Financial variables are forestalling Bedford Select Board recommendations on several key Annual Town Meeting articles.
On Monday evening, the board reviewed the 29-article warrant, and delayed some recommendations until Monday, Feb. 26, the final meeting before the printing of the warrant. They include:
- The capital article: Specifically, the schools want to accelerate spending on security equipment before the start of the next fiscal year with an infusion of free cash. “The Finance Committee has some pretty grave concerns about how much free cash we are using,” committee chair Ben Thomas told the Select Board. “We’re pretty spooked about free cash.” The state has certified $16.5 million, he said. On the warrant, “We’re up to 10 million” in proposed free-cash allocations. “We would like to get it around eight.”
- Two new stabilization funds: One, proposed by the School Committee and superintendent, would establish a $500,000 reserve – seeded by free cash – for unbudgeted out-of-district special-education tuition. The other would finance long-term building repairs at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School.
- The salary administration bylaw: Town Manager Matt Hanson continues to integrate changes recommended by a recent salary analysis.
- The operating budget: The Finance Committee will refine the budget numbers for at least two more meetings.
- A bond issue to finance construction of a new fire station at 139 The Great Road: The article hinges on a Historic District Commission hearing slated for Wednesday, Feb. 21 on a revised plan. The initial design was rejected on a 3-2 vote.
- A petitioners’ article calling for an ad hoc committee to consider sites for a new fire station and whether a substation should be planned simultaneously: Select Board member Emily Mitchell said the petitioners requested time to present their case to the Select Board.
- An allocation to a trust fund covering future liabilities known as OPEB for other post-employment benefits: The amount is pending approval of a new policy by the Finance Committee and Select Board.
Despite continued discussion of funding level and sources by the Finance Committee, the Select Board unanimously recommended approval of the Planning Board’s request for $200,000 to prepare the town’s next comprehensive plan.
The board also recommended by a vote of 4-1 approval of an article establishing overlay districts to comply with the state law requiring at least 50 acres where multi-unit housing would be allowed by right.
Paul Mortenson was the negative vote. He said it was based on concerns that the zones chosen would exacerbate traffic congestion.
“This issue is the most important one the town is going to face in decades,” he said. “I was very hopeful that in the public workshops there would be more of a focus on areas that would be less impactful on traffic.”
The board agreed to delete an article appropriating an amount to the municipal stabilization fund, because the Finance Committee sees no reason to add to it.
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