By Debra Parkhurst
Bedford’s Selectmen considered drought management and a new MWRA agreement, a reserve fund transfer for the Fire Department, and awarded a new three-year contract for Bedford Community Access Television (Bedford TV) at their meeting on Monday night, June 26.
Drought Management and a new MWRA Agreement
Selectmen approved the Bedford Drought Management Plan (2017) at their meeting on June 26. Public Works Director David Manugian presented the plan in conjunction with the upcoming 10-year agreement between the MWRA (Massachusetts Water Resources Authority). The plan is based on the MWRA recommended levels. Bedford gets 85% of its water from the MWRA, with 15% of its water coming from the Shawsheen Wellfields. The MWRA uses percentage levels at Quabbin Reservoir to determine drought stages Bedford’s response is in six phases corresponding to the Quabbin Reservoir levels.
Non-compliance with the Plan will be met with civil penalties and the Selectmen retain the authority to declare an emergency. Chairman Fleischman noted that the Quabbin Reservoir, and consequently MWRA communities, did not suffer as severe a drought as other local communities last summer. Bedford should work to conserve water resources. The Selectmen want to see information distributed regarding water conservation when the resource is below normal and requested this added to the Drought Management Plan.
The Selectmen also approved the Water Supply Continuation Agreement between Bedford and the MWRA. The agreement asked for some minor changes which would allow them to change certain sections based on the upcoming (future meeting) 25-year agreement between Bedford and Lexington. Bedford currently pays Lexington $61,000 per year as it connects in three places in Lexington to allow MWRA water to flow to Bedford. Building a pipe directly to where the MWRA flows into Lexington could cost three to four million dollars.
Reserve Fund Transfer for Fire Department
The Selectmen recommended approval of a Reserve Fund Transfer on behalf of the Fire Department for up to $40,000 at their meeting on June 26.
Unforeseen expenditures were for two employees out on military leave, two employees out on extended injury on duty leave, one on extended sick leave, and the loss of one employee.
Finance Director Victor Garofalo said the Town has received $37,000 insurance proceeds from IOD (injured on duty) insurance. IOD insures up to $1,000 per person per week. In the past, these insurance payments were deposited into the General Fund. Under the new Municipal Modernization Fund, the Town may now accept these payments into a fund established at the Annual Town Meeting in March. This should help allay some of the future reserve fund requests.
A New Contract for Bedford TV
The Selectmen approved a contract with Bedford Community Access TV (Bedford TV) beginning on July 1, 2017, to continue the operations of PEG (Public, Education, Government) access for Bedford’s cable subscribers.
The contract amount was for $192,000, the amount approved at Town Meeting for FY18. The Town issued a Request for Proposals in May and Bedford TV was the only respondent. The Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, and two members of the Bedford Cable Committee reviewed the proposal, which was deemed “advantageous.” The Selectmen were pleased to be able to award the contract, claiming the Town was “fortunate to have an award-winning” production team and happy that the Town and Bedford TV were able to agree on a “mutually beneficial arrangement.”
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