2014 Annual Town Report Bedford, Massachusetts 2014 Annual Town Report Annual Town 2014 Bedford, Massachusetts Bedford, 2014 Town Report.indd 1 2/22/15 11:17 AM Town of Bedford | 2014 Annual Report Bedford, Massachusetts Location displays in various town buildings, answers Bedford is located on the map of Massachusetts in research requests from the public, and maintains in Middlesex County-about fifteen miles northwest of its Archives an extensive collection of Bedford Boston near the junction of routes 3 and 95 [128]. artifacts, documents, photographs, and reference The Town may be accessed by car and public materials. (www.bedfordmahistory.org) transportation on the M.B.T.A. Taxi, shuttle, and Logan Express connect to Boston’s Logan Airport. Population and Housing Surrounding towns are Lexington, Concord, Carlisle, Bedford’s 2014 population of 14,329 represents Burlington, Billerica, and Lincoln. 5,700 households and 9,601 voters. In 2014 per capita income was $53,453. In FY2014 the median The Town map shows a land area of almost fourteen value of owner occupied housing was $537,000. square miles, with 65.54 miles of public roads. Detailed demographic information is documented There are rivers, ponds, fields, and forests saved as by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and conservation lands. The Town maintains open Community Development. spaces with walking trails and bikeways as well as athletic fields and parks for recreation. Local Town Government Bedford’s Selectmen-Open Town Meeting form of History government has been operative since 1729. Incorporated in 1729, the initial community of fifty Descriptions of elected and appointed offices, households survived on farming and requisite processes, regulations and codes are contained in industries. The Town’s history is documented in the detail in the Charter and General Bylaws. Elected Bedford collection at the Bedford Public Library. officials, staff and many appointed citizen Visitors are drawn to view historic sites including committees are vital in preparation, planning and homes, the Old Burying Ground, The Wilson Mill, the delivery of town government services. The Job Lane House and the original Bedford Flag that Volunteer Coordinating Committee recruits was taken to the battle of Lexington and Concord in volunteers for the appointed citizen participation 1775. With support from Friends of Depot Park, a committees. The annual Town election is on the historic park commemorating railroad activity in second Saturday of March, with Annual Town Bedford is located near the intersection of Loomis Meeting beginning on the fourth Monday of March. Street and Railroad Avenue. Exploring Bedford, a walking/biking tour guide describing these sites, is Business and Community Organizations, News available at the Library and the Bedford Chamber. Media Some forty community groups with interests http://www.freedomsway.org/towns/bedford/ around arts, schools, social service, scouting, bedford.html will give you the history of what gardening, veterans and sports are active, with happened in Bedford the morning of April 19, 1775 representation at a town wide parade and fair on and the addresses of the houses and other Bedford Day, celebrated the third Saturday in revolutionary sites that have been preserved in September. The Town’s strong business community Bedford. has a Chamber of Commerce with 150 members ranging from local professional firms to large The circa 1713 Job Lane House, a beautifully corporations with global headquarters in Bedford. preserved example of the New England saltbox-style Hanscom Air Force Base has been an important part house, was home to one of Bedford's founding in the strength of the Bedford economy. families and is open for tours twice a month, May to December. Local news is covered in the weekly Bedford (www.bedfordmahistory.org/job_lane_house.htm). Minuteman newspaper, on local cable television, and online at thebedfordcitizen.org. The Bedford Historical Society offers an annual lecture series on local history, presents historical 1 Town of Bedford | 2014 Annual Report 2014 Annual Town Report Table of Contents Town Organization Chart 3 BEDFORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY 98 Town Directory 4 Our Town 5 CULTURAL AND HISTORIC ACTIVITES Elected Officials 6 Cultural Council 103 Appointed Committees 6 Historic District Commission 104 Historic Preservation Commission 105 SELECTMEN 10 OTHER CITIZEN COMMITTEES FINANCIAL SERVICES Arbor Resources 107 Board of Assessors 13 Bedford Housing Authority 110 Finance Department 15 Bedford Housing Partnership 112 Collections 20 Bicycle Advisory Committee 116 2014 Financial Reports 21 Cable Television Committee 118 Community Preservation Committee 119 PUBLIC SAFETY Depot Park Advisory Committee 120 Fire Department 47 Land Acquisition Committee 122 Police Department 48 Municipal Affordable Housing Trust 123 Patriotic Holiday Committee 124 PERMITTING AND LAND MANAGEMENT Town Center/Old Town Hall 125 Code Enforcement 54 Transportation Advisory Committee 128 Planning Board 56 Volunteer Coordinating Committee 131 Zoning Board of Appeals 59 Conservation Commission 60 TOWN CLERK AND ELECTIONS Town Clerk 133 HUMAN SERVICES Board of Registrars 135 Board of Health 63 Elections 137 Council on Aging 66 Recreation Department 69 LEGISLATIVE Youth and Family Services 71 Special Town Meeting- 11/3/13 138 Annual Town Caucus- 1/7/14 152 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 77 Annual Town Meeting- 3/24/14 155 FACILITIES DEPARTMENT 80 VOLUNTEER QUESTIONNAIRE 184 EDUCATION Bedford Public Schools 84 Shawsheen Valley Technical School 89 Cover designed by Bedford resident Jean Hammond. Photographs taken by Assistant Town Manager Jessica Porter. 2 Town of Bedford | 2014 Annual Report 3 Town of Bedford | 2014 Annual Report Town of Bedford Directory TOWN DEPARTMENTS & SERVICES Bedford Community 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 School 410 Davis Road 781-275-6804 Job Lane Elementary School 62 Sweetwater Ave. 781-275-7606 John Glenn Middle School 99 McMahon Road 781-275-3201 Facilities Department 101 McMahon Road 781-275-5290 Fire Department - Non-Emergency 55 Great Road 781-275-7262 Fire Department - Emergency 911 Police Department - Non-Emergency 2 Mudge Way 781-275-1212 Police Department - 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 4 Town of Bedford | 2014 Annual Report Our Town Situation Website About 15 miles northwest of Boston www.bedfordma.gov Middlesex County Type of Government Population Board of Selectmen 14,329 (January 1, 2014 census) Open Town Meeting Elevation Senators in Congress Highest- 280 feet above sea level Elizabeth Warren, 617- 565-3170 Lowest- 110 feet above sea level Edward Markey, 617-565-8519 Assessed Valuation for FY14 Representative in Congress Total Assessed Value- $2,863,622,121 Seth Moulton (6th District), FY14 Tax Rates 978-531-1669 Residential- $15.71 Open Space- $11.78 State Senator Comm., Ind., & Personal Property- $34.04 Michael Barrett (3rd Middlesex District), 617-722-1572 FY14 Water Rates Water Base Rate Minimum Bill- $17.50 Member of Governor’s Council 0-2000 cubic feet = $1.20/100 CF Marilyn Petitto Devaney (3rd Middlesex District), Over 2,000 cubic feet = $5.70/100 CF 617-725-4015 FY14 Sewer Rates Representative in General Court Sewer Base Rate Minimum Bill- $22.50 Kenneth Gordon (21st Middlesex District), 0-2000 cubic feet = $3.30/100 CF 617-722-2014 Over 2000 cubic feet = $9.40/100 CF 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 calcu- lated from the due date to date of payment. Motor vehicle excise bills are due 30 days from date of issu- ance, as well as water bills. Interest and demand charges will be assessed if bills are past due. Online pay- ments can be made at: www.bedfordma.gov.