Keeping the U.S. Naval Submarine Base may come down to a name change, according to a local coalition of base supporters.
Members of the Sub Base Realignment Coalition discussed renaming the base the Naval Station Groton. The coalition was heavily involved in the fight to save the base from closure during the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment process.
“In the BRAC world, submarine bases don’t do so well but naval stations do survive,” John Markowicz, coalition chairman. “It is a large facility and the name naval station shows that more than calling it a base.”
They also suggested keeping the name of the lower base, where the submarines are docked, as Naval Submarine Base New London at a meeting last week.
Cooperation Critical
Markowicz said he hoped that the New London City Council and the Groton Town Council would discuss a joint resolution about the change. He and others who have worked on the issue expect another round of base closing within the next five to six years.
The Pentagon tried to dismantle part of the base three times in the 1990s and, in 2005, called for a complete closure.
State lawmakers have also taken up legislation to protect the base and its 30,000 jobs. They approved a measure Monday to create the state’s first Military Affairs Office and provide $50 million in state bonding for infrastructure improvements at the Groton submarine base.
The proposals, approved by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, arose from recommendations made last year by the Governor’s Commission on the Diversification of the Southeastern Connecticut Economy.
Lawmakers still have to determine how to pay the military office. The $350,000 a year to finance the new military office was not included in Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s budget or in the Democrats spending plan.
“Leadership doesn’t disagree with the need for the office, but now we have to find the money to fund it,” said state Rep. Tom Reynolds, D-Ledyard. “But this is one more hurdle that we cleared.” (AP)
