2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant is Available Online

Compiled by The Bedford Citizen

The Warrant for Annual Town Meeting has been posted on the Town’s website.

In her message, To the Voters, Margot Fleischman, Chair of the Selectmen, reported on some of the articles that will be considered when Annual Town Meeting begins on Monday, March 26:

This year’s warrant includes three proposed General Bylaw amendments, with each requiring a simple majority of votes for approval. Article 11 proposes amendments to the current General Bylaw pertaining to Streets, Sidewalks, and Public Property to prevent the disposal of personal trash in containers intended for municipal use. A second General Bylaw amendment in Article 12 provides for the Department of Public Works (DPW) to temporarily shut off the water supply to repair or replace water meters. Article 13 asks voters to approve a modification of the General Bylaw pertaining to Sewer Systems by amending when the DPW collects fees for new sewer connections.

Each of the five Zoning Bylaw Amendments proposed require a 2/3rds majority for approval. Article 6 would adopt a new section of the Zoning Bylaw to create the Pine Hill Overlay District. Article 7 would amend the Bedford Zoning Map to reflect the changes generated by Article 6. Articles 8 and 9 have been submitted by the Planning Board in order to update the Zoning Bylaws by adopting a new section to create the Great Road District. Article 10 would amend the Bedford Zoning Map to reflect these changes.

The Capital Projects Plan (Article 14), the Operating Budget (Article 21), the PEG Access and Cable Expense Related Budget (Article 18), and the Ambulance Enterprise Budget (Article 22) for Fiscal Year 2019 fund the Town’s continuing operations. Details concerning these budgets are contained in the reports of the Finance Committee and the Capital Expenditure Committee that follow in the next several pages. The Capital Projects Plan requests funding for 37 projects requested by various Town departments. Two separate bond authorizations are proposed in Articles 15 and 17: to construct an addition to the Davis School, and to construct an elevated boardwalk on Davis Road, respectively. The Operating Budget funds the Town’s day-to-day operations undertaken by all Town departments.

Article 16 would appropriate funds under the Community Preservation program for projects in Fiscal Year 2019, as well as for principal and interest payments previously approved under Community Preservation. Projects include funding for the Bedford Housing Authority Life Management Program, bicycle shelters at the John Glenn Middle School and Bedford High School, rehabilitation of the Springs Brook Park spray park and the Job Lane School playground, a water clarity improvement pilot program at Springs Brook Park, and funding for the Regional Housing Services Office affordable housing consultant.

Finally, Article 24 continues the Town’s recent funding of the liability for other post-employment benefits (OPEB), principally for retiree health insurance, and Article 25 seeks to appropriate money to a Sick Leave Buyback Fund for future payments to retiring employees for time owed.

The Warrant includes the following articles:

• Article 1 – Reports of Town Officers and Committees
• Article 2 – Debate Rules
• Article 3 – Consent Article
• Article 4 – Bills of Prior Years
• Article 5 – Revolving Funds Expenditure Limits
• Article 6 – Zoning Bylaw Amendment – Pine Hill Overlay District
• Article 7 – Zoning Bylaw Amendment – Amendment to Bedford Zoning Map – Pine Hill Overlay District
• Article 8 – Zoning Bylaw Amendment – Great Road District
• Article 9 – Zoning Bylaw Amendment – Great Road Zoning Project Height Limit in the Shawsheen Subdistrict
• Article 10 – Zoning Bylaw Amendment – Amendments to Bedford Zoning Map Related to Great Road Zoning Project
• Article 11 – General Bylaw Amendment – Illegal Depositing in Town Refuse and Recycling Containers
• Article 12 – General Bylaw Amendment – Temporary Water Supply Shut-Off for Repairs and Maintenance
• Article 13 – General Bylaw Amendment – Sewer System – New Connections
• Article 14 – Proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Capital Projects Plan
• Article 15 – Bond Authorization – Davis School Addition and Renovations
• Article 16 – Community Preservation Budget – Fiscal Year 2019
• Article 17 – Bond Authorization – Davis Road Boardwalk
• Article 18 – PEG Access and Cable Expense Related Budget Fiscal Year 2019
• Article 19 – Supplement Operating Budgets for Fiscal Year 2018 and Articles of the 2017 ATM
• Article 20 – Salary Administration Plan Bylaw Amendment – Classification & Wage Schedule
• Article 21 – Operating Budgets – Fiscal Year 2019
• Article 22 – Ambulance Enterprise Budget Fiscal Year 2019
• Article 23 – Salary Plan Additional Funding
• Article 24 – Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund Appropriation
• Article 25 – Supplement Accrued Sick Leave Fund
• Article 26 – Stabilization Fund Appropriation
• Article 27 – Free Cash

Click this link to read the 2018 Annual Town Meeting Warrant online