Post by Okwes on Feb 18, 2006 10:50:16 GMT -5
Brunswick Naval Air Station gets Tribal input on reuse effort...
BNAS authority hires director
Elizabeth_Dorsey@TimesRecord.Com
02/16/2006
Former commissioner of Maine Department of Economic and Community
Development to lead base reuse effort.
BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority appointed
Steven Levesque, former commissioner of the Maine Department of
Economic and Community Development, to the position of executive
director Wednesday.
Levesque, who will begin work on Feb. 27, beat out 40 applicants from
throughout the country for the position. He will be responsible for
leading the 13-member authority in its effort to develop a plan for
the reuse of Brunswick Naval Air Station, which has been designated
for closure by the Defense Department.
A Farmingdale resident, Levesque has served as the director of
economic and community development for the city of Lewiston. He also
founded the company SHL Enterprise Solutions and holds a master's
degree in urban and regional planning from California State
University. He currently is the president of the Economic Development
Council of Maine.
"I am extremely honored to be selected to help lead the reuse plan
for the BNAS properties," Levesque said in a statement. "I am
convinced that through a thoughtful and collaborative planning
process, involving local citizens and town, state and federal
governments, we can develop a realistic and achievable reuse plan
that will ensure the long-term economic stability and growth of the
region."
The 18-month position will be supported through funding from the
Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment, which assists
communities affected by base closures. Levesque will earn a salary of
$110,000 and will receive the standard town of Brunswick benefits
package. Once Levesque is on board, he will assist in the hiring of
an additional five to six support staff, possibly including planners,
an administrative assistant and a public information professional.
"Steve's extensive experience, his ability to communicate on a local,
state and federal level, and his ability to manage broad and varied
projects made him the ideal choice for this position," said Martin
Wilk, chairman of the redevelopment authority.
Levesque will replace Mathew Eddy, Brunswick's economic development
director, who has served as the redevelopment authority's executive
director on an interim basis.
Other business
In other business Wednesday, the redevelopment authority decided not
to take action on a request by the Passamaquoddy Tribe to endorse its
request for the entire 3,200-acre base property. As part of the
federal screening process, which allows federal agencies to claim
former military property before it is turned over to state and local
interests, the tribe has asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs to
request the property on its behalf. If that request is ultimately
granted, the Department of Interior would hold title to the land.
Craig Francis, an attorney representing the tribe, asked the
authority Wednesday to help strengthen the application with a letter
of endorsement. As was stated when the idea was first proposed last
year, Francis reiterated Wednesday that the tribe is interested in
teaming up with local and state developers in the reuse of the
property. Because the Passamaquoddy are a federally recognized tribe,
Francis said their participation might enable the state to gain use
of the property at no cost.
Francis acknowledged that the timing — the application is due Feb.
22 — is awkward because the redevelopment authority has not yet had
the chance to seriously consider any proposals for reuse of the
property.
It was for this reason that redevelopment authority members chose not
to take any action.
"The scope of the tribe's request involves the entire facility.
Something of that magnitude seems to me to warrant a community
conversation," said Wilk.
In addition to the Passamaquoddy, the Penobscot Indian Nation also is
interested participating in the reuse of the base, but on a much
smaller scale. The Penobscots are seeking to use what is now Hangar
Five and some adjacent acreage for business development in the
composites, housing and energy fields.
Other entities interested in pieces of the property include the
Federal Aviation Administration, which expressed interest in using a
radar facility. The Army and Air National Guard also are pursuing
plans to use some of the property.
The screening process is scheduled to wrap up on May 9, when the
federal government will announce which part of the property will
ultimately become available for reuse by state and local governments
and private interests.
In the meantime, the development authority is receiving regular
inquiries from developers about possible interest in the property.
Eddy told the authority that Maine Eastern Railroad has inquired
about developing on the base. And on Wednesday, Hal Chase, who works
at Brunswick Naval Air Station as a defense contractor with Summit
Research Corp., told the authority that the Department of Homeland
Security is looking for at least 30 acres of property to relocate a
biological and agricultural research facility currently located in
Plum Island, N.Y.
The next regular meeting of the development authority is scheduled
for March 15.
BNAS authority hires director
Elizabeth_Dorsey@TimesRecord.Com
02/16/2006
Former commissioner of Maine Department of Economic and Community
Development to lead base reuse effort.
BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority appointed
Steven Levesque, former commissioner of the Maine Department of
Economic and Community Development, to the position of executive
director Wednesday.
Levesque, who will begin work on Feb. 27, beat out 40 applicants from
throughout the country for the position. He will be responsible for
leading the 13-member authority in its effort to develop a plan for
the reuse of Brunswick Naval Air Station, which has been designated
for closure by the Defense Department.
A Farmingdale resident, Levesque has served as the director of
economic and community development for the city of Lewiston. He also
founded the company SHL Enterprise Solutions and holds a master's
degree in urban and regional planning from California State
University. He currently is the president of the Economic Development
Council of Maine.
"I am extremely honored to be selected to help lead the reuse plan
for the BNAS properties," Levesque said in a statement. "I am
convinced that through a thoughtful and collaborative planning
process, involving local citizens and town, state and federal
governments, we can develop a realistic and achievable reuse plan
that will ensure the long-term economic stability and growth of the
region."
The 18-month position will be supported through funding from the
Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment, which assists
communities affected by base closures. Levesque will earn a salary of
$110,000 and will receive the standard town of Brunswick benefits
package. Once Levesque is on board, he will assist in the hiring of
an additional five to six support staff, possibly including planners,
an administrative assistant and a public information professional.
"Steve's extensive experience, his ability to communicate on a local,
state and federal level, and his ability to manage broad and varied
projects made him the ideal choice for this position," said Martin
Wilk, chairman of the redevelopment authority.
Levesque will replace Mathew Eddy, Brunswick's economic development
director, who has served as the redevelopment authority's executive
director on an interim basis.
Other business
In other business Wednesday, the redevelopment authority decided not
to take action on a request by the Passamaquoddy Tribe to endorse its
request for the entire 3,200-acre base property. As part of the
federal screening process, which allows federal agencies to claim
former military property before it is turned over to state and local
interests, the tribe has asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs to
request the property on its behalf. If that request is ultimately
granted, the Department of Interior would hold title to the land.
Craig Francis, an attorney representing the tribe, asked the
authority Wednesday to help strengthen the application with a letter
of endorsement. As was stated when the idea was first proposed last
year, Francis reiterated Wednesday that the tribe is interested in
teaming up with local and state developers in the reuse of the
property. Because the Passamaquoddy are a federally recognized tribe,
Francis said their participation might enable the state to gain use
of the property at no cost.
Francis acknowledged that the timing — the application is due Feb.
22 — is awkward because the redevelopment authority has not yet had
the chance to seriously consider any proposals for reuse of the
property.
It was for this reason that redevelopment authority members chose not
to take any action.
"The scope of the tribe's request involves the entire facility.
Something of that magnitude seems to me to warrant a community
conversation," said Wilk.
In addition to the Passamaquoddy, the Penobscot Indian Nation also is
interested participating in the reuse of the base, but on a much
smaller scale. The Penobscots are seeking to use what is now Hangar
Five and some adjacent acreage for business development in the
composites, housing and energy fields.
Other entities interested in pieces of the property include the
Federal Aviation Administration, which expressed interest in using a
radar facility. The Army and Air National Guard also are pursuing
plans to use some of the property.
The screening process is scheduled to wrap up on May 9, when the
federal government will announce which part of the property will
ultimately become available for reuse by state and local governments
and private interests.
In the meantime, the development authority is receiving regular
inquiries from developers about possible interest in the property.
Eddy told the authority that Maine Eastern Railroad has inquired
about developing on the base. And on Wednesday, Hal Chase, who works
at Brunswick Naval Air Station as a defense contractor with Summit
Research Corp., told the authority that the Department of Homeland
Security is looking for at least 30 acres of property to relocate a
biological and agricultural research facility currently located in
Plum Island, N.Y.
The next regular meeting of the development authority is scheduled
for March 15.