JBM-HH Commander Col. Carl R. Coffman Jr. started off the proceedings urging residents to provide information about their experiences with base programs and services. ‘‘[Interactive Customer Evaluation] cards and feedback are important,” he said. ‘‘It helps prioritize our efforts.”

Lt. Col. Kevin Bonds updated audience members on the progress of renovations at Rader Clinic and spoke about the dispensing of flu shots at the clinic and nearby military medical facilities. He said Rader would temporarily close April 5-9 in preparation for the second phase of renovation. He added that the project was on schedule and work is expected to be completed by December of this year.

Even in the midst of construction, ‘‘Rader has a 95 percent customer satisfaction rate,” noted Coffman from the sidelines.

Installation Army Air Force Exchange Service General Manager Rick Talbot fielded questions about the availability of watch repair at the PX and updated residents about renovations to the Shoppette. In response to area jurisdictions mandating a five cent fee for customers requesting a bag with purchases in commercial stores, he said the exchange service would soon be giving money back to customers who provided their own bag.

‘‘In March if you bring in a bag we’ll reward you with a nickel back [during purchases],” Talbot said.

Nancy Mitchell, Commissary director, said the store was persevering despite being short-staffed.

A customer in the audience complimented her on improvements to the Commissary’s produce section. Mitchell said that when she became director in August she tried switching section managers around, which resulted in improvements in many departments.

Mitchell said the Commissary had so far only received four essays to its college scholarship contest. She urged community members to get their children to submit essays before the Feb. 17 deadline.

‘‘If you have any kids going to college it’s really important that they fill out those essays,” she stressed.

Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Director Bill Horvath reminded residents of upcoming DFMWR events, including a Super Bowl Party cosponsored with the USO on Feb. 7, a ‘‘Tough Enough to Wear Pink Fitness Challenge” Feb. 26 and an Army Ten-Miler Qualification Run March 19.

Public Affairs Director Mary Ann Hodges reminded residents of the Commander’s Information Hotline — (703) 696-6906 — as a resource for staying updated on rapidly occurring events like weather emergencies and road closures.

After a resident questioned why the P Street gate at Fort McNair wasn’t open later in the evenings, raising the question of safety because the 2nd Street gate was less accessible to pedestrians, a spokesman for the MPs Provost Marshal said manpower was an issue and that the base was looking into getting a system where residents could insert a card that would open and then close the gate. The problem, he said, was that the system cost is $300,000.

Coffman wrapped up the town hall meeting by saying the installation was investigating a system that would provide automated calls to residents who register about delayed school openings due to weather conditions and other situations.

‘‘If we can do it outside the gate we can do it here,” the colonel said.

‘‘If you’re here tonight in the snow then you’re a core citizen,” Coffman told the audience. ‘‘You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t have genuine concerns.

‘‘If you’ve got an issue, call our guys and we’ll help you work out a problem,” he said, speaking on behalf of the assembled directors. ‘‘We’re available for you to come in and talk to us. It’s not a problem at all.

‘‘Please do not let a community concern wait for a Town Hall meeting,” Coffman said. ‘‘Let us know anytime, so we can work to solve the problem.”