Vermont Business Magazine The statement below is from MajorGeneralSteven Cray, adjutant general, Vermont National Guard.The statement is in response to the Burlington City Council voting Monday night to pass a resolution that will be sent to the Honorable Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force.The City Council "respectfully" asks Air Force Secretary Wilson to "provide an alternative mission for the Vermont Air National Guard at Burlington Airport," instead of the F-35 stealth fighter. Opponents to the new jet, which would replace the F-16 at the Vermont Air National Guard, won a non-binding vote at Town Meeting to find a quieter plane for the Guard. Opponents say the planes are too loud and the airport too close to populations centers.
Neither the vote nor the council resolution can force the Air Force to change its decision and the Air force maintains the F-35s are coming to BTV in the fall of 2019 regardless of the votes. Vermont's congressional delegation and Mayor Weinberger have supported the new mission and have stated that the vote is moot in any case. VTANG and supporters of the F-35 have also bristled at the language of the ballot item which says in part, "Shall we, the voters of the City of Burlington, as part of our strong support for the men and women of the Vermont National Guard..." The Guard has said that the anti-35 vote in fact does not show strong support for them. The City Council supported the resolution 9-3.
General Cray: "The resolution passed by the Burlington City Council does not support the men and women of the Vermont Air National Guard, their families or anyone involved with the Guard. It is an unfortunate distraction that could have been avoided. The decision to base the F-35 in Vermont has been made. Questions have been addressed and answered over the last five years. While this unnecessary process continues, allow me to be clear: the men and women of the Vermont Air National Guard will be ready to receive the F-35 in 2019."
RESOLUTION
