The Bedford Citizen (https://www.thebedfordcitizen.org/category/government/page/2/)
At their September 22 meeting, the Planning Board endorsed the latest iteration of the proposed “Friendly 40B” development at 330 South Road, although the Board stopped short of offering a “blanket” approval, saying that certain details still need to be worked out.
In a conversation with Select Board chair Ed Pierce on September 22, he confirmed that there is no current plan to hold a Special Town Meeting this fall. He reiterated that a Special Town Meeting will not be scheduled unless there is an urgent need such as additional funding for the schools.
Typically, Bedford holds its Annual Town Meeting in late March and a Special Town Meeting in October or November.
This week’s summary also includes information about Case Counts, Flu Clinics, Emergency Rental Assistance, Update on Dining, and a Halloween Update
Click this link to read the Town’s full update for Thursday, September 24, 2020
Mass.Gov updates the Commonwealth’s community-level data every Wednesday and displays it for each town on a map of the state.
On the September 23, 2020, map, Bedford appears as a “GREEN” community.
Total Case Count: 270
Bedford has a long history of volunteer committees that serve the town. Many are established formally through the charter or the bylaws, others are ad hoc committees appointed by the Select Board to work on a specific issue. Recent examples are the Fawn Lake Study Committee, the Community Garden Task Force, or the Museum Study Committee. They all depend upon volunteers who are willing to serve their neighbors and the town. The Select Board concurred that broadening the makeup of the volunteer committees to include all segments of the town is a goal and that committees are a valuable way to introduce new people to the civic life of the town.
Emily Mitchell, a member of the Select Board and liaison to the Volunteer Coordinating Committee, made four recommendations on ways to enhance the town’s appointed committee structure, each of which was approved by the Select Board.
In addition to the current case count, this update contains information on Influenza Vaccination Clinics; Mental Health and Social Services Available to Bedford Residents; Gatherings without Social Distancing – Impacting Start of School in Some Communities
Click this link to read the Town’s full update for Thursday, September 17, 2020
If you’re not already registered to vote in the Presidential Election on November 3, National Register to Vote Day, September 22, is a good time to check your voter registration or add your name to the voter rolls so that you can cast your ballot.
Mass.Gov updates the Commonwealth’s community-level data every Wednesday and displays it for each town on a map of the state.
On the September 9, 2020, map, Bedford appears as a “GREEN” community and remains in the same category for the week of September 16.
In addition to the case count from Town Manager Sarah Stanton, this report includes information on Flu Clinics (Registration opens tomorrow for Walk-Up Clinic on Saturday, September 26) and precautions for safety during rallies and protests.
Click this link to read the Town’s full update for Thursday, September 10, 2020
Mass.Gov updates the Commonwealth’s community-level data every Wednesday and displays it for each town on a map of the state.
On the September 9, 2020, map, Bedford appears as a “GREEN” community.
Bedford was “GREY” for the week ending September 2, 2020
The Town of Bedford is looking for volunteers to serve on Town committees.
If you are thinking about helping your Town, now or in the future, we encourage you to attend a meeting of the committee(s) that you are interested in, then fill out a questionnaire (application form), and submit it to the Town Manager’s Office.
Editor’s Note: In addition to today’s case counts, this update contains information on the new schedule for the Town’s Covid updates; celebrating Labor Day weekend safety; more office hours with Sarah Stanton; cautions about ‘Contact Tracing’ scams; and information on Bedford’s autumn flu vaccine clinics.
Click this link to read the Town’s full update for Thursday, September 3, 2020
With special thanks to Town Clerk Bridget Rodrigue, the staff in the Town Clerk’s office, and the poll workers who conducted a socially distanced and masked election from 6 am to 8 pm and then counted votes until 11 pm on Election Night.
Total Ballots Cast ~ 4,611
Democratic ~ Total Ballots Cast, 3864
Senator In Congress
Edward J. Markey, 2611
Joseph P. Kennedy, III, 1236
Representative In Congress
Seth Moulton, 2772
Jamie M. Belsito, 349
Angus G. McQuilken, 635
Councillor
Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney, 3062
Senator In General Court
Michael J. Barrett, 3283
Representative In General Court
Kenneth I. Gordon, 3378
Register Of Probate
Tara E. Decristofaro, 3079
Republican ~ Total Ballots Cast, 721
Senator In Congress
Shiva Ayyadurai, 228
Kevin J. O’Connor, 364
Representative In Congress
John Paul Moran, 512
Green Rainbow ~ Total Ballots Cast, 13
Libertarian ~ Total Ballots Cast, 13
Bedford’s polls closed with a small flurry of activity at 8 pm on Tuesday, as election workers began to put their workspaces in order.
Town Clerk Bridget Rodrigue said the count isn’t official yet, but Tom Larkin, holding a sign for his favored senatorial candidate, said that he heard that 4,000 votes were cast around 7 pm.
This article has been corrected from an earlier version. Thanks to Natasha and
Rob Woods and Colin Valentine for pointing out needed revisions.
In a marathon meeting on August 27 that lasted four and a half hours, the Zoning Board of Appeals dealt with four applications for special permits to demolish existing homes and construct larger homes on nonconforming lots.
A scant crowd, fewer than a dozen, waited for the doors to open at Bedford’s polling place in the John Glenn Middle School shortly before 7 am on Tuesday morning.
Town Clerk Bridget Rodrigue note that in-person early voting had been strong, and mail-in voting was even stronger.
The Citizen will be checking back throughout the day, bringing you pictures and vote total updates.
If you’ve been waiting to cast your Massachusetts Primary ballot at the polls on Election Day, tomorrow is fast approaching. All four of Bedford’s precinct vote in the gymnasium at the John Glenn Middle School, 99 McMahon Road, and the polls are open from 7 am ’til 8 pm on Tuesday, September 1.
And, if you’ve been waiting until the last minute to make up your mind, here are the links you’ll need to make up your mind:
In addition to current case counts, this edition of the Town’s Covid update includes Today’s information about Bedford’s Influenza Vaccine Clinics; the CodeRED Emergency Notification System; updates to the COVID-19 Travel Order; small business updates; and information about the September 1 Massachusetts Primary election.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced the launch of her new Anti-Hate, Anti-Bias Task Force to address the increase of hateful, biased, and racist incidents occurring in our local communities on Wednesday.
“It is alarming that we have seen an increase in Hate and Bias incidents across Middlesex County,” commented Chief Robert Bongiorno of the Bedford Police Department. “In Bedford, we have established an inclusive multi-faceted community response. Having seen the impact first hand, it is imperative we have these conversations.
“Serving on the Task Force,” he added, “I look forward to working with a diverse group of stakeholders with the goal of preventing these types of incidents in the future.”
Mass.Gov updates the Commonwealth’s community-level data every Wednesday and displays it for each town on a map of the state.
We already know that mail-in and early voting in Bedford have been strong, but there are still residents who have not cast their ballots.
Don’t let Tuesday’s Massachusetts Primary slip by — there is a lot at stake. Here’s a quick rundown of the candidates at the top of each primary ballot.
Democracy is not a spectator sport. Get to the polls and VOTE!
Almost 20 percent of the town’s 10,416 registered voters already have cast their ballots for Tuesday’s state primary election.
Town Clerk Bridget Rodrigue said Wednesday morning that her office mailed about 3,500 ballots, as requested, and so far roughly half have been returned. In-person early voting has begun at Town Hall, and after a weekend turnout of 64, more than 100 voters showed up Monday and Tuesday.
“And this is just a warmup for November,” Rodrigue exclaimed.
If you’re looking for a partial score, forget it: Vote-counting can’t legally begin until election day, Tuesday, September 1, when they will be run through the tabulator at John Glenn Middle School, the polling location for all four Bedford precincts.
We have a primary election coming up on Tuesday, September 1 …. or sooner.
And, it’s all good practice for the General Election coming up on Tuesday, November 3.
Share your voting preference in the new What’s Bedford Thinking snap poll on The Citizen’s homepage, www.thebedfordcitizen.org.
You may have heard that the upcoming election is the most important election ever. It is, but they all are because America’s democracy rests on active engagement by all its citizens.
The Bedford Citizen’s tribute to the Class of 2020 ended with an article reminding the class to join the ranks of registered voters. The idea of voting for the first time is exciting, so we’re sharing those ‘first vote’ stories again as Massachusetts gears up for its September 1 Primary.
In today’s installment, you’ll hear from Teri Morrow, Jennifer Harrington, Lalitha Gunturi Ranganath, Gene Kalb, and Laura Bullock.
In addition to today’s case count, this update from Town Manager Sarah Stanton and the Covid-19 Task Force includes the Influenza Vaccine Requirement and news that free Covid tests will be available until September 12
Click this link to read the Town’s full update for Monday, August 24, 2020