Submitted by Bedford’s Volunteer Coordinating Committee
The new ad hoc Historical Museum Study Committee established recently by the Selectmen has openings for two at-large positions. The town is looking for residents interested in preserving the Town’s historical character and who are capable of collecting and analyzing data and making recommendations from such analysis.
Bedford residents who want to apply for these volunteer positions should submit a Volunteer Questionnaire available on the Volunteer Coordinating Committee (VCC) page of the Town’s website, www.bedfordma.gov. You may also contact the Town Manager’s office or a member of the VCC: Patty Carluccio, Joe Piantedosi or Carol Amick.
The Historical Museum Study Committee has been charged by the Selectmen to complete several tasks over a six-month period. This includes:
- Assemble a report describing the operations of local historical museums in other Massachusetts communities, collecting such information as the circumstances or history that led to the establishment of each museum; square footage; budget; revenue, and critical factors in successful museum operation.
- Identify and evaluate a comprehensive list of potential space or sites appropriate for a museum utilizing Town-owned and privately-owned buildings or property.
- Match criteria on square footage needs and other attributes provided by the Bedford Historical Society to potential locations identified by the Committee.
- Offer recommendations to the Selectmen on the location and size museum that best suits the size criteria provided by the Bedford Historical Society, and which takes into account any common factors derived from the survey of other museums that are critical for the success of a Bedford museum.
- Identify factors that would need to be addressed to make each potential museum location functional. Such factors include structural needs, interior renovations, security, fire protection, accessibility, parking, zoning issues and other considerations.
The Committee will be comprised of one member of each: the Selectmen, Historic District Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and the Bedford Historical Society, as well as two residents at-large. All committee members will be voting members except for the member from the Historical Society, who will be a non-voting liaison due to the potential of a financial conflict of interest under State law. The Historical Society already has chosen this non-voting representative: former Selectman Francis Gicca, who is Chairman of the Society’s Board of Directors.
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I think a really big issue for a museum is how do you staff it? You can’t run a museum if you expect to depend on volunteers running it – you need paid staff and that costs money.