Cutler compromise

Navy Secretary Richard H. Danzig made a difficult decision when he agreed with the Maine congressional delegation on a compromise that would preserve jobs at the Cutler naval station. It’s not easy for a military leader to concede points to members of Congress. But to Secretary Danzig’s credit, he put the performance of the telecommunications site ahead of cost-saving pressures in the Pentagon.

Cutler, of course, still won’t be the same; the Navy itself isn’t coming back. But the work of the Maine delegation ensured that civilian employees, who have near-perfect work and efficiency ratings, would not also be turned out. In a letter to Sen. Olympia Snowe last week, the secretary said, “I agree with your point that further major restructuring efforts at Cutler in the near future are likely to be counterproductive. Therefore we agree that, barring any extraordinary circumstances, no major reorganizations will be conducted over the next five years.”

That is a fair amount of time for Maine to think about eventual reuse of the facility and to be prepared when future advances in automation again cause the Navy to think about staffing there.

The Cutler experience, though not entirely successful from Maine’s point of view, nevertheless gave the state a sense of what can happen when the delegation pulls together. Sen. Snowe was joined by Sen. Susan Collins and Reps. John Baldacci and Tom Allen in the effort to save needed jobs at Cutler. And while the delegation works together on many issues, it is rare that the results are as public as these.

Along with preserving the civilian staff at Cutler, Secretary Danzig has placed the facility under something called a Most Efficient Organization plan, which allows the Navy to carry out Cutler’s mission effectively while working with the delegation to offset economic harm by the Navy’s departure. It also meets the delgation’s concern about maintaining the facility so that it can be reused in the future.

The Cutler package is a resonable compromise that best serves the Navy’s interest and preserves Maine jobs in an area of the state that cannot afford to lose any.