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Bedford council approves tax and utility write-offs, accepts donation, pursues FTA grant and awards municipal-building contract
Summary
On Jan. 20 the Bedford Town Council voted unanimously to write off small outstanding 2020 personal property taxes and older inactive utility balances, accept a $3,500 donation for the fire department, authorize staff to apply for an estimated $258,000 FTA grant for the Bedford Otter bus, and award a roughly $263,000 contract for municipal building renovations.
The Bedford Town Council voted unanimously at its Jan. 20 meeting to approve several fiscal and operational measures, Town Manager Bart Warner said on the town podcast recapping the meeting.
Council authorized staff to write off remaining 2020 personal property taxes totaling $741.24, citing state code that limits enforcement of local personal property taxes to five years after the assessment year. Council also approved writing off inactive utility and electric accounts older than five years totaling $34,817.86; Finance Director Anne Cantrell told council that voluntary repayment is rare and bankruptcy complicates collection.
The council accepted a $3,500 contribution from LyondellBasell to purchase two combustible-gas meters for the fire department. Warner said the town also unanimously authorized staff to pursue a Federal Transit Administration grant as a subrecipient to support the Bedford Otter bus; the application estimate is $258,000 and would require a grant match from an outside entity. Warner noted the bus's ridership growth from 3,234 riders in 2022 to 7,923 in 2025.
Council also unanimously approved awarding a design/bid/construction-administration contract to Thompson and Litton to address HVAC and electric-system deficiencies at the municipal building (215 East Main Street); Warner said the most recent price quote was approximately $263,000 and staff will work with the contractor to plan temporary relocation of staff and continued citizen access to services during renovations.
Votes at a glance: - Personal property tax write-off (2020): $741.24 — motion by Councilman Stacy Haley, seconded by Vice Mayor Darrell Updike — outcome: approved (7–0). - Utility accounts write-off (inactive >5 years): $34,817.86 — motion by Councilman Jay Ippolito, seconded by Councilman Stacy Haley — outcome: approved (7–0). - Accept donation from LyondellBasell: $3,500 — motion by Councilman Stacy Haley, seconded by Councilman Dwight Evans — outcome: approved (7–0). - Authorize FTA grant application for Bedford Otter bus (est. $258,000): motion by Councilman Todd Foreman, seconded by Councilman David Foster — outcome: approved (7–0). - Award contract to Thompson and Litton (approx. $263,000): motion by Councilman Jay Ippolito, seconded by Vice Mayor Darrell Updike — outcome: approved (7–0).
Warner said council will continue to post meeting videos and minutes on the town website and livestream meetings for residents who cannot attend in person. No formal budget adoption or ordinance changes occurred at this meeting; the votes recorded were for the items listed above.
