Bedford Town Council Meeting - September 23, 2026

The Bedford Town Council met on September 23, 2026, to honor the town's oldest resident, review and approve transfer station fee updates, receive the draft 2027 Capital Improvement Plan, and approve non-union employee wage ranges. Discussions also included proposed clarifications to the council's code of conduct. The meeting opened with roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a special proclamation.

Proclamation – Boston Post Cane

• The Council presented the Boston Post Cane to Georgette Hebert, born April 12, 1926, recognizing her as Bedford, New Hampshire's oldest resident. Ms. Hebert spoke warmly about her honor and shared memories. Council members offered congratulations.

Public Hearing – Transfer Station Fee Schedule Updates

• Public Works Director Brian Defosis and Environmental Coordinator Erica Douglas presented proposed rate changes for the transfer station. The proposal included:
  • Residential C&D (construction & demolition) and ABC (asphalt, brick, concrete) rates increasing by $5 per ton.
  • Commercial MSW, C&D, and ABC rates increasing by $15 per ton to $200 per ton.
• Reasons cited: safety concerns (debris flying from unsorted containers), rising processing costs for ABC ($125,000 over the last decade), and the need to separate C&D materials. A new dumpster for C&D would improve safety.
• A comparison with surrounding towns showed Bedford's proposed rates were in the mid-range; Nashua had lower rates due to its landfill.
• Other updates: stopping acceptance of commercial truck off-road and heavy-duty tires (due to high disposal costs up to $260 per tire), expanding textile recycling bins through Parallax Impact (veteran-owned NH company providing free clothing to low-income families), and offering free screened compost to residents after testing.
• Councillor Sullivan questioned why rates were not increased more to generate revenue, but the proposal aimed to cover costs, not profit. Town Manager Rick Sawyer noted the transfer station's budgeted revenue of $250,000 versus trucking costs of $1 million, so rates only offset tax impacts.
• No public comments were offered. The public hearing was closed.

Discussion Items

Submission of Draft 2027 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

• Assistant Town Manager Gene Walker presented the draft 10-year CIP totaling $83.7 million, with $9.73 million proposed for 2027. Key points:
  • $2.4 million is debt service for local roads and solar array bonds; $2.9 million is for local road maintenance from operating budget.
  • The CIP includes 24 projects and 41 equipment requests (65 total) valued at $4.01 million, excluding operating, enterprise, debt, and roadway items.
  • No new facility construction is included; a subcommittee is reviewing needs after the defeat of the South River Road fire substation article.
  • New equipment items: variable message board trailers ($25,000) and a sewer camera CCTV inspection system ($125,000 funded by sewer enterprise funds).
  • Inflation and long delivery times (24-40 months for emergency vehicles) require earlier funding commitments.
  • The plan remains flexible through the deliberative session (February 1, 2027, 6:30 PM). Councillors were encouraged to review and discuss with department liaisons.

Approval of 2027 Non-Union Employee Compensation Wage Ranges

• Human Resources Director Pam Hogan proposed a 2.45% increase in wage ranges for non-union employees, based on the CPI-W for the region (July-to-July average). This adjusts both minimums and maximums. One position was downgraded due to changed duties.
• Hogan clarified that the vote only sets the ranges; individual merit increases and cost-of-living adjustments will be part of the budget process. Currently, all employees are within their ranges. The new ranges affect hiring and ensure current employees remain within bounds.
• Councillor Levick asked about merit adjustments; Hogan explained they are separate and evaluated per employee. Councillor Sol requested a breakout of merit adjustments, which she said was previously promised but not received; staff will resend.
• Motion by Councillor Bader, seconded by Councillor Sol, approved unanimously.

Discussion of Changes to Town Council Code of Conduct and Rules of Procedure

• Councillor Fehey proposed clarifications regarding: (1) liaison appointment expectations, (2) alternates for committee assignments, and (3) time commitment for election day duties. She noted new councillors often lack clarity.
• Town Manager Sawyer offered to produce a track-changes edit of the document for future consideration. The council agreed to continue discussion at a later meeting. No action was taken.

Key Outcomes

• Transfer Station Rates and Rules – Approved as proposed, effective September 30, 2026. (Motion by Councillor Strand, second by Councillor Bader. Vote: unanimous ayes.)
• 2027 Non-Union Wage Ranges – Approved to be effective January 1, 2027. (Motion by Councillor Bader, second by Councillor Sol. Vote: unanimous ayes.)
• Minutes of September 9, 2026 Public Session – Approved. (Motion by Councillor Levick, second by Councillor Sowell. Vote: unanimous ayes.)
• Next Steps: The CIP will be further discussed during budget workshops starting in November. The code of conduct revisions will be brought back with staff edits. Councillors will coordinate with the town moderator for the upcoming election.