Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Commission seeks to interact instead of react
By Barbara Forster/ Correspondent

The Hanscom Field Advisory Commission is taking another look at its
relationship with Massport.

"I'm trying to find ways to make the meetings feel more productive at
the end (of the night)," said Concord Selectman Ann Shapiro, chairman of the
commission.

"This summer we talked about how it was better to interact (with
Massport) rather than to react," added Selectman Sheldon Moll of Bedford.
"Maybe the commission has to change its approach and look for ways to
communicate (with Massport) as best we can."

But Peter Enrich of Lexington was more cautious.

"It's likely that the commission needs to adjust its expectations and
modus operandi, but there needs to be at least as much adjustment from the
body that is supposed to be taking our advice," he said.

-- The Problem

On Tuesday, Sept. 21, Richard Walsh of Massport reported that the
agency is reviewing responses to Requests for Proposals to develop the site
occupied by an unused hangar. Although the commission was aware of
Massport's desire to develop the area and saw a copy of the RFP, the
question was when the commission gave its input.

Enrich suggested possibilities. The commission could be involved in
designing the RFP in regard to scale and purpose and/or involved in
reviewing proposals. He argued that it would be difficult to give advice
after the Massport Board of Directors gives an OK to the developer.

Currently, Massport staff review proposals and make recommendations to
the board which then votes to allow staff to enter into a contract with the
developer. After that, the project is presented to the commission.

"That procedure is designed to make us irrelevant," Enrich said.

Walsh disagreed, stating that at this juncture projects were not fully
designed and that the commission could give input then.

In 1999, the Middlesex Superior Court stated that the commission which
was established by the legislature in 1980 need only receive an opportunity
to "review and react to Massport's decisions."

-- Show Me The Money

Whether Massport continues to receive an annual $1 million grant from
the federal government depends on whether 10,000 passengers use Hanscom
Field. For the past several years, Massport has used funds from the Airport
Improvement Program to pay for projects such as repaving runways.

With Shuttle America no longer at the field, Hanscom is averaging
approximately 700-plus passengers a month via Boston-Maine Air. Walsh,
however, is confident that, at least for this year, the magic number will
reached.

Walsh reported that other the agency has had discussions with other
airlines about using Hanscom. He noted that presentations to the community
about new potential users were not likely.

-- What's Been In the Air?

The number of planes in the air over Hanscom varied during the summer.
In June, the total number of flights between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. increased
4.5 percent, decreased 18.1 percent in July and decreased 9.9 percent in
August as compared to last year. Although numbers in two categories of
planes, local and military jets, fluctuated in sync with the ebb and flow in
each month, the number of jets in the air continued to rise. In June the
number was 14.6 percent, July it was 18.5 and in August it was 3.6 percent.

The July spike was influenced by the Democratic National Convention in
Boston.

Although noise complaints went down during the same three months, night
activity from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. increased. More Boston MedFlight activity
helped boost the numbers. In June, for example, 88 MedFlights occurred.

-- More Space Used

Shapiro reported that Draper Lab received a go-ahead to increase its
space at Hanscom, albeit minimally, from the Concord Planning Board. Draper
rents space from the Air Force which leases the land from Massport.

The lab wants an additional 2,200 square feet for research and one more
parking spot. Shapiro noted that all other numbers including the amount of
impervious space and employees remains the same.

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**NOTICE: In accordance with 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.**
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