Purpose and Constitution The Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS) brings together representatives of the towns of Bedford, Concord, Lexington and Lincoln to consider matters of common concern. These include, but are not limited to, issues arising out of the operation of Hanscom Airfield and the Hanscom Air Force Base.

The Committee is constituted as a Growth and Development Policy Committee pursuant to MGL C40 S4(I), under a Memorandum Of Agreement dated March 1992, the preamble to which states:

• Due to the increases in traffic volumes, aircraft noise, and environmental threats, the above towns recognize the need for and support cooperative and comprehensive planning to implement growth management by land use, environmental and traffic controls; and
• The above towns wish to retain the characteristics and physical attributes which distinguish their region as an attractive and desirable place in which to live and work; and
• The above towns recognize the need to establish an entity that can receive and disburse funds, particularly for ground transportation management projects. Each member may appropriate funds to this Growth and Development Policy Committee which may also accept contributions, gifts or grants from any public or private source – including, but not limited to, any local, state, or federal agency; and
• The above towns believe that the best formal mechanism for maintaining communication, cooperation and implementation of goals is by the establishment of a Growth and Development Policy Committee.

Membership consists of a selectman, a Planning Board member and up to two members-at-large (who are preferably Conservation Commission or Hanscom Field Advisory members) from each town. The Committee may also invite attendance by other persons or organizations concerned with traffic, growth, or environmental issues. Voting is on the basis of one vote per town, with a quorum of all four selectmen or their designees. Action requires a unanimous vote, and member towns may veto actions that would result in physical or regulatory changes within their boundaries. The Chairmanship rotates between the four towns.

The purposes and powers of HATS include: facilitating cooperation between the towns and all entities in the Hanscom Field area; handling funding for ground transportation management projects; reviewing and recommending on development and roadway projects; negotiating agreements on future activities in the Hanscom Field area (subject to ratification by each town’s Board of Selectmen); and reporting to towns’ committees.

Recent Discussions
Recent meetings have hosted discussions on a variety of topics of interest to the four towns:

The topic for the December 2009 meeting is Community agriculture.

Meetings are usually held on the fourth Thursday of each month, in the evening, in the Donaldson Room, Lincoln Town Offices.

Contacts
Chairman:  Jeanne Kreiger, Lexington Board of Selectmen    781-862-0500 x208
Minutes secretary:  Catherine Perry, Lincoln Planning Office   781-259-2610

Meeting Minutes