FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2013
Contacts: Eileen Blackwood
802.865.7125
Joan Shannon
802.324.3300
City Attorney Eileen Blackwood and City Council President Joan Shannon Statements Regarding Council Consideration of and Public Forum on the Issue of Basing the F-35s at Burlington International Airport
City Attorney Eileen Blackwood
“In the course of researching the issues surrounding the basing of the F-35 aircraft at the Burlington International Airport, the City Attorney’s Office has learned that the City does not have in place the routine public officials liability insurance for the airport that it routinely carries for other City business. We are in the process of securing that coverage, but because not having that insurance in place exposes Burlington taxpayers to financial risk, I have advised the Mayor and the City Council that it would be imprudent for the City to proceed with action concerning these issues until that insurance coverage has been obtained. We are in the process of securing this insurance and, once we do, our office will complete its research and issue a legal opinion.”
City Council President Joan Shannon
“Based on the advice of the City Attorney, the F-35 Resolutions will not be considered at the upcoming Monday, October 7 City Council meeting, and the public forum planned for 6:00pm that evening has been postponed. The question of basing F-35s in Burlington has been considered in a long and drawn out public discussion. While the Council is anxious to vote on this issue, we simply cannot do so at this time without putting taxpayers at risk and, therefore, the vote must wait until the insurance issues are resolved, and the City Attorney is at liberty to issue an opinion that will inform our vote. I am grateful to City Attorney Blackwood for her thorough review of our insurance policy, which has identified this exposure to the City. As soon as these issues are resolved, we will announce our plans for holding a public forum and Council deliberation of the F-35 issue. I offer apologies to the advocates on both sides of this issue for the delay.”
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