James Danna

The board meeting agenda includes committee reports on budget, finance, economic development, projects, and personnel. Key business items include a CFO review of financials, bid openings for a hangar construction and structural resiliency contract, and a project closeout for ferry building HVAC improvements. The board will consider several resolutions, including authorization of expenditures, lease amendments at the New Castle Airport, revisions to the Wilmington Airport's Air Carrier Incentive Program, a lease termination at Cape May Airport, an agreement concerning operations at the Civil Air Terminal, a utility easement agreement, and service contracts related to ferry construction and naval engineering. Additionally, tributes will be presented for Giuseppe M. Bellanca and former Commissioner and Executive Director Scott A. Green.

The meeting included a public comment period where three members of the Stop Avelo Delaware Coalition voiced concerns regarding contracts with airlines involved in immigration enforcement activities, specifically mentioning Avelo Airlines and Daedalus Aviation, and advocating for transparency and moral clauses in contracts. Following a recess for Executive Session and subsequent Committee Meetings (Governance and Audit, Budget & Finance, Economic Development, Projects), the Board addressed several items. Financial reports for December 2025 regarding revenues, income/expense statements, operating expenses, capital improvement programs, and cash positions were presented and filed. Action items included the approval of one contract award, six project close-outs, and four resolutions. Key resolutions involved authorizing a lease termination agreement for Lund Air Services, LLC at the New Castle Airport, authorizing a new lease agreement with Constellation Energy Generation, LLC at the New Castle Airport, authorizing a lease agreement with Westside Marine Service, LLC at the Cape May Airport, and amending the Rules and Regulations for the Wilmington Airport, effective February 1, 2026. The Executive Director also provided updates on employee town hall meetings, organizational improvement plans for 2026, and upcoming events, including the introduction of a new team member.

The primary subject of this document is Resolution 26-08, which authorizes the restatement of the Delaware River and Bay Authority Employees' Section 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. This restatement aims to incorporate various individual Authority Amendments approved through resolutions spanning from April 2021 through December 2025. Key amendments to be incorporated include the creation of the Defined Contribution Investment Committee (DCIC) per Resolution 21-13, the addition of specific provisions from the CARES ACT and SECURE 2.0 regarding Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) requirements per Resolution 23-04, the addition of Plan-to-Plan Transfers and Personal Loan Provisions per Resolution 25-46, and the inclusion of mandatory SECURE 2.0 Act provisions effective by January 1, 2026, per Resolution 25-58. The resolution was approved by a 9-0 roll call vote.

A public Board meeting of the Commissioners is scheduled to commence with an Executive Session, closed to the public, to discuss confidential matters concerning the Personnel Committee (Personnel Matters, Potential Litigation Matters) and the Economic Development Committee and By-Laws Ad Hoc Committee (Long-Range Planning Alternatives, Lease Negotiations). Following the Executive Session, public Committee meetings for Budget and Finance, Economic Development, Personnel, and Projects will occur. The public Board meeting agenda includes discussions regarding the administration and operation of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, the Airports Division, the Forts Ferry Crossing, and Authority matters relating to Personnel, Finances, Engineering, and Information Services.

The Board meeting included extensive public comment regarding the Authority's contracts with airlines associated with ICE deportation activities, focusing on transparency, human rights, and the rule of law. Financial reports for January 2026 were presented and filed. Key actions included the award of a contract for catwalk railing upgrades, authorization of professional and construction expenditures for 2026, the engagement of a firm for comprehensive website redevelopment, and the approval of a transportation network company operating agreement for ride-share services at the New Castle Airport. Additionally, the Board authorized the restatement of the employees' 457(b) deferred compensation plan to incorporate various regulatory amendments and administrative updates.