by Kim Siebert MacPhail
At Monday night’s meeting Town Manager Rick Reed informed the Selectmen of the state’s intention to expand the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force to include representation from towns in or bordering on Massachusetts’ military bases.
According to the MA.gov website, the task force was created “to work with stakeholders to develop and implement actions that will better position, promote and protect Massachusetts’ six military bases: Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield; Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee; Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford; U.S. Army’s Soldier Systems Center in Natick; the Massachusetts Military Reservation on the Cape; and Fort Devens.” Until this recent decision, no municipalities were included in the group’s membership.
The Town Manager of each affected community has been designated to serve on the Task Force, according to Reed.