OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Bedford Town Council Interviews and Regular Meeting - April 8, 2026

Town Council — Wednesday, April 8, 2026
BodyBedford, New Hampshire
SessionTown Council
DateWednesday, April 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:10:49

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good evening and welcome to the town council interviews for boards and commissions for April 8th, 2026.

0:09

First, we have up Elizabeth Kershaw for zoning, planning, and cemetery trustee.

0:16

Please come on up.

0:24

Hi, good evening.

0:25

Just please introduce yourself, give yourself a quick intro, and if the council has any questions, I'll I'll ask.

0:30

Sure.

0:30

My name is Elizabeth Kershaw.

0:33

I have been a Bedford resident since my family moved here in 1986.

0:43

I also hold a financial accounting degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

0:56

Stepped away from that back in November of 2024 to spend more time with my kids.

1:02

I have two children.

1:04

I have a fourth grader and a Sooner Bee Kindergartner.

1:07

I'm here tonight expressing interest in the zoning board, the planning board, and cemetery trustee.

1:14

Fantastic.

1:15

Any questions?

1:17

Anyone would like to ask?

1:19

I I guess maybe one question I might well might ask is you know of the three positions that you apply for, is the one that you really particularly feel you have passion around, or that you would want over the other?

1:33

Well, I think t two of the three uh are different.

1:37

Um I worked for the fire department, and as most of you know, they are they oversee the building and health department.

1:43

So I had the opportunity to work very closely with the building department in Bedford, which exposed me a lot to planning and zoning.

1:50

So that is something I feel is in my wheelhouse, I'm familiar with site plans, subdivisions, variances, setback requirements, permitting things like that.

2:00

Um I don't have a lot of experience.

2:05

Um honestly what got me interested in that was recently in actually in the past three years I've lost both my parents and they thank you.

2:16

They were Bedford residents.

2:18

Um but I never had had the opportunity to actually visit inside any of the cemeteries in Bedford.

2:24

And not only are they maintained beautifully, but the people that I had contact with were professional, um, helpful, caring, and that's what really wanting to be part of something like that was very important.

2:40

So I feel like it's it's different for for both sides of the spectrum.

2:47

Very good.

2:47

Any further questions?

2:48

Mr.

2:49

Chairman.

2:49

Council.

2:50

First of all, thank you for willing to volunteer and being volunteering for such a wide spectrum of positions.

3:00

Uh in your experience with the fire department and first responders, how much interaction did you have with like things like the DPW or maybe the town council?

3:14

Was there any interaction with there before?

3:16

Um both.

3:17

So we were on Constitution Drive, so we were in the same building as the Department of Public Works, their administrative offices.

3:24

Um I did a lot of addressing for the fire department for the fire chief, so I would need to be in contact with DPW a lot with regards to driveways.

3:34

Um planning and zoning, um, more planning.

3:38

I would contact I would be in contact with Becky if any new site plans came available, subdivision plans, um, things like that.

3:47

All of the departments work together.

3:51

It it really is when somebody you know comes for a permit in town, there's a lot of different things that need to be factored in depending on what the permit is for.

4:00

So a building permit just isn't building.

4:02

Um you could have commercial, which you know could extend to unit numbers.

4:07

It could extend, I mean, market in Maine is a good example of that.

4:10

Um there was a lot that went into that in a lot of different departments.

4:14

So I played a role in a little bit of those.

4:16

Um my position at the fire department was an executive assistant, so I worked a lot with CIP budgets.

4:23

Um I worked for Chief Wigan and Chief Hunter, so I participated in in those things which when they came before you I had been on the team getting that information organized and ready to be um thank you very much.

4:44

Thank you.

4:46

Thank you.

4:46

Thank you.

4:47

Thank you.

4:48

Next we have Danielle Avancic for Zoning Board and reappointment to Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission and Sewer and Water Committee.

4:57

Hi.

4:58

Uh I'm Daniela Vanzik.

5:00

Uh I've been in practice for 30 years now, so let me give you a short rundown.

5:08

I have a bachelor's in civil and environmental engineering, and I practiced in land development, um, doing both commercial and municipal uh facilities, uh, land development, utilities, and also uh municipal 25 year plans in another state.

5:25

So serving on the uh sewer and water authority committee, I I feel like I have uh a good insight of what's going on, and I like sharing that with the committee and also trying to make sure that the community understands uh how things are going.

5:40

Because I know all of our meetings are recorded, and some people actually tell me they watch our our recordings, so I appreciate that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Facilities Management██████████████████18%
Parks and Recreation███████████████15%
Community Engagement█████████████13%
Procedural████████████12%
Zoning And Land Use██████████10%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Transportation Safety██████6%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Bedford Town Council Interviews and Regular Meeting - April 8, 2026

The Bedford Town Council convened on April 8, 2026, first for interviews of applicants for various boards and commissions, then for the regular meeting. The council conducted interviews for zoning, planning, parks and recreation, conservation, historic commission, highway safety, cemetery trustee, and other positions. The regular meeting included a public hearing on a veteran tax credit ordinance, approval of the ordinance, a presentation from Joppa Hill Educational Farm, discussion of facility survey results, formation of two committees, and announcements including the resignation of the town clerk.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The council approved the minutes from the March 16, 2026 public session with a vote of 5-0-1 (Councillor LeVec abstained).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Veteran Tax Credit Ordinance: Two veterans, Keith Saunders and Richard Constant, spoke in favor of the proposed increase to the optional veteran tax credit (from $500 to $750) and the total disability veteran tax credit (from $2,500 to $5,000). Both expressed that the increase would greatly assist veterans.

Discussion Items

  • Board and Commission Interviews: The council interviewed 15 applicants for multiple boards and commissions. Key points included:

    • Elizabeth Kershaw expressed interest in zoning, planning, and cemetery trustee, citing her background working with the fire department and building department.
    • Danielle Avancic, a civil/environmental engineer, sought reappointment to the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission and appointment to the Zoning Board.
    • Ken Cash, a retired government employee, applied for conservation, parks and recreation, and energy committees.
    • Ian Moltenbury, a resident and member of the Rebuild Bedford Skate Art Committee, applied for Parks and Recreation.
    • Chris Campen, a pediatric radiologist, applied for conservation, energy, and highway safety.
    • Dave Gilbert, former town council member, applied for Parks and Recreation, emphasizing facility and field issues.
    • Glenn Smith applied for Bedford TV and radio board of overseers, with communications experience.
    • Bruce Thomas, former town engineer of Hooksett, applied for highway safety and Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission.
    • Bob McPherson, retired Lockheed Martin VP, applied for highway safety, citing traffic concerns.
    • Evan McCombs, a local realtor and developer, applied for Planning Board.
    • Molly Topf, a high school teacher, applied for Parks and Recreation, with experience in coaching and Little League.
    • Mark Schneider, current Zoning Board alternate, applied for Planning Board, with preference for planning.
    • David Bergeron, a Bedford High School junior, applied for highway safety, citing his intersection safety project.
    • Albert Ho, a tech executive, applied for cemetery trustee only.
    • Neri Bordas, a retired architectural designer, applied for Planning Board.

  • Public Hearing and Ordinance 2026-02: The council held a public hearing on an ordinance to increase the optional veteran tax credit from $500 to $750 and the total disability veteran tax credit from $2,500 to $5,000. Two veterans spoke in favor. The council then approved the ordinance by a vote of 5-0, with Councillors Griazzo and LeVec recusing.

  • Joppa Hill Educational Farm Annual Report: Executive Director Sarah Grosvenor and Board President Chris Bandesian presented the farm's 2025 highlights. Key statistics: over 40 active volunteers, 2,000 volunteer hours, $34,000 net from Snowball Gala, 750 youth in field trips, 237 campers. Plans include a new children's discovery area and expanded community engagement. Council asked about marketing and staffing (year-round staff of 4 plus 10 summer camp staff).

  • Facility Survey and Committee Formation: Councilor LeVec presented preliminary results from a March 2026 facility survey with ~2,400 respondents. Options: 839 (35%) chose to address fire/police first; 341 (14%) chose town office/DPW; 586 (24%) chose to combine both; the remainder expressed concerns about taxes. Council discussed next steps and voted to form two committees:

    • Facilities Committee (7 members: 3 councilors, 1 planning board member, 3 public volunteers) to develop options for town facilities. Motion passed.
    • Communications Committee (3 councilors and possibly public members) to gather more voter input at the September primary. Motion passed. Retreat planned for May 6 or 9, 2026.

  • New Business: Town Manager Sawyer announced Town Clerk Sally Keller's resignation effective end of April. Council will appoint a replacement until the March 2027 election. Advertisement will be posted. Also, a petition for rehearing of the March 2026 citizen's zoning amendment was received; council will consider within 30 days.

  • Town Manager Report: Included updates on upcoming events: Cinema Sunday (April 12), National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (April 12-18), National Library Week (April 19-25), Drug Take Back Day (April 25), dog licensing deadline (April 30), B Bold's dodgeball event (May 13), and Memorial Day parade (May 17). Party affiliation change deadline for September primary is June 2, 2026. Engine 2 for fire department is expected in May/June.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 2026-02 approved (5-0) increasing veteran tax credits.
  • Facilities Committee formed to develop options for town facilities.
  • Communications Committee formed to gather voter input at September primary.
  • Town Council will appoint a new town clerk following Sally Keller's resignation.
  • The council will address the petition for rehearing of the zoning amendment within 30 days.
  • Minutes from March 16, 2026 approved as presented.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the town council interviews for boards and commissions for April 8th, 2026. First, we have up Elizabeth Kershaw for zoning, planning, and cemetery trustee. Please come on up. Hi, good evening. Just please introduce yourself, give yourself a quick intro, and if the council has any questions, I'll I'll ask. Sure. My name is Elizabeth Kershaw. I have been a Bedford resident since my family moved here in 1986. I also hold a financial accounting degree from Southern New Hampshire University. Stepped away from that back in November of 2024 to spend more time with my kids. I have two children. I have a fourth grader and a Sooner Bee Kindergartner. I'm here tonight expressing interest in the zoning board, the planning board, and cemetery trustee. Fantastic. Any questions? Anyone would like to ask? I I guess maybe one question I might well might ask is you know of the three positions that you apply for, is the one that you really particularly feel you have passion around, or that you would want over the other? Well, I think t two of the three uh are different. Um I worked for the fire department, and as most of you know, they are they oversee the building and health department. So I had the opportunity to work very closely with the building department in Bedford, which exposed me a lot to planning and zoning. So that is something I feel is in my wheelhouse, I'm familiar with site plans, subdivisions, variances, setback requirements, permitting things like that. Um I don't have a lot of experience. Um honestly what got me interested in that was recently in actually in the past three years I've lost both my parents and they thank you. They were Bedford residents. Um but I never had had the opportunity to actually visit inside any of the cemeteries in Bedford. And not only are they maintained beautifully, but the people that I had contact with were professional, um, helpful, caring, and that's what really wanting to be part of something like that was very important. So I feel like it's it's different for for both sides of the spectrum. Very good. Any further questions? Mr. Chairman. Council. First of all, thank you for willing to volunteer and being volunteering for such a wide spectrum of positions. Uh in your experience with the fire department and first responders, how much interaction did you have with like things like the DPW or maybe the town council? Was there any interaction with there before? Um both. So we were on Constitution Drive, so we were in the same building as the Department of Public Works, their administrative offices. Um I did a lot of addressing for the fire department for the fire chief, so I would need to be in contact with DPW a lot with regards to driveways. Um planning and zoning, um, more planning. I would contact I would be in contact with Becky if any new site plans came available, subdivision plans, um, things like that. All of the departments work together. It it really is when somebody you know comes for a permit in town, there's a lot of different things that need to be factored in depending on what the permit is for. So a building permit just isn't building. Um you could have commercial, which you know could extend to unit numbers. It could extend, I mean, market in Maine is a good example of that. Um there was a lot that went into that in a lot of different departments. So I played a role in a little bit of those. Um my position at the fire department was an executive assistant, so I worked a lot with CIP budgets. Um I worked for Chief Wigan and Chief Hunter, so I participated in in those things which when they came before you I had been on the team getting that information organized and ready to be um thank you very much. Thank you.

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