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<br />HATS – HISTORY AND DOCUMENTATION <br /> <br />CURRENT/ MOST RECENT DOCUMENTS: <br />A Memorandum of Agreement dated March 1992(DOC.1) <br /> was signed by the <br />Chairmen of the Boards of Selectmen of each of the four towns (Bedford, Concord, <br />Growth and Development Policy Committee <br />Lexington and Lincoln), to establish a <br />MPL Chapter 40 Section 4(I)(DOC.2)Hanscom Area <br />pursuant to , to be known as the <br />Towns Committee (HATS) <br />. The preamble describes the concerns and aims including: <br />traffic, aircraft noise, and environmental threats; need for comprehensive planning; <br />retention of attractive characteristics; need to be able to receive and disburse funds; <br />communication, cooperation and implementation. The agreement covers membership, <br />voting, chairmanship and towns’ veto power. It sets out the purpose and powers of <br />HATS. <br />A Memorandum of Understanding dated June 1997(DOC.3) <br /> (now expired) was <br />signed by the Chairmen of the four towns’ Boards of Selectmen, regarding arrangements <br />for chairmanship and administrative assistance. <br />A Memorandum of Agreement dated November 2000 (DOC.4) <br />was signed by <br />the Chairmen of the four towns’ Planning Boards, to establish an intercommunity growth <br />management process for the area where the towns border each other, by creating the <br />HATS Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Review Committee <br />. It refers to a <br />defined Study Area. <br /> <br />PREVIOUS HISTORY: <br />The Commonwealth of Masachusetts acquired 500 acres of land in the four towns <br />in 1941. The airfield was turned over to the Army Air Corps that year and military <br />operations dominated until it became a joint military and civilian facility in the 1950s. In <br />1955 the Hanscom Field Community Council was established by Hanscom officials with <br />representation from the four towns, for discussions and dissemination of information. <br />According to Concord’s Town Clerk, until the 1970s, discussions were largely limited to <br />ceremonies and community relations. Some towns had their own airport committees to <br />coordinate their liaison. <br />In 1974, general operations and maintenance of the airfield became Massport’s <br />responsibility and a Hanscom master plan was prepared. The towns had task forces and <br />Hanscom Field Advisory Commission <br />advisory committees during this period. The was <br />established by joint agreement between Massport and the four towns, and was enshrined <br />Chapter 290 of the Acts of 1980 (DOC.5) <br />in legislation in 1980 as . The Commission’s <br />duties cover review and reaction with respect to decisions relating to Hanscom Field and <br />the Hanscom Field area. <br />Hanscom Area Traffic Study Committee <br />In the 1980s the (now known as HATS <br />I) was set up. <br /> January 1988, a Memorandum of Understanding (DOC.6) <br />In was signed by the <br />Chairmen of the Boards of Selectmen of the four towns, to amend the HATS MOU of <br />January 1985 (i.e. HATS I), broadening the committee’s role to address land use issues <br />Hanscom Area Towns Committee <br />around Hanscom and changing the name to (HATS <br />II). It references a HATS DRI agreement in place at that time. There is significant <br />continuity from this 1988 MOU to the March 1992 MOA. <br /> <br />cp060408 <br />