By Meredith McCulloch
At their September 21 meeting the Selectmen considered a tentative Special Town Meeting article for the Museum Study Committee, utilities in the Great Road construction project, a lease extension for Bedford Center for the Arts, and students from non-active military families at Hanscom.
Museum Study Decision Tentatively Scheduled for Special Town Meeting
An article to fund a feasibility study for a town museum will appear on the Special Town Meeting warrant. The cost of the study is estimated to be $50,000. The Selectmen voted to place the article on the warrant with the understanding that the article would be postponed if the proposal is not fully ready for action by the Special Town Meeting November 2.
Underground Utilities Not Included in Great Road Construction Project
High costs were the reason the Selectmen voted against expanding underground utilities in the Great Road Master Plan project. The work is expected to take place in Spring 2017. Town staff have been working with electricity, telephone and cable providers to assess the cost of moving lines underground. Expense to the town’s residents would come in two ways: an additional amount of $6,651,684 would be appropriated from the tax levy for construction and a 2 percent surcharge on electric bills for all users would be collected by the utilities to recover their costs.
Bedford Center for the Arts Extends Old Town Hall Lease for Six Months
The Selectmen extended the Bedford Center for the Arts (BCA) lease through February 29, 2016. In a letter to the board, BCA President Elizabeth Hacala wrote that the organization has concluded their finances will not support a 24-month lease as the town requested. “A six-month lease will give the Bedford Center for the Arts an opportunity to fulfill its fall programming obligation and make other arrangements for our materials and future programming.” In the meantime, the Town would have time to acquire a long-term tenant.
Agreement reached between Bedford and Lincoln Regarding High School
Students
A Memorandum of Agreement to serve non-military high school students living on Hanscom Field for the school year 2015/2016 was approved. In recent years some housing units not required by air force personnel are rented to others, mainly retired military families. Currently, there are three high school students living in those units who will be attending Bedford High School. The towns are seeking remedy from the federal or state government for the cost of educating those students. In the meantime, Lincoln will be responsible for education of non-military students living on the base for grades K-8. Bedford will provide educational services for grades 9-12.
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