Lexngton Minuteman
Thursday, October 9, 2003

Letter supports Air Force base

By Brian Kelly / Staff Writer

There is a difference between Hanscom Air Force Base and Hanscom Field - a point several local groups and legislators want to make sure they make clear to the governor's office.

On Monday, Selectman Jeanne Krieger presented her board with a letter being sent to Massachusetts Chief of Commerce and Labor Robert Pozen that questions "Massport's management of Hanscom Field" but supports the air force base.

The board showed support by approving Chairman Leo McSweeney's signature on the letter, which is already signed by Rep. Jay Kaufman, D-Lexington, Rep. Thomas Stanley, D-Waltham, Sen. Susan Fargo, D-Lincoln, Sen. Robert Havern, D-Arlington, and groups including Save Our Heritage, ShhAir, Minute Man National Historic Park, and the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission.

Written on behalf of Hanscom's surrounding communities, Lexington, Bedford, Concord, and Lincoln, the letter cites the importance of the base to the local economy.

"We recognize and honor the base's vital contributions to our national defense, and the base's essential role in the region's and commonwealth's economic vitality. We appreciate that the base has been a good neighbor to our communities. And as stewards of this unique historical place, the birthplace of liberty, we believe that the nation's defense, good jobs, and national heritage can and must coexist," read the letter. "Much has been said, written or implied about our active, public struggle with Massport's continuing efforts to expand corporate, passenger and cargo traffic at the civilian airport known as Hanscom Field. Let us be clear. Our concern is with Massport's management of Hanscom Field, not with the Air Force or the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base."

It went on to note the relationship between Massport and the surrounding communities has been shaky, but that hasn't affected the support of the air force base or the commitment to work on future issues.

Krieger said it's very important that the base stay viable, and the communities wanted to make sure that was well-known despite the struggles against Massport's expansion aspirations.

"We just feel that it's important to let the state and Mass. Development know that we are supportive of the base. One of the reasons for making the clarification is an effort to curtail expansion at Hanscom Air Field," said Krieger, Lexington's selectman representative to Hanscom Area Towns Selectmen (HATS). "Ultimately what we are interested in is if the base is to succeed, it will succeed because it has drawn in [research and development] that goes on at other military bases. We would like to be involved in that planning process."

Peter Enrich, chairman of HFAC, said his personal feelings are that the letter will be well-received.

"The primary intent of the letter is to make clear that the communities are very strongly behind keeping the base, which is a really long-term priority for the town's health, and that is consistent with and served by constraining Massport's activities on the civilian side of the base," he said. "The governor's office is very invested in the effort to keep the base, and the governor has also been supportive of our concerns about Massport expansions. I think this would be helpful to the governor's office ... and I would anticipate that it would get very positive response."

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