Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, June 9, 2004

Massport to include residents?
House votes measure to put community reps on board

By Barbara Forster / Correspondent

Hanscom Field communities could get seats on Massport's Board of directors
if Massachusetts' legislators give their OK.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives has voted to expand the Massport
board to include residents from communities affected by Hanscom and Logan
airport. The measure will now move to the senate.

"This is a step in the right direction," says Sarah Lazarus of Safeguarding
the Historic Hanscom Area's Irreplaceable Resources. "Massport needs more
oversight from the communities."

Anna Winter, executive director of Save Our Heritage, is cautiously
optimistic. "We applaud the inspiration and spirit of this legislation.
However, these communities will hold only one seat on the proposed 13-member
board. We are hopeful that this will provide meaningful and effective
representation for our concerns regarding the impact of increasing aviation
in the midst of Minute Man Park and Walden country."

Politicians are confident nonetheless.

"This is long overdue," said Rep. Jay Kaufman, "and I'm very optimistic
about passage."

Sen. Robert Havern, who plans to submit identical language in the Senate
version agreed.

"I am confident that this measure will pass both branches," he says. "This
is a great start to holding Massport more accountable to its neighbors."

Two years ago, the House approved similar legislation. The Senate did not.

However, Kaufman believes momentum now favors residents.

"The idea has ripened," he said.

One reason is that Gov. Mitt Romney is interested in reform of all
transportation agencies including Massport.

In addition, collaboration among the various communities, argues Kaufman,
has led to "strong alliances" between legislators. "A great deal of credit
is due to the activist groups that helped turn around the war between the
(Hanscom and Logan) communities - a war fostered by Massport," he said.

Not everyone likes the idea, however. According to Kaufman, Massport tried
to introduce an amendment that would have eliminated the provision.

"They failed to find a sponsor," he said.

Massport spokesperson Barbara Platt, who noted that the agency did not file
an amendment, said "We have said publicly that Massport believes the current
seven-member structure serves the authority well."

The provision in the House version of the Transportation Bond bill would
restructure and expand Massport's board from seven to 13 members and include
community representatives from around the two airports. The mayor of Boston
would name three representatives to the board.

The other three reps would come from a newly created Massport Advisory Board
consisting of 30-plus towns. Each of the four communities abutting Hanscom
would have a seat on the board that will also include communities around
Logan.

The Advisory Board would name three members to Massport's board: two will
represent the Logan communities and the other, the Hanscom communities.

Should the Senate say "yes" to the bill without changes, the legislation
would then go to the governor. If the Senate makes changes in the bill, it
returns to conference and then back to the full House and Senate for another
vote. Then it heads to the governor's office.

Once the governor's signature is on the paper, the bill becomes law and
changes take place immediately.

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