October 28, 2010
Submarine Base Vital To Region
Last week, the commander of the Submarine Base invited all the First Selectmen in the region for a tour of the facility and of an active duty submarine. I was very fortunate to be able to attend this event and spend some time with our dedicated men and women in the military.
While receiving a tour of the base, I was constantly reminded of how integral a part of the region this facility is. In addition to the thousands of personnel stationed at the base and adding to the local economy, there is a significant amount of construction going into the base to replace old facilities with modern ones that can better train future submariners. In fact, there will be over $100 million dollars of improvements made at the base, most of which will be done by local contractors.
Some of the new facilities I was able to observe included a large water tank used to practice emergency escapes from a submarine and a virtual reality simulator of surface operations. The instructors were all very enthusiastic about their job and you can rest assured that the submariners are receiving the best and most innovative training available.
After the tour of the base, I was able to board the nuclear submarine USS Pittsburgh. Even though she is an older boat, I was still impressed by the technology and design of the vessel. The Pittsburgh had just returned from a six month deployment and I passed along the thanks and gratitude of all of Colchester to the sailors I was able to speak with.
Agriculture Commission Proposed
At the last Board of Selectmen meeting, we heard a presentation from local farmers about the possibility of forming an Agriculture Commission. The commission would be advisory in nature and would help promote agriculture and farming in Colchester. After the presentation, the board voted to endorse the concept of the commission and begin the process of drafting the appropriate ordinance language.
There are many benefits to ensuring the growth and preservation of farms. First, we help continue a local supply of produce. We all know that the closer the farm is to us, the quicker and fresher it can get to our kitchens. Having these local resources is beneficial to all of us.
Next, by ensuring the viability of farms, we help prevent large pieces of land from being developed into subdivisions which can add a lot of expense to the town. Whenever a farm closes, the land will usually be divided and used for housing. While we will always welcome new housing, it’s very important to control the growth in town in order to keep expenses down. Any large development will increase the need for town services and keeping the land as a farm helps to avoid that scenario.
Lastly, preserving farms helps maintain and enhance the beauty of Colchester. As a local farmer told me, when you help a farm succeed you have essentially hired a professional landscaper. That farmer will take care of the land and keep it in great condition.
The next step in the process of forming this commission is to draft the ordinance language and consult with other land use boards. After that process is completed, the ordinance will come before the Board of Selectmen to be approved and forwarded to a town meeting. I hope that we will all welcome this opportunity to continue to help farms succeed in Colchester.
- Gregg Schuster
First Selectman
Previous Selectman Notes can be viewed at
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