Compiled by The Bedford Citizen
With Bedford’s Annual Town Meeting beginning at 7 pm on Monday, March 25, voters may wish to arrive early to secure a convenient parking spot and a comfortable seat in the Bedford High School auditorium.
And, take time before you leave home to check the links in this article to read the articles and reports The Citizen has posted in preparation for Annual Town Meeting.
Early arrivals will have time to view Faces of Bedford in the Art Department corridor (to the left of the entrance lobby) from 5:30 pm until the start of the meeting, thanks to Bedford Youth and Family Service, the Violence Prevention Coalition, and the Bedford Historical Society.
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES
Laura Bullock penned a reflection on saving Fawn Lake and several Friends of Fawn Lake shared their memories (Article 7)
Brown Pulliam shared his thoughts on A Statement of the Town’s Concern at the Lack of Federal and State Action Against Global Warming (Article 18, a petitioner’s article) in Part One and Part Two.
Dan Brosgol wrote about the architectural and environmental impact of construction and renovation at the John Glenn Middle School and Bedford High School, with details provided by Facilities Director Taissir Alani and TBA, the project architects. (Articles 21 and 22)
INFORMATION ABOUT THE WARRANT ARTICLES
Thanks to the Finance Committee for the rationale behind their positions on each of the Warrant articles.
The Citizen covered the meeting where FinCom approved the Selectmen’s and the School Committee’s budgets (Article 27) FinCom also heard Planning Board presentations (Articles 10 through 17)
Dredging Fawn Lake (Article 7) comes up as a Community Preservation bond authorization. Other Community Preservation items will be voted in the general CPC budget (Article 8).
A list of ‘big ticket’ items will be voted in the FY2020 Capital Plan (Article 19) and property tax deferral for qualifying senior citizens will be proposed (Article 24).
SUPPORT for NEW ATTENDEES and VETERAN PARTICIPANTS
Town Manager Sarah Stanton and Moderator Cathy Cordes have created multiple online resources to support voters:
- The presentations that will explain each warrant articles
- The actual motion for each article, along with a ‘tally’ format to track its vote.
- The 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant and the 264-page 2018 Town Report
Don’t forget the many FAQs on the Town of Bedford’s website:
- What Is an Open Town Meeting?
- What Bedford’s Town Meeting is NOT.
- Why Do Voters Need to Attend Town Meeting?
- Who can attend Town Meeting? Who can vote? Who can speak?
- Last fall I could not find a parking place for Town Meeting. Where do I park if the lots in front of the High School are full?
- What do I need to know about the check-in process for Town Meeting?
- What’s my precinct
- Where can I read the rules?
READING MATERIAL
A Guide to Town Meeting and Bedford’s Guide to Civil Discourse
VIDEOS
Middle School students at Bedford Television crafted a series of five Public Service Announcements in advance of Annual Town Meeting.
Spoiler Alert: Click this link to watch the Bedford Minuteman Company present the colors to begin Annual Town Meeting
AND, FROM LOIS PULLIAM, BEDFORD’S ‘POET LAUREATE’
Come at seven, once again;
And thrill to our marching Minute Men.
Almost as big a day as Sunday
Is “Town Meeting Night” in March – a Monday.
Then when we vote on new streets or cruiser,
Decide on the budget – be it thrifty or bruiser.
Here’s where we chat with our leaders and neighbors,
And hear how committees have shared in their labors,
And sometimes the warrant has brought up some HOT sparks,
But mostly we manage to use self– control
Use “hands up” or ballots to help when we poll.
So, save Monday night: that’s March twenty-five,
And be part of what’s keeping our country alive!
Editor’s Note: It is estimated that Lois and Brown Pulliam have missed fewer than 5 Town Meetings since they moved to Bedford in 1960.
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