![On the way into Special Town Meeting, Healthy Bedford Coordinator Carla Olson and Town Engineer Adrienne St. John promoted next week's Pedestrian Bicycle Master Plan Open House - Image (c) JMcCT, 2014](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/STM-2014-In-the-hallway.jpg)
By Meredith McCulloch
Special Town Meeting approved all articles on the warrant save one. A proposed Town Charter amendment that would have increased the number of signatures required for a recall election of an elected official was defeated on a voice vote. It would have increased the number from 10% to 20% of the voters in the previous election. In the past, one recall election was held but the petition was defeated at the polls.
![Richard Daugherty spoke against Article ___](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/STM-2014-Rich-Daugherty-300x231.jpg)
For example, in the November 4 General Election 5,664 out of the 9,666 registered voters cast a ballot. The change would have required 1,132 signatures at 20% rather than 566 signatures under current rules. The Selectmen recommended approval of the amendment while the Finance Committee opposed. Opposing speakers said a requirement of 20% of voters’ signatures was too high a bar. Speaking in opposition Rich Daugherty suggested that passing the charter change “Would assure that there would never again be a recall in Bedford.”
Votes at Bedford’s 2014 Special Town Meeting: