Military Base Talks For Newtown Resume

By Kendra Bobowick

A conversation about a military training center in Newtown that recently fell silent has begun again in First Selectman Joe Borst’s office — with a few new thoughts.

First — maybe the Base Closure and Realignment Act (BRAC) legislation could change and allow the military to “widen possibilities” for a base location as Mr Borst suggested in a recent letter to new Army Civilian Liaison Gilbert Sanborn.

Current legislation comes with constraints that had crossed off a first choice of locations at the High Meadow at Fairfield Hills — the broad stretch of fields on a rise along Wasserman Way and across from the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard. Previously, BRAC stipulated that a Newtown base would have to be adjacent to the horse guard — that location did not work for Newtown — and other sites mentioned in the past, including the Batchelder property in Botsford or space near the Technology Park site at the end of Commerce Road, were outside the BRAC restrictions.

An appeal in past days to Congressional Representative Chris Murphy and Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman could help this scenario.

Replying to a recent mail from Mr Sanborn, Mr Borst indicates that the officials “were working … to see if the original legislation [for BRAC] could be modified to release the requirements to be adjacent to the horse guard.” BRAC would then have more flexibility in site selection for other potential spot in and outside of Newtown, he wrote.

Mr Sanborn recently refreshed the conversation regarding military base possibilities by sending an email to State Representative John Stripp, who then sent an email June 12 to Mr Borst noting that Mr Sanborn “has a question regarding the possibility of revisiting the idea of a new Newtown Army Reserve Training Center …” Mr Sanborn’s mail also noted the constraints “by virtue of legislation, had to be contiguous to the existing [horse guard property] in Newtown.”

Mr Sanborn’s main message? He is reaching out to restart conversation on the subject. He warns, “Otherwise the project may simply evaporate, given the required time frame for completion.”

Now in touch with Mr Sanborn, Mr Borst has had “no response” yet from a letter he sent to the liaison dated July 27, nor has he received a response from the congressman or senators.

Mr Sanborn’s mail to Mr Stripp also notes that the town had turned down the Army’s plans for that location despite the economic benefits, noting, “Since there is virtually no construction and expansion going on these days, that may not have been a wise choice.”

Considering whether the revenues from a military base would outweigh preservation of High Meadow’s scenic vista, Mr Borst was firm, “No. It doesn’t.” He “does not disagree” that the sale would have been a wise choice, however, considering the economy. This week he was waiting for a phone call or email on the subject.