2011 ANNUAL REPORT Bedford, Massachusetts Town Organization Chart 3 Town Directory 4 Our Town 5 Town Administration 6 PART I REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, DEPARTMENTS, & BOARDS Arbor Resource Committee 10 Bicycle Advisory Committee 11 Board of Health 14 Board of Registrars of Voters 16 Cable Television Committee 18 Code Enforcement Department 20 Community Preservation Committee 22 Conservation Commission 23 Council on Aging 26 Cultural Council 29 Department of Public Works 30 Depot Park Advisory Committee 33 Energy Task Force 34 Facilities Department 35 Fire Department 38 Historic District Commission 39 Historic Preservation Commission 40 Housing Authority 42 Housing Partnership 45 Land Acquisition Committee 48 Municipal Affordable Housing Trust 49 Patriotic Holiday Committee 50 Planning Board 51 Police Department 55 Public Library 58 Recreation Department 62 Selectmen 64 Town Center 66 Town Clerk 68 Town Historian 71 Youth & Family Services 72 Zoning Board of Appeals 76 2011 ANNUAL REPORT Bedford, Massachusetts PART II SCHOOLS Bedford Public Schools 77 Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational/Technical School District 80 PART III ELECTIONS & TOWN MEETINGS State Primary Results September 14, 2010 85 Special Town Meeting November 8, 2010 88 State Election Results December 29, 2010 92 2011 Town Caucus January 11, 2011 94 Annual Town Election Results March 12, 2011 96 Annual Town Meeting March 28, 2011 98 Annual Town Meeting March 29, 2011 (Continued) 110 PART IV FINANCE Board of Assessors 116 Finance Department 117 Collections 120 2011 Financial Report 121 Volunteer Opportunities and Questionnaire 142 Cover designed by Bedford resident Jean Hammond. Photographs are of the 2011 Memorial Day Parade Ceremonies taken by Carlton Soo Hoo 2011 Annual Town Report 3 www.bedfordma.gov 2011 Annual Town Report 4 www.bedfordma.gov TOWN OF BEDFORD DIRECTORY TOWN DEPARTMENTS & SERVICES Bedford Cable Access TV………………………………………... 16 South Road 781-275-5004 Bedford Public Library……………………………………………. 7 Mudge Way 781-275-9440 Bedford Public Schools……………………………………...…... 97 McMahon Road 781-275-7588 Superintendent………………………………………............... 97 McMahon Road 781-275-7588 Assistant Superintendent…………………………................ 97 McMahon Road 781-275-2155 Bedford High School………………………………................. 9 Mudge Way 781-275-1700 Eleazer Davis Elementary…………………………................ 410 Davis Road 781-275-6804 Job Lane Elementary………………………………................ 62 Sweetwater Ave. 781-275-7606 John Glenn Middle…………………………………................. 99 McMahon Road 781-275-3201 Facilities Department................................................................ 101 McMahon Road 781-275-5290 Fire Department - Non-Emergency…………………................. 55 Great Road 781-275-7262 Emergency - 911 Police Department - Non-Emergency………………................. 2 Mudge Way 781-275-1212 Emergency - 911 Public Works Department……………………………................. 314 Great Road 781-275-7605 Town Center…………………………………………….................. 12 Mudge Way 781-275-4880 Bedford Local Transit…………………………………………. 12 Mudge Way 781-275-2255 Council on Aging…………………………...............…………. 12 Mudge Way 781-275-6825 Health Department…………………………………................. 12 Mudge Way 781-275-6507 Recreation Department……………………………................. 12 Mudge Way 781-275-1392 Town Center Coordinator…………………………................ 12 Mudge Way 781-275-4880 Veterans’ Services…………………………………................. 12 Mudge Way 781-275-1328 Youth & Family Services…………………………….............. 12 Mudge Way 781-275-7727 Town Hall………………………………………………................... 10 Mudge Way 781-275-1111 Assessors……………………………………………................ 10 Mudge Way 781-275-0046 Code Enforcement…………………………………................. 10 Mudge Way 781-275-7446 Collector’s Office……………………………………................ 10 Mudge Way 781-275-1517 Conservation Commission………………………….............. 10 Mudge Way 781-275-6211 Finance Department………………………………….............. 10 Mudge Way 781-275-2218 Human Resources…………………………………................. 10 Mudge Way 781-275-1111 Planning Board………………………………………............... 10 Mudge Way 781-275-1548 Town Clerk……………………………………………............... 10 Mudge Way 781-275-0083 Town Manager………………………………………................. 10 Mudge Way 781-275-1111 2011 Annual Town Report 5 www.bedfordma.gov OUR TOWN Situation Town Hall, 10 Mudge Way About 15 miles northwest of Boston Town Clerk’s Phone: 781-275-0083 Population Town Manager’s Phone: 13,986 (January 1, 2011 census) 781-275-1111 Elevation www.bedfordma.gov Highest, 280 feet above sea level Lowest, 110 feet above sea level Senators in Congress Scott Brown, 617-565-3170 Assessed Valuation for FY11 John F. Kerry, 617-565-8519 Total Assessed Value $2,752,075,404 Representative in Congress FY11 Tax Rates th John F. Tierney (6 District), Residential $14.33 978-531-1669 Open Space $10.74 Comm., Ind., & Personal Property $31.76 State Senator Susan Fargo (3rd Middlesex District), FY11 Water Rates 617-722-1572 Water Base Rate Minimum Bill $35.00 0-2000 cubic feet = $1.10/100 CF Member of Governor’s Council Over 2,000 cubic feet = $5.30/100 CF Marilyn Petitto Devaney (3rd Middlesex District), 617-725-4015 FY11 Sewer Rates Sewer Base Rate Minimum Bill $45.00 Representative in General Court 0-2000 cubic feet = $3.30/100 CF Charles Murphy (21st Middlesex District), Over 2000 cubic feet = $9.70/100 CF 617-722-2990 Qualifications for Registration as Voters Mail-in forms are available upon request. A copy of your identification is required. Must be 18 years of age, American-born or fully naturalized. Registration Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Town Clerk’s Office; special evening sessions of Registrars held preceding elections at the Police Station. Absentee voting permitted in all elections. Dog Licenses A dog should be licensed when three months old. Registrations held June 1 through August 31 with the Town Clerk. License fees: $15/1 year; $18/2 years; $25/3 years. All licenses expire August 31. After August 31, a $5.00 fine is due up to thirty days. After thirty days, a $25.00 fine is due. Tax Bills Tax bills are paid quarterly. The first two quarters are preliminary bills and are based on the previous year’s bill. The first quarter is due on August 1, the second quarter is due on November 1, the third quarter is due on February 1, and the fourth quarter is due on May 1. If unpaid by due date, interest will be calculated from the due date to date of payment. Motor vehicle excise bills are due 30 days from date of issuance, as well as water bills. Interest and demand charges will be assessed if bills are past due. Online payments can be made at: www.bedfordma.gov. Board of Health Cases or suspect cases of communicable or infectious diseases shall be reported by household mem- bers, physicians, and other health care providers as defined by M.G.L. Ch. 111, Sec. 1, by telephone, in writing, by facsimile, or other electronic means, immediately, but in no case more than 24 hours after diagnosis or identification, to the Board of Health in the community where the case is diagnosed or sus- pect case is identified. The local Board of Health’s responsibility, upon receipt of such a report, is set forth in Massachusetts Regulations 105 CMR 300.110 and 300. The telephone number for the Board of Health is 781-275-6507. 2011 Annual Town Report 6 www.bedfordma.gov TOWN ADMINISTRATION July 1, 2010 ‐ June 30, 2011 ELECTED OFFICERS Bedford Housing Authority Selectmen School Committee Susan Ellis (res 3-11) 2011 Walter J. St. Onge III 2012 Abigail Seibert 2012 Jane Puffer 2013 Catherine Cordes 2013 Anne Bickford 2013 Eugene J. Clerkin 2013 William S. Moonan 2013 Brad Hafer 2013 Patricia Ross 2014 Mark Siegenthaler 2014 Noreen O'Gara 2014 Lewis Putney (eff 3-11) 2016 Michael Rosenberg 2014 Edward Pierce 2014 William S. Moonan Moderator Trustees-Bedford Library Board of Assessors Betsey J. Anderson 2013 Robert L. Batt 2012 Sheldon Moll 2011 Michael Pulizzi 2012 Robert B. Murphy 2013 Planning Board Lorrie Dunham 2013 John Linz 2014 Janet Powers 2012 Howard Cohen 2013 Jonathan Silver 2013 Abigail Hafer 2013 Board of Health Margot Fleischman 2013 Rachel Field 2014 Lea Susan Ojamaa 2012 Lisa Mustapich 2014 Lynne O'Connor 2014 Mary Seymour 2012 Sandra Hackman 2014 Beatrice A. Brunkhorst 2013 Kevin Wormstead 2014 Regional Voc. School District Thomas J. Kinzer III 2014 Mark Trifiro 2011 Janet Powers (PB) Donald Drouin 2013 APPOINTED COMMITTEES Affirmative Action Monitoring Michael Rosenberg (Sel) Mark Siegenthaler (Sel res 6/11) Francis Fornaro 2012 Dennis Freeman (DPW) Walter St. Onge (Sel eff 6/11) Virginia Spencer 2013 Janet Powers (PB) Lois Pulliam 2014 Lora Goldenberg Bedford Housing Partnership Cable Television Advisory Walter J. St. Onge III (Sel) Members Affd'bl Hsng Comm John Monahan 2012 Members Fair Hsng Comm Charles French (eff 2/11) 2012 Affordable Housing Christina Wilgren 2011 Robert Batt 2012 Paulette Everitt 2012 Linda Hludzik (res 3/11) 2013 S. Brown Pulliam 2014 Zoe Pierce 2012 Michael Rosenberg (Sel) James Shea 2014 Ellis Kriesbert (eff 12/10) 2012 Lisa Mustapich (PB) William Moonan (Sel) Irma Carter 2013 Trudy Last (res 5/11) 2013 Capital Expenditure Susan Ellis (BHA) Bicycle Advisory Alma Hart 2012 Lisa Mustapich (PB) Brian O'Donnell 2012 Brian DeVellis 2012 Michael Rosenberg (Sel) Christopher Lennon 2012 James O'Neil 2012 Terry Gleason 2012 Jon O'Connor 2013 Arbor Resource Donald Blake (res 3/11) 2013 Michelle Matteo 2013 Carol Kelly 2012 Ralph Hammond 2013 Jean-Marc Slak 2014 Jacqueline Edwards 2012 David Enos (eff 6/11) 2013 Barbara