Bedford Town Council Regular Meeting – September 9, 2026
Bedford Town Council Regular Meeting – September 9, 2026
The Bedford Town Council met on September 9, 2026, with Chair Phil Griazzo presiding. The council honored the Public Works Department's APWA re-accreditation and national award, awarded the Earl Legacy Park lighting contract, accepted Indian Rock Road, approved the 2 Hall Street lot restoration, heard the 2026 revaluation update, and acted on minutes and reports.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No one spoke during the formal public comment period.
- Later, resident Russo of Hilltop Drive asked about money left after the Legacy Park lighting award. Town Manager Rick Sawyer replied that the recreation impact fee account had about $220,000 before the vote, so with up to $160,138 authorized about $60,000 would remain; the field improvements capital reserve had about $237,000, with $28,102 to be used, leaving about $200,000. Russo also said he had not seen a warrant for Legacy Park lighting; staff noted the topic had come up previously, including with Little League fields. Staff said voters had authorized the council to spend from those accounts.
DPW Reaccreditation and APWA Award
- Rich Benevento of the American Public Works Association recognized Bedford's re-accreditation. APWA has more than 34,000 members, 62 chapters, and 96 branches. Evaluators reviewed 144 practices and found 100 percent full compliance. Two new model practices were added: communication with governing boards through proactive monthly reports and the detailed snow-route plan. Bedford also received the APWA Industry Award for Asset Management at the Houston convention. Bedford remains the first and only accredited public works agency in New Hampshire.
- Councilor Bader praised the DPW garage tour and said he was impressed by the team's enthusiasm and dedication.
Award of Bid 05-2026: Earl Legacy Park Lighting
- Public Works Director Brian DeFosis said Systems Electrical Inc. won the competitive bid; there were two bidders and four firms attended the mandatory pre-bid meeting. The base contract was $147,440, funded by $119,338 in recreation impact fees for tennis/pickleball court lighting and $28,102 from the field improvements capital reserve for LED retrofits of two basketball court poles. Up to $40,800 in additional impact fees could be needed for spread footings.
- Councilor Sowell, the Parks and Recreation liaison, said she had not heard of the request and asked whether the funding method circumvented a failed vote. DeFosis replied that the lighting has been in the recreation master plan since 2018, and the town has funded master-plan projects piecemeal through capital reserves and impact fees after a larger $4.1 million bond request failed. Councilors Strand and Sullivan said the failed omnibus bond did not necessarily show opposition to this individual project.
- The council voted to award the bid to Systems Electrical Inc. and to authorize up to $160,138 in recreation impact fees, with town manager change-order authority for footings up to $40,800.
Acceptance of Indian Rock Road
- DeFosis presented DPW's recommendation to accept Indian Rock Road as a class V public way. It is about 4,722 linear feet, or 0.894 miles, connects Pulpit Road at both ends, and follows the August 12, 2026 public hearing. As-built plans and mylars for the Preserve and Governor's View segments, signed developer deeds, and a crack-sealing deposit were received; Hoyle Tanner confirmed that the bridge registration work is acceptable. The stormwater maintenance contribution of $169,396.18 was received in December 2025 under Chapter 236. The town will assume responsibility for the roadway, drainage, and related easements.
- Councilor Sowell asked about expected road life; DeFosis said the goal is 30 years with proper maintenance and he expects this road to meet that despite the centerline joint defect. Councilor Bader noted the town had received property taxes during the development period. The council voted to accept the entire road with all related easements/right-of-way dedications and the stormwater fee.
Restoration of Involuntarily Merged Lots at 2 Hall Street
- The item had been tabled on August 12, 2026. Town Manager Sawyer said the planning director and he met with the Gench family and believed their concerns were satisfied. The council approved additional language stating that the two parcels will have all zoning rights as grandfathered nonconforming lots and that the configuration is as proposed by staff and the town attorney, not by the property owner.
- Staff said the owner's originally requested configuration was not legally available because a building crosses the property line. Councilor Levesque asked whether the language changed future rights; staff said it documents existing rights only, and future owners could seek another configuration through the Zoning Board of Adjustment without guaranteed approval. The council voted to approve partial restoration so Tax Map Lot 43-48 contains historic parcels 198-200 and the newly restored lot contains historic parcels 194-197.
2026 Revaluation Update
- Town Assessor Doug Irvine presented the 2026 revaluation results. Gross total municipal valuation is about $7.7 billion, up 20.5 percent from about $6.4 billion in 2023 and up about $1.2 billion from 2025. The median single-family assessed home value is $807,500, up 18 percent from $678,400 before the revaluation. Commercial value rose 12 percent, residential rose 18 percent, or about 6 percent a year compared with 15 percent a year in the prior cycle. Professional offices rose 23 percent, apartments 19 percent, and restaurants 16 percent; among residential styles, century/antique homes rose 30 percent, and condos and colonials each rose 17 percent. A test using 25 qualified July sales showed a median ratio of 1.00, meaning assessments line up with sale prices.
- Irvine said 195 informal hearings were held: 120 by phone and 75 in person, a little over 2 percent of properties. He cited a 2022 New Hampshire Board of Tax and Land Appeals case and Zillow's own disclaimer to explain that Zillow estimates are not recognized as appraisals. In regional comparisons, Bedford's 2024-2026 median sale price was $750,000, second to Hollis at $790,000, with the most sales among the top towns. Bedford's median sale price rose from $449,000 in 2017 to $817,500 in 2025. Irvine cautioned residents not to multiply their 2026 assessments by last year's tax rate, because the new rate will be lower but has not yet been set.
Town Manager Report
- Town Manager Sawyer reported on the September primary election: 4,877 ballots cast, 32 percent turnout, and 128 same-day registrants. This was the last September primary because state law moves it to June in two years. He also announced Captain Suetis's promotion, said Engine Two is now in service, and noted a new ambulance is awaiting equipment inspection. Drought conditions have improved to abnormally dry locally, but 93 percent of the state is in some drought category. Upcoming events include a senior health and wellness event on September 25 and the Safety Complex Open House on October 1.
Councilor Comments
- Councilor Bader reported that the Energy Commission heard from the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire; rates may be lower than Eversource, but further work is needed and any launch would require a public meeting. Councilors praised election staff and new voting machines, recognized Suicide Awareness Month, gave Conservation Committee updates, and noted that the Historic Committee passed regulations and guidelines. The next Planning Board meeting is Monday.
Key Outcomes
- Awarded bid 05-2026 for Earl Legacy Park lighting to Systems Electrical Inc. for $147,440, with recreation impact fees authorized up to $160,138 and town manager change-order authority for spread footings up to $40,800.
- Accepted Indian Rock Road as a town class V road with associated easements/rights-of-way and the stormwater contribution.
- Approved partial restoration of involuntarily merged lots at 2 Hall Street, with grandfathered nonconforming lot rights confirmed.
- Approved the public and non-public session minutes of August 12, 2026, and unsealed non-public minutes as recommended by staff.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the Bedford Town Council meeting for September 9th, 2026. We'll do a roll call. We'll start on my far left with the town's executive assistant, Don Buford. Town Manager Rick Sawyer. Good evening. Counselor John Bader. Good evening. Counselor Becky Sowell. Hey, Bedford. Counselor Matt Sullivan. Good evening. Counselor Laura Fehey. Good evening. Counselor Michael Strand. Good evening. Vice Chair Council Levesque. Good evening, Bill. And myself, Phil Griazzo. Matt, will you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Yes. A clear allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Next on the agenda, we have public comments. Is there anybody in the public that wishes to speak? Nobody in the audience wishes to speak. So we'll go to under new business. Brian, please. Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Chair, members of the Council, Town Manager Sawyer, and members of the public, as well as some members of DPW that are that are also in attendance. My name is Brian DeFosis. I'm the Director of Public Works. We have a special guest this evening, Mr. Rich Benevento from the American Public Works Association, also known as APWA. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you for the introduction. It's great to be back here in Bedford, New Hampshire again. I was here almost four years ago. I think it was September 28th when we did this the last time. But uh on behalf of the American Public Works Association and the entire public works community, um thank you for taking the time tonight to recognize your public works department. Um it's important uh for events like this to be able to raise awareness of the value and importance of public works uh in our daily lives and in the quality of life. So thank you for uh allowing me to be here to to talk a little bit about your public works department. Again, my name is Rich Benevento. I am uh a member of the National Board of Directors of the American Public Works Association. I represent Region One, uh, which is the New England chapter, the main chapter, uh, Newfoundland, Labrador Chapter, and the Atlantic Province chapter, which includes Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and uh and Nova Scotia. So just a little bit about APWA, in case you don't know. It's the largest and oldest organization of its kind in the world with uh a membership of over 34,000 public works professionals, consisting of 62 chapters, uh 96 branches throughout North America representing uh government agencies, consultants, uh contractors, and suppliers.
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