One of The Bedford Citizen’s central missions is community engagement in town government, and there’s nothing more central than Open Town Meeting. It’s democracy in action: one resident, one vote. Each of the Warrant Articles will be decided, by residents’ votes, beginning at 9 am on Saturday when we gather as a town on Sabourin Field.
The Citizen’s writers began covering relevant meetings in January and continued through two Letters to the Editor that posted on Thursday, May 13.
The Annual Town Meeting Warrant was mailed to each household, and is available online on the Town’s website, along with a link to each presentation that will be made during the meeting, and additional information about Annual Town Meeting.
The Bedford Citizen has posted more than 40 articles, categorized below for easy reference.
STARTING WITH THE BASICS
4 May 2021 Bedford Explained: Bedford’s Annual Town Meeting
6 May 2021 Put me in Coach ~ Annual Town Meeting and Baseball
7 May 2021 A First-Timer Experienced a Sense of Power at Annual Town Meeting
7 May 2021 Are You In? Are You Going to The Annual Town Meeting?
8 May 2021 Each Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Has its Own Descriptive Video Link!
11 May 2021 Annual Town Meeting 2021 ~ A Glossary of Important Words and Terms
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING LOGISTICS
21 April 2021 2020 Town Report and 2021 Town Meeting Warrant are Available Online
7 May 2021 Annual Town Meeting for People with Mobility Issues
RECOMMENDATIONS
29 January 2021 Bylaw Changes Reviewed by Select Board in Preparation for Annual Town Meeting
24 March 2021 Select Board Votes on Recommendations For Town Meeting Warrant Articles
24 March 2021 Planning Board Reviews Police Station Expansion
23 April 2021 COA Board Lends Support of Three Warrant Articles – COA Board Meeting Recap – April 13 2021
6 May 2021 League of Women Voters Hosts Warrant Review
11 May 2021 Letter to the Editor: Warrant Article 31 ~ Add BARC the Bedford Arbor Resources Committee to the Town’s List of Official By-Law Committees
FINANCES
29 January 2021 FY22 School Committee Budget ~ Public Hearing: Tuesday Feb. 2 FinCom Review: Thursday Feb. 4
27 February 2021 FinCom Approves ‘Pandemic’ Spending for Schools; Discusses Funding for FY2022 Budget
9 March 2021 FinCom Agrees to Tap Stabilization Fund to Cover Extraordinary School Expenses
8 May 2021 Bedford Annual Town Meeting 2021 Finance Committee Warrant Recommendations
5 May 2021 Town’s Triple-A Bond Rating Reaffirmed by S&P Global
10 May 2021 Schools Set to Receive $385 000+ in Federal Aid for Coronavirus Relief
INFRASTRUCTURE
5 May 2021 Town Meeting Will Consider Proposal to Rehabilitate Shawsheen Road Wells
10 May 2021 Warrant Article 20 ~ Expand and Remodel the Bedford Police Station
10 May 2021 Warrant Article 19: Improvements for the Intersection of North and Chelmsford Roads
12 May 2021 Warrant Article 21: Library HVAC System to Help Town Meet Net Zero Goals Needs Two-Third Majority
ZONING
28 January 2021 Residents Query Planning Board on “Overlay District” Zoning Bylaw Amendment
2 February 2021 Residents Question Planning Board on Proposed ADU Zoning Bylaw Amendment
11 February 2021 Planning Board Finalizes ADU Zoning Bylaw Amendment
12 May 2021 Letter to the Editor: Warrant Articles Art 25 and 26 ~ Assisted Living Overlay District
10 May 2021 Warrant Articles Address Zoning Issues: Accessory Dwelling Units Assisted Living Proposals and Site Plan Approval
ARTICLE 7 ~ COMMUNITY PRESERVATION BUDGET
11 January 2021 Virtual Public Hearing to Consider the Community Preservation Committee’s FY22 Proposals
11 January 2021 Community Preservation Committee Chair Fields Innovative Affordable Housing Proposals
19 January 2021 Community Preservation Committee ~ A Public Hearing on the FY22 Budget
12 May 2021 Letter to the Editor: Relocating the Bedford Historical Society to Old Town Hall
13 May 2021 Letter to the Editor: Opposing Change of Name of Columbus Day
13 May 2021 Letter to the Editor: The Relocation of Bedford TV and the Bedford Historical Society Needs an Integrated Plan
ARTICLE 34 ~ INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY
22 January 2021 Select Board Votes to Place Indigenous People’s Day on the 2021 Town Meeting Warrant
13 April 2021 Letter to the Editor: In Support of Columbus Day
22 April 2021 Letter to the Editor: Supporting Indigenous Peoples Day
28 April 2021 School Committee Endorses Indigenous People’s Day Proposal
28 April 2021 Letter to the Editor: The Origins of Columbus Day
1 May 2021 Letter to the Editor: Opposing Name Change of Columbus Day
5 May 2021 Letter to the Editor: Supporting Article 34 Indigenous Peoples Day
7 May 2021 Letter to the Editor: In Support of Indigenous Peoples Day from a Parent of Young Children
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It’s important to note that this the procedures for meeting will be different from the usual Town Meeting process. In order to get a lot done quickly, the articles won’t be read aloud, and there will be no presentations. It’s vitally important to read the warrant and view the presentations ahead of time.