Council votes to waive Hawkins Field disposal fee, appoints alternate to conservation commission

The Bedford Town Council on May 7 voted unanimously to waive demolition debris disposal fees for a Hawkins Field dugout improvement project carried out by the Bedford Men's Club and appointed Kate Kelly as an alternate to the Conservation Commission.

Town Manager Rick told the council the dugout work produced “2 loads that went to the transfer station, just under 3 quarters of a ton or $136.90,” and showed before-and-after photos of the dugouts. Councilor Kathleen Bemis moved to grant a waiver of the tipping fee for the Hawkins Field dugout improvement project; Councilor Michael Strand seconded the motion. Chair Lori Ratke called the vote and recorded the motion as passing 7-0.

On the conservation commission appointment, Councilor Bill Carter moved to appoint Kate Kelly as an alternate to fill the term to 2027; Councilor Becky Soule seconded the motion. The council approved the appointment by a 7-0 vote.

The council also approved a set of meeting minutes: retreat minutes from April 16, 2025, and public-session minutes from April 23, 2025, votes that carried with recorded abstentions; the nonpublic-session minutes of April 23, 2025 were approved with multiple abstentions noted in the transcript. The votes on minutes were procedural and recorded without extended discussion.

Councilors and the town manager thanked the Bedford Men's Club for volunteering and funding the dugout repairs; Chair Ratke called the work “great” and praised the group for completing the repairs quickly.

Why it matters: The waiver reduces or eliminates a modest disposal fee the club would have…