The Danvers Select Board voted unanimously Feb. 18 to recommend Todd Dienstatt to the Beverly Airport Commission, filling the vacancy left by Aaron Henry.

Dienstatt, who described himself as a Danvers resident with 40 years of professional flying experience, told the board he would emphasize safety, security and communication between the commission and Danvers residents. “I’ve finished 40 years of professional flying,” Dienstatt said during his presentation, adding that he recently completed FAA security training and became an instructor.

The recommendation was the culmination of a public discussion that included multiple residents pressing the board to use its two appointed seats to press Beverly and federal authorities on noise, runway work and other airport impacts. Bill Bradstreet, a Town Meeting member, asked whether the airport plans to lengthen the runway “by 300 feet on either end,” a point he said residents have heard and want clarified. Bradstreet also urged the board to pursue federal, state and local steps to protect neighbors from noise and vibration, saying some residents have considered leaving Danvers because of airport impacts.

Select Board members questioned Dienstatt on how he would balance Beverly’s authority over the airport with Danvers residents’ concerns. Dienstatt said his experience at other airports and with aviation organizations would let him gather data and examples of best practices to present to the commission and to residents. “I know where to find the information,” he said.

Board members praised Dienstatt’s aviation and safety background and his willingness to reach out and learn. One member said Dienstatt had been candid in acknowledging “he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know” and noted that quality of experience could help him serve as Danvers’ liaison to Beverly.

The board moved to recommend Dienstatt to the Beverly City Council, which has final authority over the airport commission seats; the motion was seconded and passed 5–0. The board’s recommendation will be forwarded to Beverly for formal appointment.

Residents who spoke urged Danvers to use its two appointed seats to press for more data and enforcement on noise abatement, to seek clarity on proposed pavement or runway changes, and to pursue measurements of noise exposure (65 DNL and other metrics) in the town’s impacted neighborhoods.

Several residents said they want the Select Board to form a local community advisory group to gather neighborhood concerns and support the town’s two commissioners on the Beverly commission. Board members asked staff to examine the legal framework governing the two seats — which, staff said, were codified by the Beverly City Council — and to prepare options for future meetings.

The appointment followed routine business earlier in the meeting: the board approved the minutes for Feb. 4 and adopted the consent calendar by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve minutes of Feb. 4: approved by voice vote (all in favor; no opposed) — motion and second recorded; tally not broken out by name in the record.
- Motion to recommend Todd Dienstatt to the Beverly Airport Commission to fill Aaron Henry’s seat: approved 5–0. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Beverly City Council for final action.
- Motion to adopt the consent calendar: approved by voice vote (all in favor; no opposed).

Why this matters

Danvers has two seats on the nine-member Beverly Airport Commission but does not control the airport; Beverly operates the facility and codified the two-seat arrangement. Residents near the airport have repeatedly raised noise, safety and environmental concerns, and the Select Board’s recommendation shapes who will represent Danvers interests in discussions with Beverly, the FAA and other authorities.

What’s next

The Select Board asked staff to forward Dienstatt’s name to the Beverly City Council and to compile ordinance language and other documentation on the two-seat arrangement. Board members also discussed convening a local advisory group to collect neighborhood input and support the town’s commission representatives.

Sources and provenance

Evidence for appointment and discussion appears in the Select Board transcript beginning with the board’s introduction of applicants and public comment on the airport (transcript block starting “At at this time, we're gonna hear from 2 candidates for the Beverly Airport Commission…”) and concluding with the motion, second and vote to recommend Dienstatt (transcript block ending with the board’s confirmation and applicant acknowledgment).