There are two new department heads at the City of Sebastian – one at the Sebastian Municipal Airport and another in the Community Development Department. City Manager Joe Griffin made the introductions last week for the two new hires, who combined will have an annual base salary of more than $120,800.
“Aviation has been my passion” since childhood, R. Scott Baker told Sebastian River News. A 15-year resident of Sebastian and former employee with an airport tenant, Baker said he is eager to share his talents and abilities with the City.
Griffin told the Council that he chose Baker because of his “extrovert personality” and his ability to connect with the airport’s tenants.
Baker used to work with Velocity West Coast – in California – and relocated to Sebastian when Velocity’s owner suggested he make the move in 2000 and be the production manager at the Sebastian Municipal Airport location. For 10 years, Baker worked there and got to know Griffin when Griffin was the Airport Manager.
“I respect him highly,” Baker said of Griffin.
Baker said he would be spending the next few weeks getting up to speed on the daily operations at the airport and introducing himself to the tenants and the pilots who visit the airport.
Part of his duties will be to attract new businesses to the airport and oversee the construction of new hangars. One such new hangar, “Hangar Charlie,” is in the works with a prospective tenant waiting in the wings, Baker said, adding he could not name the tenant.
As the Airport Manager, Baker is tasked with overseeing what happens on the airport grounds, not the sky above the airport.
“I have no authority over flying planes,” he said, with the exception of reviewing traffic patterns and being on alert for the potential of pilot abuses.
Baker is a commercial pilot who still flies and shares a plane half the year with his son, who lives in California. That plane is a 4-seat Piper Aero built in Vero Beach in 1974.
“I’m a glorified private pilot,” Baker said, explaining that a commercial pilot is allowed to charge for his time flying passengers; he is not an airline pilot.
Baker said one of his other tasks will be working with the other newly hired department head – Marissa Moore, who was tapped to be the City’s new Community Development Director.
As the need for new development arises at the airport for growing or new businesses, the two can be expected to coordinate plans to address those needs.
Moore, who has previously served the Air Force, came to Sebastian via the Florida Keys, where she was a community planning consultant. She has also worked in New Smyrna Beach as a city planner as well as a city horticulturalist.
“This place feels like home to me,” Moore said while looking over the Indian River Lagoon at Fisherman’s Landing. She said the river, the ocean and the small town all help her to feel at home, though she’s been in town for a very short amount of time.
Moore will not only oversee new development in the city, but will also manage the Community Redevelopment Area. She will be the City liaison for special events held within the CRA, such as the Clambake Festival, the Fourth of July festivities, and the Pelican Island Wildlife Festival.
Her previous work experience includes grant writing, which thrilled Councilwoman Andrea Coy when she heard about it during the previous Council meeting.
Coy asked if Moore would be pursuing grants for the City, which Griffin responded affirmatively.
“Oh good!” Coy said. “Yea!”
Coy noted that there are grant opportunities out there to make improvements and upgrades around the city, including at the Barber Street Sports Complex. Moore said she would be researching such opportunities.
Moore said she’s already impressed with the quality of people in Sebastian.
“I’m so happy to be here,” she said. “I really, truly am.”
