Community News

Optimal Social Distancing in Schools Debated at Board of Health Meeting

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Optimal social distancing in the school environment (including but not limited to classrooms, hallways, lunchrooms, school buses) was discussed at length at the meeting of the Board of Health on January 4. 

Board member Ann Kiessling, consistent with the position taken at prior meetings, argued that there is no published data that clearly establishes the relative value of 6’ over 3’ of social distancing between students as a way of slowing or preventing virus transmission.  After the Board’s last meeting on December 21 during which the issue was discussed, Kiessling asked that Health Director Heidi Porter and Community Nurse Mark Waksmonski research the question further.   Based on the information they provided, Kiessling noted that “The bottom line is that there are no public studies on the relative value of 6’ vs. 3’ for children…Nobody has looked at it.  Nobody has studied it.  And there is quite a bit of evidence that 3’ of distance is probably ok….I am not advocating either but I am advocating that there is no science that drives 6’ is better than 3’ in a child’s classroom.” 

Bedford

Letter to the Editor: Keeping our Scenic Roads Safe and our Citizens Informed: Bedford Can Do both. Why Didn’t It?

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Removing 31 trees – so many of them large, roadside trees—on an historic Scenic Road—is important. It is consequential: to the character of the road, to climate change, to the speed of passing cars, to the many other environmental functions trees perform, even to property values. This substantial project should have a review that is transparent, inclusive, and thorough. It has not, to date. Unless the Planning Board postpones the Hearing scheduled for January 12 (details below), or citizens object at the Hearing, it will not.

Bedford

Planning Board Continues its Review of South Road Senior Living Development

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The Planning Board continues to work toward facilitating a proposed assisted living complex with an amendment to the town zoning bylaw.

At its meeting on Dec. 15, the board met with representatives of LCB Senior Living to discuss the proposed zoning. LCB wants to construct a 92-unit development on South Road at the corner of Evergreen Avenue.

Community News

Board of Health Takes Significant Action in Three Areas

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At its meeting on December 21 the Board of Health took three steps directly related to what took place at its previous meeting on December 14:

* Reversed its course on a motion unanimously approved at its meeting on December 14 calling for its inclusion in the meetings and communications of the town’s Covid-19 Task Force.
* Reopened investigation into the question of conflict of interest on the part of Board member Dr. Ann Kiessling
* Discussed and passed a new communication policy to be effective immediately

2020 COVID-19

Board of Health Urges Its Wider Role in Covid-19 Policy Decisions

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The Board of Health unanimously approved a motion at its meeting on Monday night that it be “included in all communications and meetings that are being held in the town by town employees relative to Covid-19 and/or SARS-CoV-2.” The motion as finally passed also states that it will be reviewed in 30 days.

Editor’s Note: the Board of Health is a five-member elected board.  The Department of Health and Human Services – often referred to as “the Health Department” is a town department staffed by employees of the town.

Pushback came the next day, on December 15, with an 1,100-word “Statement to the Community,” signed by the leadership of the major town boards and read by School Committee Chair Dan Brosgol at the start of its meeting.  The statement said in part: “While we can always improve communication back and forth with residents, elected officials, and Town staff, we are comfortable as the leaders of this community with continuing under the structure we have in place….In this structure, staff are empowered by us to make decisions with input from a variety of sources, including the relevant boards and commissions that help guide major policy decisions for the town. We…are fully confident in our department heads and staff to make the day-to-day decisions in the operation of the Town and Schools.”  The statement was signed by Brosgol, Select Board Chair Ed Pierce, and Board of Health Chair Sarah Thompson who had voted for the motion calling for a different arrangement at her Board’s meeting on December 14. 

2020 COVID-19

Bedford VA Resident Receives One of Nation’s First Covid-19 Vaccinations

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For a small town in New England, Bedford has racked up a lot of firsts.

Like the first annual ceremony to celebrate the first shots of the American Revolution – and the first battle flag in that fight. Or the first municipality to sign on for the state Community Preservation Act. Many people say the Marshalls in the Bedford Marketplace was the first store in the chain.

Here’s another one: On Monday at 12:07 pm, the first patient in a US Veterans Affairs facility received the new Covid-19 vaccine.

Emotional Support Resources for Teachers and Staff through the Counseling Department

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Bedford’s public school teachers, bombarded by the exigencies of the Covid-19 pandemic, are actually feeling the love.

That’s according to testimony from the four building principals at last Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Bedford School Committee.

The subject came up during a discussion about resources available to support teachers and staff through the counseling department.

Ann Guay on Bringing Remote JGMS and BHS Students Back into the Buildings

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School Committee member Ann Guay offered a creative way at last Tuesday’s board meeting to get more Middle and High School students back into their buildings.

Her idea: a pilot program that would continue the remote portion of the hybrid model, but in the schoolhouses instead of at home.

“Some students are really struggling learning remotely at home, for a variety of reasons,” Guay said. “I want to propose that we think about a pilot program,” if the space is available.

Flu Clinic on Wednesday, December 2 ~ From 2 to 3:30 pm

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The influenza immunization is now required for all children 6 months of age or older who are attending Massachusetts child care, pre-school, kindergarten, K-12, and colleges and universities. The new vaccine requirement is an important step to reduce flu-related illness and ​the overall impact of respiratory illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students are expected to have received a flu vaccine by December 31, 2020, for the 2020-2021 influenza season, unless either a medical or religious exemption is provided. 

The Bedford Public Schools in collaboration with the Bedford Board of Health is offering Bedford school students and residents the opportunity to receive a flu vaccine at a designated drive-thru flu clinic that is structured to maximize protection of Bedford residents and staff at the clinic.

School Committee Approves Energy Policy Revisions to Ratify Current Practice

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The School Committee last Tuesday unanimously approved two revisions to the town’s energy policy that actually ratified current practice.

One provision is that the town purchase 100 percent renewable energy for operations. Also, as part of the guidelines for construction and renovation, a primary goal is minimizing the use of fossil fuels to run the buildings.

2020 COVID-19

Board of Health ~ Short Takes, 2 November 2020

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The Board of Health last week reviewed the implementation of new state policies designed to try to control the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19.

“We saw something coming and we are very grateful for the governor’s leadership to initiate this,” said Heidi Porter, director of the town’s Health and Human Services Department.

“Any time you are in public you will be wearing a mask now,” Porter said, “even if you’re walking around your own neighborhood.” Also, gatherings, including privately, are limited to no more than 10 indoors and 25 outdoors.

Bedford School Department ~ Proposed FY22 Capital Projects

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If you’re looking for major school undertakings on the fiscal year 2022 proposed capital projects list, there aren’t any.

The School Committee last week reviewed a short roster of routine capital projects for technology and preventive maintenance. The items are expected to be reviewed by the Capital Expenditure Committee on Wednesday.

Bedford

Short Takes from the October 13 Select Board Meeting

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The October 13 Select Board thanked committees that have completed their work;  discussed a new bus for the Council on Aging; and agreed to work with guidelines for a new funding proposal for Bedford TV.

Looking Ahead to Bedford’s Annual Citizens’ Caucus and Town Meeting, or Not

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Town Manager Sarah Stanton told the Finance Committee last week that her office is beginning to consider the wisdom of canceling the annual citizens’ caucus and postponing annual town meeting by about two months so it can take place outside.

“It’s still very early, and the Select Board and the moderator haven’t weighed in,” she stressed.

The town charter directs that town meeting begin on the third Monday in March, which “would be tough to hold indoors,” Stanton said. “The Select Board and I haven’t talked about it, but in working with the health director the informal idea is to have it potentially in May.”

Bedford

330 South Road Project Wins Nod from Planning Board

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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.

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust

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Bedford renters who have been financially affected by Covid-19, including loss of employment, may now apply for emergency rental assistance grants, to maintain housing stability over the next four months.

The program was approved by the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust at a recent meeting, after consultation with the Select Board. The trust has its own resources, separate from the municipal budget. The first round of payments was capped at a total of $40,000.

Volunteers Needed to Serve on Town Committees

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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.

Homepage Featured

Library Trustees ~ August Short Takes

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Although the Bedford Free Public Library isn’t yet able to reopen, the Library staff are using their creative skills to constantly come up with ways to serve you better in these parlous times.

Bedford

Mosquito Season is Upon Us!

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has announced this year’s first human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV), a resident of Middlesex County in their 50s, and the first Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus infection, a male under the age of 18 who was exposed to EEE in Plymouth County.

One Human Case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) reported in MA

One Human Case of West Nile Virus (WNV) reported in MA

NO EEE or WNV positive mosquito or human cases in Bedford so far this season

2020 COVID-19

EEE, School Start Times Top BoH Agenda

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At their July 20 meeting, the Bedford Board of Health discussed an emergency order regarding reusable bag use, heard updates from community social worker Chris Bang, discussed school start times, and planned for the expected Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) outbreak.

Bedford

Bedford’s (almost) Free Street Tree Project

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The Bedford Arbor Resources Committee is searching for homes with street-side locations suitable for planting a town-purchased, town-planted tree as soon as autumn 2020

Tree-lined, canopied streets add more than beauty and character to a town. They do more than make our streets safer, more than raise property values, more than contribute to a vibrant business community.