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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-29-HATS-min Hanscom Are Towns Committee Meeting Minutes November 29, 2018 Attending: HATS Selectmen: Suzie Barry, Lexington, chair, Jonathan Dwyer, Lincoln, Michael Lawson, Concord Others in attendance: Jennifer Boles, Bedford, Jessica Casserly, Public Affairs, Hanscom Air Force Base, Col. Chad Ellsworth, commander, 66th Air Base Group, Hanscom Air Force Base; Amber Goodspeed, director of operations, Hanscom Field; Julie McCay Turner,Bedford Citizen. Col Ellsworth said Hanscom Air Force Base is thriving and continues to grow He said the base has about $8 billion in infrastructure and 156 buildings, with 27 current projects valued at $32 9 million He noted the up- coming design contract for Lincoln Laboratory renovation and expansion, as well as the enlargement of the former Vandenberg Gate, thanks to land gifted by the state. The colonel expects this project to be bid in January with construction completed in 2021. He also noted that the Defense Contract Management Agency and its 325 employees will be moving from Boston to a renovated building at Hanscom. The colonel also noted completion of the dormitory for junior enlisted personnel,with 66 rooms and eight kitchens, all with gas appliances. The ribbon-cutting is planned for Dec. 4. Construction of the $37 million ele- mentary school, operated by the Lincoln Public Schools, is on schedule to open for the 2019-2020 school year. "We are fully integrated in the communities. I have been overwhelmed with the amount of support that we get" from the four contiguous towns, Col Ellsworth said "We live and work and transit and purchase in your com- munities "He added that there is strong support from the governor's office and congressional offices "We have great relationships with everyone and we are always looking to partner," Col. Ellsworth invited new ideas for partnerships, noting that Bedford's Department of Public Works will apply pre-treatment to roadways on the base for another year. The colonel said community resources helped Hanscom find optimum child care options. This year Hanscom officials have worked closely with local chambers of commerce to facilitate delivery of food to the base, Col Ellsworth said He noted that there are 10,000 weekday employees and 730 households, and not that many restaurant options. Parking is at a premium so the deliveries are helpful. In October—three years to the date of their passing--Hanscom dedicated the two main gates in memory of two fallen senior air- men, Kcey Ruiz and Nathan Sartain, Col. Ellsworth said. Hanscom leader are always looking for ways to mitigate vehicular traffic, the colonel said Strategies include ride sharing and telecommuting One staff position is dedicated to these efforts In answer to a comment from Selectman Lawson, Col. Ellsworth said a temporary commercial lane at the Sartain Gate (formerly Vandenberg) increased simultaneous inspections from two to five and also frees an additional lane. Selectman Barry asked about the traffic impact of the additional employees moving to the base with the De- fense Contract Management Agency That is a concern, Col Ellsworth acknowledged, and"we are looking at ways"to minimize that. He also noted that about 300 employees of the Army Corps of Engineers will be relo- cating to Hanscom from Concord. Selectman Dwyer asked if the Sartain Gate will be able to handle all of the upcoming construction traffic. Col. Ellsworth said the base is looking at other options to ease the demand, including Wood Street near Lincoln Lab He said the base does not want to open the Airport Road gate In answer to a remark from Selectman Barry, the colonel said Hanscom is aware of plans to replace the Hartwell Avenue bridge over the next three years. He noted that Lincoln Lab construction is scheduled for 2019-2022. Selectman Dwyer asked about the proportion of base housing occupied by active-duty personnel. Col. Ellsworth said about 90 percent is active military, including 42 percent Air Force as well as Coast Guard and Army There are 731 units and 729 are occupied, the colonel said Some united are compliant with the Americans with Dis- abilities Act. The housing is privately owned, he noted. The colonel also pointed out that Hanscom is the ser- vice center for about 200 military units in all of New England and Upstate New York.Asked about a new sys- tems engineering building, Col. Ellsworth said construction is under way. A building was just demolished for a parking lot, he said Selectman Lawson pointed out that the series of community partnership meetings hosted by Hanscom has ended. He suggested they resume even on a reduced level so the communities can be aware of what is happen- ing on the base. Hanscom Field Ms. Goodspeed said that at the recent meeting of the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission, it was announced that Boston MedFlight's new hangar is finished. The facility will host an upcoming HFAC meeting. Ms. Goodspeed said Hanscom Field will be hosting a meeting of the Massachusetts Port Authority Community Ad- visory Council She also noted that the airport is ready for snow removal Municipal Highlights Selectman Lawson said Concord's town manager will retire at the end of June. The selectmen have formed a search committee, which will be working with a consulting firm He added that the town meeting warrant pre- view is tomorrow Selectman Barry said the tri-town(Bedford, Burlington, Lexington) regional transit study committee has been meeting, looking for joint transportation efforts. The recent special town meeting rezoned former Belmont Country Club land to accommodate a 45-bed memory-impaired facility and a 204-bed independent and assisted- living facility Also approved was approval for 100 percent design for a streetscape project on Massachusetts Avenue between the police station and the Battle Green, including roads, sidewalks,bicyce lanes, lighting and trees. The work is estimated to cost $9.3 million, and that appropriation may be on the annual town meeting warrant. Work continues on a new fire station at the site of the 70-yearold previous one, which had to be replaced be- cause of water, contamination and floor issues The project is awaiting a final gas disconnect A temporary sta- tion, including offices and a heated tent for apparatus, is at the former Liberty Mutual Insurance facility, which the town purchased. The project is expected to take no more than 18 months, which will be followed by police station expansion and renovation. During that project the police also will relocate to the former Liberty Mutual. Selectman Barry said Lexington's new town manager, James Malloy,began on Oct. 1 and is in great demand. Selectman Michelle Ciccolo is state representative-elect, so in the March town election there will be two open three-year terms and an unexpired one-year term Selectman Barry also relayed a report from Bedford Selectman Mike Rosenberg about the continuing federal auction for the surplus U.S. Navy hangar off Hartwell Road. Ms. Turner said the high bid has surpassed$7 mil- lion In answer to a question, Mrs Boles said Bedford town meeting authorized$2 1 million for acquisition by eminent domain Selectman Dwyer said Lincoln's special town meeting included a complete ban on marijuana sales and cultiva- tion. At a Dec. 1 special town meeting, voters will decide on a $93.9 million debt exclusion for a new K-8 school. The three-year project will not be subsidized by the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Plans call for moving students in K-4 into modular classrooms to allow for new construction, followed by the older grades. Features such as the gymnasium will be available to the community. People in Lincoln also would like to see a new community center, Selectman Dwyer said. For example, the cur- rent council on aging facility has several drawbacks, and 30 percent of residents are of age to use those services But there is a multigenerational demand as well He noted that the finance committee has said that the town is at the top of a reasonable bonded indebtedness load. The next HATS meeting is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2019, featuring John Beatty, executive director of the Massa- chusetts Military Assets and Security Strategy Task Force Focus of the Feb 28 meeting will be a round table of local public safety leaders and their counterparts from Hanscom Field and the Air Force base HATS reorgani- zation is scheduled for April 25. The committee approved the minutes of the meeting of Oct. 25, 2018. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.