Memorandum of Understanding

Recognizing the mutual benefit of a strong and efficient collaborative approach to planning and implementing the re-use and re-development of the Brunswick Naval Air Station, the Office of the Governor of the State of Maine and the Towns of Brunswick and Topsham hereby memorialize their understanding relating to immediate and future collaboration as follows, to wit:

Whereas, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission on August 24, 2005 voted to close the Brunswick Naval Air Station;

Whereas, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission will be forwarding its recommendation report for closure or realignment to the President of the United States no later than September 8, 2005;

Whereas, the President of the United States will be authorized to approve or reject the recommendation of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission;

Whereas, in the event the President approves a recommendation of closure or realignment, the United States Congress would be authorized within 45 days from the date of its receipt of the President’s action to adopt a joint resolution disapproving the recommendation for closure or realignment;

Whereas, in the event that the Congress fails to adopt such a resolution, the Secretary of Defense would be authorized to close or realign the Brunswick Naval Air Station;

Whereas, the State of Maine and the Towns of Brunswick and Topsham have been zealously advocating for the removal of the Brunswick Naval Air Station from the closure and realignment lists, and will continue to do so;

Whereas, mindful of the uncertainties of the outcome of the Base Closure and Realignment process, the State of Maine and the Towns of Brunswick and Topsham have been performing contingency planning in order to be prepared in the event that the Brunswick Naval Air Station is closed or realigned; and

Whereas, in response to the Base Closure and Realignment Commission’s decision to close Brunswick Naval Air Station, the State and the Towns of Brunswick and Topsham have entered into a partnership.

Now Therefore, the State of Maine and the Towns of Brunswick and Topsham enter into this Memorandum of Understanding.

The State of Maine, through its Governor, is creating within the Office of the Governor, the Maine Office of Redevelopment and Re-employment, which Office shall be a single point of contact for coordination of state actions responsive to the closure of the Brunswick Naval Air Station. The State is committed further:
1. To work with the Towns of Brunswick and Topsham to create a Local Redevelopment Authority (“LRA”) that is dynamically represented and locally driven;
2. To make available to the Brunswick/Topsham LRA and to the region generally, through the Maine Office of Redevelopment and Re- employment, planning resources of the State Planning Office, economic and community development resources of the Department of Economic and Community Development, workforce resources of the Department of Labor, resources of the Department of Environmental Protection, transportation and infrastructure planning resources of the Department of Transportation, education resources of the Department of Education, and health services of the Department of Health and Human Services.
3. To assist the Brunswick/Topsham region, including surrounding communities, in developing a plan and strategy for re-employment of the Brunswick Naval Air Station workforce;
4. To work with the communities and with Maine’s congressional delegation in order to manage the relationship with the U.S. Navy during the disposition and reuse process;
5. To work with the Brunswick/Topsham LRA regarding funding for planning and redevelopment efforts;
6. To assist the Brunswick/Topsham LRA with the federal, state and local property screening process; and
7. To coordinate a communications strategy with the Brunswick/Topsham LRA.
The Towns of Brunswick and Topsham are committed to the following:
1. To form a Local Redevelopment Authority comprised of at least two state officials appointed by the Governor;
2. To collaborate with the State to obtain federal designation as, and to faithfully perform all of the duties of, a Local Redevelopment Authority;
3. To prepare a Master Plan for the reuse of the Brunswick Naval Air Station facility and establish consistency between the plan and the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and land use and zoning ordinances; and
4. To have at least one member from each community on the Brunswick/Topsham LRA serve on the Maine Office of Redevelopment and Re-employment Advisory Council.
III. Future Agreements and Collaboration
- The State of Maine and the Towns of Brunswick and Topsham agree to continue to work together in partnership to jointly respond to the needs of Maine citizens and communities impacted by the closure of the Brunswick Naval Air Station and will enter into future agreements and collaboration as deemed necessary and appropriate to properly respond to the impacts of closure.

Dated:

State of Maine By its Governor, John Elias Baldacci

Town of Brunswick As authorized by its Town Council

Town of Topsham As authorized by its Town Council

BRAC INFORMATION

Memorandum of Understanding