Bedford Adopts Gender Neutral Language In Charter: Special TM

BEDFORD, MA — Bedford held it's Special Town Meeting on Monday night, with Town Meeting members voting on 19 articles on the warrant. The articles ranged from charter amendments that included gender neutral language to zoning amendments that covered accessory dwelling units and the base elevation for units.

In total, 18 articles passed and just one failed on a 2/3 majority vote. Bedford joined several other communities in the state by adopting gender neutral language in it's charter — the former Board of Selectmen will now be the Select Board.

The sole article that failed, Article 10, focused on amending the zoning bylaw about accessory dwelling units. After discussion surrounding several amendments within the bylaw, a motion to table the article indefinitely was proposed, but failed.

Here are all of the articles on the Warrant and whether they passed:

Article 1: Debate Rules — Passed

Article 2: Community Preservation Surcharge — Passed

Article 3: Land Acquisition Fund — Passed

Article 4: Rescind 2018 Bond Authorization, Acquisition of Navy Property Off Hartwell Road — Passed

Article 5: Appropriate Funds For Transportation Infrastructure Funds — Passed

Article 6: 300th Anniversary Stabilization Fund — Passed

Article 7: Appropriate Funds For AFSCME, AFL-CIO, State Council 93, Local 1703 Collective Bargaining Agreement, FY 2020 — Passed

Article 8: Appropriate Funds For Bedford Permanent Firefighters Local 2310 IAFF Collective Bargaining Agreement, FY2020 — Passed

Article 9: Amend FY2020 Operating Budget — Passed

Article 10: Zoning Bylaw Amendment, Accessory Dwelling Units — Failed

Article 11: Zoning Bylaw Amendment, Height of Accessory Structure — Passed

Article 12: Zoning Bylaw Amendment, Base Elevation — Passed

Article 13: Zoning Bylaw Amendment, Temporary Uses and Structures — Passed

Article 14: Zoning Bylaw Amendment, Horizontal Mixed-Use in the Great Road/North Road District — Passed

Article 15: Zoning Bylaw Amendment, Clarifying Prohibition of Drive-Through in Great Road Districts — Passed

Article 16: Power Purchase Agreement — Passed

Article 17: Charter Amendment, Selectmen to Select Board — Passed

Article 18: Miscellaneous Charter Amendments, Housekeeping — Passed

Article 19: Charter Amendment, Board of Assessors — Passed

View the full Warrant: