By Lizzie Seibert
For an overview of Bedford’s Annual Town Meeting–night one, please reference: https://thebedfordcitizen.org/2017/03/annual-town-meeting-2017-night-one-review/
Night Two of Annual Town Meeting opened with residents voting on remaining items in the Capital Expenditures budget, each of which requires partial or full bond authorizations. Approval was given to the following projects: Middlesex Turnpike Water Main Replacement ($555,109), DPW Large Dump Truck Replacement ($473,814), Water Tank Refurbishment ($818,407), Police Station Schematic Design Services ($255,000), Lane School Parking Lot & Circulation Improvement ($300,000), and Water Meter Replacement Program ($1,251,000). The Capital expenditures projects from both nights combined total $5,924,547.
Before their approval, residents voiced concerns over the Police Station Design project, Lane School Parking Lot, and Water Meter Replacement program. One resident was concerned that Bedford was not putting enough thought into the long-term possibility of a town public safety building. She questioned if it was a wise use of money to redesign the police station when Bedford could consider something more long term. Another resident wondered why the space in the police station is no longer adequate, and was told that due to changing technology and inadequate storage, the Selectmen concluded that redesigning the space is necessary.
Questions were raised over the Lane School Parking Lot project. Neighbors of Lane School wondered if there really was a parking issue at the school because they were unaware of one. Residents were also worried about why the School Department felt that it needed to double parking at Lane School, pointing out that parking lots are rarely removed. Superintendent Jon Sills answered that because of the growing enrollment in Bedford Schools, there is a need for additional staff parking, and parking for high school student volunteers and parents. He explained that most of the added spaces would come through redesigning the parking lot and repaving it, rather than adding additional space. He said that the project would also accommodate double the number of school buses and expedite school pick-up and drop-off.
In a discussion of the Water Meter Replacement Program, residents wondered how the project would impact their finances. According to Selectman Bill Moonan, “[the meter replacement] will save everybody money.” He said that because some households have older and failing water meters, Bedford is not accounting for $4-5million of water each year. Additionally, residents with working meters may be overpaying for water, while those with failing meters pay very little of what they owe.
The Capital expenditures projects from both nights combined total $5,924,547.
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