Aug. 12—NEW HAVEN — Changes are afoot on the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, with Chairman Matthew Hoey off the board after serving for nine years, former chairman John Picard back on and Vice Chairman Robert Reed likely to be named the new chairman.
Picard, who served on the Tweed Authority for eight years, including as its chairman prior to Hoey, was reappointed recently by the South Central Regional Council of Governments, according to both men. Picard is also a former West Haven mayor who now lives in Madison.
"Obviously, I believe in Tweed," Picard said. "I believe in creating the jobs and there's a lot of people working there ... I think Tweed's important to the region. It's important for economic development."
Picard said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker asked if he would be vice chair.
"I said, 'If you need me, I'll do it,'" Picard said. "I like Tweed, I like the people. I like the board. It's a good board."
Hoey, first selectman of Guilford, served for several months beyond the expiration of his most recent term. He also served for eight months at one point as interim executive director. The state legislation that created the Tweed Authority limits board members to two four-year terms.
"It is hard to believe that it has been nine years since my first meeting on the Tweed Board, where one of my first votes was to sue the State of Connecticut over the legislative restriction on the length of the runway," he said in a statement. "Little did I know that in doing so, we were laying the groundwork for what has become nothing short of an amazing turnaround for the airport."
He said he volunteered to be the interim executive director in 2019, thinking it would only be for a couple of months but instead ended up being eight months before state Comptroller Sean Scanlon became executive director.
While serving as interim executive director, he met Avports CEO Jorge Roberts, who was passionate about the idea of a public-private-partnership, now in place, Hoey said.
"We were fortunate that Avelo Airlines' business model was a perfect match for a small regional airport, and today they fly non-stop to over 26 locations, a far cry (from) the Philadelphia-only location by a prior carrier less than three years ago," Hoey said.
He said he's proud of his service alongside the other members, including Picard who was key to getting the 43-year agreement with Avports and The Haven LLC.
"I leave, grateful for the opportunity to serve, proud of what we have accomplished, and look forward to many more great things happening at Tweed New Haven Airport," Hoey said in the release.
Elicker confirmed he spoke to Picard, and also that Reed, government relations officer at Yale New Haven Hospital, is likely to be chosen by fellow members as the next chairman of the authority.
"Having a vice chair who has previously served as chair will be helpful to him," Elicker said.
He added Picard was the authority's chair for a long time and when the airport turned itself around.
"I think that experience is going to be very helpful," Elicker said.
East Haven resident Lorena Venegas, who has been calling for months for Hoey to be removed from the board because his terms are up, was pleased but said, "It took too long to get him off."
She said she's been writing to Council of Governments officials "for over a year" to try to get Hoey off the board.
"I think that every board member should adhere to the bylaws," said Venegas, who has expressed interest in serving on the board herself. She said the Tweed Authority is not adhering to its own bylaws or the state statute.
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