby." With the role of Public Works expanded, Allen wrote that the Public Works Department is assuming responsibility for maintenance of all Borough-owned rolling stock. According to Allen, "This action, combined with the reduction in ARFF requirement and the removal of Transit vehicles from the airport, made the Airport Mechanic I and Airport Mechanic II positions unnecessary and they are being eliminated." Allen noted that Public Works plans to establish one new Mechanic I position, which he said will be advertised in-house first. The Ketchikan Department of Transportation has established a new temporary job classification for a Maintenance Technician. Allen wrote that the job description focuses on facility maintenance and snow removal support which are temporary, seasonal positions. "We plan to have two temporaries working routinely with a pool of qualified personnel available for additional support as needed. The Department may fill one or more regular positions under this job classification to ensure continuity and adequate coverage between seasons," Allen wrote. In his notification memo Allen remarked,"Other improvements and projects are also in the works." He stated, "In addition to the terminal and taxiway project, our long-term parking area is undergoing expansion and renovation this month. We will soon be installing a telephone auto-attendant system to direct calls and provide voicemail, and relocating the airport management offices into the cooler building after a substantial renovation." In concluding his remarks Allen stated, "Effective July 1, all our efforts are now focused on the airport to ensure we operate safely and efficiently. I believe we are meeting those goals, and I'm looking forward to these and other challenges inherent in such a dynamic operating environment."
Related Information:
Update - Related Story:
Source of digital photo of M.V. Oral Freeman:
|
David Allen, KGB Director of Transportation
Services, in a memo dated April 03, 2002, announced "new
and dynamic changes planned for the Borough and for the Transportation
Department."