Annual report for the Town of Bedford, New Hampshire

58 Pages·2000·2.5 MB·English

by  Bedford (N.H. : Town)

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ANNUAL REPORT
for the
TOWN OF BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
for the Year ending December 31, 1999
ELECTED OFFICIALS APPOINTED OFFICIALS
COUNCILORS
Corrections in 1999 Annual Report
^li\
Pg. 21 Budget Summary - last bulleted item: The Conservation Commission budget includes $10,000
:
$110,000 in funds available in the Conservation Fund for use
toward acquiring property, should an opportunity arise
during the year which the Conservation Commission and
TowTi Council determine appropriate.
Pg. 22: 2000 Proposed Appropriations:
Item 2000 Council Recommended
Conservation Commission $13,000 $113,000
Total 2000 General Fund
(Appropriations) $10,796,9^9 $10,896,949
Total 2000 Municipal
Budget Appropriations $12,518,351 $12,618,351
Pg. 23: 2000 Proposed Revenues:
Item 2000 Council Recommended
Conservation Commission $10,000 $110,000
Total 2000 General Fund
Revenues $10,796,919 $10,896,949
Total 2000 Municipal
Budget Revenues $12,518,351 $12,618,351
Pg. 23: Digest ofSignificant Appropriation Changes from 1999 to 2000 Budgets:
Cost Center Item Increased/fPecreased) Expenses
Fire Operations Equipment for Ambulances $25,500 $40,500*
Conservation Commission Acquisition ofland ($165,000) ($365,000)
*added heart monitor for $15,000
Pg. 26: Capital Improvement Plan Summary/2000
Project Description Item 2000 CIP Element
Fire Department Special Ambulance Reserve $20,000 $5,000

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Town Elected Officials/State Elected Officials Inside Front Cover
Minutes of 1999 Budgetary Town Meeting 2
Supervisors ofthe Checklist 3
Results of 1999 Zoning Ballot 4
2000 Warrant 4
Population and Tax Rate 9
Town Council 10
Town Manager 10
Planning Board 11
Planning Department 11
Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission 12
Zoning Board ofAdjustment 12
Historic District Commission 13
Conservation Commission 13
Pulpit Rock Sub-Committee 13
Parks and Recreation Commission and Department 14
Bedford Community Television (BCTV-16) 14
Bedford Police Department 15
Bedford Fire Department 16
Report ofFire Warden and State Forest Ranger 16
Department of Public Works 17
Bedford Public Library 18
Cemetery Trustees 19
Assessing Department 20
Building/Health Department 20
2000 Budget Summary 21
2000 Proposed Budget 22
2000 - Digest ofSignificant Changes 1999/2000 budgets 23
Schedule ofProperty Owned by the Town ofBedford 24
Finance & Personnel/Tax Collection Department 25
Treasurer's Report 25
Tax Collector's Report 25
Tax Lien Accounts 25
Capital Improvement Plan Summary 26
Town Clerk 27
Birth's registered in Bedford in 1999 28
Marriages registered in Bedford in 1999 32
Deaths registered in Bedford in 1999 35
Statement ofBonded Debt 39
Reports from Trustees ofTrust Funds 39
49
Audit Report
Appointed Boards and Commissions Inside Back Cover
Town Directory Back Cover
TOWN OF BEDFORD
BUDGETARY TOWN
MEETING MINUTES
MARCH
1999
3,
The annual Budgetary Town Meeting was held
on Wednesday, March 3, 1999 at the Bedford
Town Hall. Town Moderator Eugene Van
PM
Loan, III opened the meeting at 7 and
introduced those seated on the platform
including Councilors Richard Como, David
Danielson, Paul Goldberg, Edward Moran,
Jeanene Procopis, Thomas Riley, and Richard
Stonner. Also, Catherine Debo, Town
Manager; Edith Schmidtchen, Town Clerk/Tax
Collector; Keith Hickey, Finance Director; and
Martha Gaudes, Secretary to Town Council.
Moderator Van Loan gave the prayer and led
the Pledge of Allegiance. There were
approximately 40 people in the audience.
Council Chairman Goldberg said this is the last
year for Edith Schmidtchen, who is retiring
after serving the Town for 35 years. He
presented her with a bouquet of flowers from
the Town Council and Town Manager. Mrs.
Schmidtchen thanked everyone and said she is
looking forward to herretirement.
Chairman Goldberg also announced that
Parsons Richmond is retiring after serving as
Library Trustee for many years. His wife died
a week ago. He has been an invaluable
member ofthe town and to the library.
Moderator Van Loan reviewed the rules for the
meeting. Moderator Van Loan read Article 3:
To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate such sums of money as may be
necessary to defray Town charges for the
ensuing year.
Town General Fund
Bedford Budgetary Town Meeting Minutes-
SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST
March 3, 1999 - Page 2
As ofDecember, 1999, the voting list recorded
2315 Democrats, 5,629 Republicans, and 2,901
• 77zeLibrary budgetprovidesfundingfor_apart-
time referenceLibrarian andfour hours ofstaff Undeclared, for a total of 10,845 registered
time on Saturdays. Funds are alsoprovidedfor voters.
grounds maintenance and snow removal on
sidewalks. The Supervisors hold evening and Saturday
• The Finance Department budget provides sessions for registration of voters before each
additional funding for health insurance - election. These sessions are posted in the
reflecting major surgery costs in 1998. An Town Office, the Library, and published in
improved experiencefactor in 1999 would help local newspapers. Residents may also register
contain health care costs in 2000. or change their party at the Town Offices
• The Assessor's budget provides funding for
during regular office hours. Eligible residents
contract services to help measure and list are also allowed to register or change their
properties. party at the Town Office during regular office
• The Conservation Commission budget includes
hours. Eligible residents are also allowed to
$475,000 to purchase the Benedictine property on
Wallace Road, funded through land use change tax register to vote at the polls on voting days. The
revenues in the Conservation Fund. The Counciland Supervisors wish to thank Wanda Jenkins,
Consei-vation Commission have both approved use Town Clerk, and her staff for handling the
of these funds to acquire the property - meeting majority ofregistrations.
statutory requirements. The BedfordLand Trust will
make a substantial contribution (approximately
$325,000) toward thepurchase ofthisproperty and Respectfiilly submitted by Supervisors of the
will receive a conservation easement in exchange Checklist,
forthiscontribution. Betty Folsom - Chairman
Dorothy L. Witzel
Moderator Van Loan read each line item ofthe Norma Sedgwick
budget under the 1999 Council recommended
column.
Ed Comiskey, 12 Three Comers Road, said last
year the Town Meeting approved funding for
sidewalks on Route 3. Nothing has started.
What is the progress and where are the funds. (I
Mr. Stonner said the contract is out and it is
scheduled to start this summer. Mr. Goldberg
said it is tied in with the State intersection work
on Kilton Road and Back River/South River
Roads. Mr. Comiskey asked ifthe funds are in
escrow. Mr. Stonner said yes. Mr. Comiskey
asked if there is any change in the plans. Are
they just doing one side. Mr. Goldberg said
only one side.
Vote on the budget of$11,397,790 passed.
Supervisors Dorothy L. Witzel andNorma Sedgwick
1999 Zoning Amendment Results TOWN OF BEDFORD
WARRANT
2000
No. 1 To Amend Article 45-4, Use and
Dimensional Regulations by deleting (1) Home
Occupations in its entirety and substituting To the inhabitants of the Town of Bedford in
language differentiating between requirements for the County ofHillsborough in the State ofNew
Level I and Level II home occupations. Passed. Hampshire qualified to vote in Town Affairs:
No. 2 To Amend Article 45-6, Cluster You are hereby notified to meet at McKelvie
Residential Development by deleting Section 45-6- School on Tuesday, March 14, 2000 at 7
3 (d) Home Occupation Prohibition. Passed.
o'clock in the forenoon to act on the following
No. 3 To amend Article 45-11-1 Signs by adding Articles numbers 1 and 2. Polls are to close no
a heightrestriction inparagraph (a). Passed. later than 7:00pm. Action on the Town Budget
(Article 3) and on Articles 4, 5, and 6 will be
No. 4 To amend Article 45-11-1 Signs, by held at the Budgetary Town Meeting on
replacing paragraphs (d),(e), (f), and (n) with new Wednesday, March 8, 2000 at 7:00pm at the
requirements. Passed. Town Hall (70 Bedford Center Road).
No. 5 To Amend Article 45-11 Signs, Section 2 Article 1. To elect necessary Town Officers
and Figure 45.19 by making allowance for
for the ensuing three years.
increasing the allowed sign area by a formula
related to distance in feet from the edge of street Article 2. To see how the Town will vote on
right-of-way incertain districts.
the following zoning amendments.
Passed.
ZONING AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY
No. 6 To Amend Article 45-11 Signs, Section 3
THE PLANNING BOARD:
related to Pohtical Signs. Passed.
No. 7 To Amend Article 45-4-1 (k) (1) (a) related AMENDMENT NO. 1
to Recreation Capital Facilities Fees. Passed. Are you in favor of the adoption of
Amendment No. 1 as proposed by the Planning
No. 8 To Amend Appendix 45-D (b) assumptions Board for the Bedford Zoning Ordinance as
and (c) formularelated to recreation fees. Passed. follows: To amend Article 45-2
DEFINITIONS, by adding the following:
No. 9 (Citizen petition) To Amend Article 45-3-2
the official zoning map by expanding a commercial ELDERLY HOUSING - Any housing for
district on Route 101 owned by Thos. J. Flatley to
the exclusive use of elderly and physically
include abutting land zoned Office. Passed.
disabled persons which complies with the
No. 10 (Citizen petition) To Amend in 45-3-2 the Fair Housing Act of1988 and as amended.
official zoning map by reducing the size of the
Highway Commercial district on Route 101 where ZERO LOT LINE HOUSING - The location
Mobil Gas Station property is located and to re- of a building on a lot in such a manner that
zone adjacent property owned by the Town of one or more of the building's sides rest
Bedford asresidential-agricultural. Passed. directly on a lot line. No building or
structure projections, including roof eaves,
No. 11 (Citizen petition) To Amend Appendix bay windows, rain leaders, or chimneys shall
45-A (Table of Uses) to prohibit a drive-up or
project across the lot line.
drive-through service facility or curb service in
Highway Commercial Zones. Did not pass.
SETBACK, MINIMUM STRUCTURE A
-
line parallel to the front, side, and/or rear lot
line and set back from said lot line a
sufficient distance as specifled in this
ZONING AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY Zoning Board of Adjustment in accordance
THE PLANNING BOARD: with the provisions of Article 45-7 of the
AMENDMENT NO. 1 - continued Zoning Ordinance entitled "Wireless
Telecommunications Facilities".
Ordinance. The yard setback measurements [This section of the ordinance has been re-
establish the area in which all structures written and the body of the text has been
must be erected or placed. No part of a moved to a new location in Article 7.]
building or structure shall extend across the
AMENDMENT
minimum yards specified in the Tables of NO. 4
Dimensional Regulations except Are you in favor of the adoption of
"permissible projections" specified in the Amendment No. 4 as proposed by the Planning
Building Code adopted by the Town Council Board for the Bedford Zoning Ordinance as
and referenced in Article 45-13, Building follows: To amend Article 45-5, Section 5,
Permit Procedure, of the zoning ordinance. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS, by deleting item (c)
Such projections, including roofeaves, steps, which prohibits placing fill in wetlands to
window sills, and similar architectural obtain required setbacks.
features, rain leaders, chimneys, fire escapes [The Planning Board and Zoning Board have
and other required elements of a means of found that it is redundant to require a variance
NH
egress shall be allowed to project into the for filling in a wetland after the Wetlands
required yards to the distance specified in Bureau has already granted a State permit for
the Building Code. [This amendment is fill.]
intended to allow roof eaves and architectural
features to extend into the required yards
around buildings.] AMENDMENT NO. 5
Are you in favor of the adoption of
Amendment No. 5 as proposed by the Planning
AMENDMENT NO. 2 Board for the Bedford Zoning Ordinance as
Are you in favor of the adoption of follows: To amend Article 45-5, Section 6, (g)
Amendment No. 2 as proposed by the Planning MITIGATION PLANS, by deleting the
Board for the Bedford Zoning Ordinance as mitigation provisions (1) through (4) in their
follows: To amend Article 45-4, Section 1, entirety.
GENERAL PROVISIONS, by deleting item [This section was originally intended to give a
(g) BOCA Building Codes in its entirety. "Mitigation Committee" the ability to negotiate
[This is a redundant section of the ordinance for other improvements to offset filling of
which will be removed, and a fiall discussion of wetlands. However only the State of NH
the building permit procedure and BOCA Wetlands Bureau has legal authority to require
Codes is found in section 45-13-2 ofthe zoning mitigation or grant permits for filling of
ordinance.] wetlands.]
AMENDMENT NO. 3 AMENDMENT NO. 6
Are you in favor of the adoption of Are you in favor of the adoption of
Amendment No. 3 as proposed by the Planning Amendment No. 6 as proposed by the Plarming
Board for the Bedford Zoning Ordinance as Board for the Bedford Zoning Ordinance,
follows: To amend Article 45-4-2, Section (c) summarized as follows: To amend Article 45-6,
"USES PERMITTED BY SPECIAL CLUSTER RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT,
EXCEPTION", section (4) Wireless Tele- summarized as follows:
communications Facilities, by deleting this
section in its entirety, and replacing it with the Amend Section 45-6-3 General Provisions as
following: follows:
(b) Permitted Uses - to allow attached
(4) New commercial ground mount wireless dwelling units exclusively for elderly housing
telecommunications facilities may be with a maximum of4 units per building
permitted by Special Exception of the
ZONING AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY
THE PLANNING BOARD: AMENDMENT cluster developments by requiring open space
NO. 6 - continued in large blocks and restricting the amount of
paved recreational facilities. Further, the
(presently only detached dwelling units are amendment intends to improve the acquisition
of open space within the Town by allowing
permitted);
(j) Common Open Space Area - to require clusters on two separate lots, i.e., one lot for
that no more than 25% ofthe required open houses and a different lot for open space. The
space may be wetlands (presently 40% may be complete text of the 6-page amendment is on
wetlands); and that 40% of the open space file for public viewing at the Town Clerk's
must be contiguous (presently the open space Office.]
may be scattered throughout); AMENDMENT NO. 7
Amend Section 45-6-5 Design Requirements as Are you in favor of adoption of Amendment
No. 7 as proposed by the Planning Board for
follows:
(e) Open Space - to restrict recreational the Bedford Zoning Ordinance, summarized as
facilities that have impervious surfaces, such follows: To create a new Article 45-7 entitled
as tennis courts and swimming pools, to a Wireless Telecommunications Facilities.
maximum of 10% ofthe open space;
(f) (2) Buffer Zone - to eliminate the [This amendment is intended to reduce the
requirement for a 100 foot buffer around the potential height of new telecommunications
perimeter of the tract where detached towers from 200 feet to 130 feet maximum
dwellings will be constructed, and instead height, to require camouflage or "stealth"
require a 50 foot buffer as part of the shielding, and to encourage the placement of
required lot area of each detached dwelling telecommunications antennas on existing
abutting the perimeter; structures rather than construction of new
(f) (2) Buffer Zone - to require a 100 foot ground-mounted towers. The complete text of
vegetated buffer zone around the perimeter this 10-page amendment is on file for public
of the entire tract where attached elderly viewing at the Bedford Town Clerk's Office.]
dwellings will be constructed;
(g) (4) Internal Design Requirements - each AMENDMENT
new cluster house lot that is served by an NO. 8
individual on-site septic system and is less Are you in favor of adoption of Amendment
than 20,000 square feet in area may be No. 8 as proposed by the Planning Board for
required to submit a final grading plan to the Bedford Zoning Ordinance as follows:
the Planning Board as part ofthe submission To amend Article 45-10, OFF-STREET
for Planning Board approval. PARKING REQUIREMENTS, Section 1,
General Provisions, by amending (g) as
Create a new Section 45-6-7 Options for Non- follows:
Contiguous Tracts, summarized as follows:
The Planning Board may grant a (g) Parking and circulation driveways will
Conditional Use Permit to allow be set back a minimum ofthirty feet (30)
development of a cluster residential feet from all lot lines in the Commercial,
Highway Commercial, Service
development involving two separate tracts of
land: one tract on which all dwelling units Industrial, Route 3 Corridor
will be located, and a second tract which will Performance Zoning, Office, and
provide for the common open space. Apartment Residential zoning districts.
[These amendments to the Cluster [This amendment is intended to prohibit
Development Ordinance are intended to internal circulation driveways that would
encourage more elderly housing by allowing reduce landscaped green space around the
duplex, triplex, or fourplex units for the elderly, perimeter ofthe lot.]
and to secure more meaningfiil open space in