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Residents press council for transparency, urge protection of Stony Creek Reservoir watershed
Summary
Several residents urged the Town of Bedford to avoid private sales and protect watershed lands around Stony Creek Reservoir, questioned repeated closed sessions about the Peaks Magisterial District property, and asked council to involve state and federal water-quality authorities.
Melissa Baffin told the Town of Bedford council on Jan. 20 that a notice of a closed session about a Peaks Magisterial District property raised concern and called for public hearings if the property is sold.
“Why close doors again?” Baffin asked, citing a deed dated 06/28/2013 that she said restricts uses of parts of the Stoney Creek Reservoir property to agriculture, horticulture and silviculture and listing several parcel numbers and acreage. She asked the council to make any future sales subject to an open public process, not private bids.
Danny Hilton, who identified his experience in water and wastewater operations, urged the town to prioritize watershed protection. Hilton cited multiple parcel IDs near the reservoir and said much of the drainage area flows to the lake; “It’s 6 square miles,” he said when describing the reservoir’s drainage and emphasized that key upstream parcels should be owned by whoever operates and maintains the water system.
Hilton asked whether state or federal agencies had been consulted and named the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Health as relevant regulators for wetland, water-quality and drinking-water protections.
Town Manager Warner did not dispute residents’ technical concerns during public comment and later moved forward with agenda business; the council subsequently voted to enter a closed session later in the meeting to discuss acquisition or disposition of land and legal strategy related to property negotiation.
Why it matters: Stony Creek Reservoir provides water-supply and watershed services for Bedford. Community members told the council they fear that changing ownership or allowing development on upstream parcels could increase runoff and damage water quality for downstream users.
What’s next: Baffin asked the council to ensure any sale is accompanied by a public hearing and open bidding. Council later moved to a closed session to discuss land outside town limits and related legal consultation; the certified motion states the closed session covered only matters lawfully exempted under the cited code language.
The reporting is based on comments and questions posed at the council meeting by Melissa Baffin (public comment) and Danny Hilton (public comment), and the council’s later motion to enter closed session.
