Bedford council accepts 2025 perambulation report, will seek cost‑sharing to replace missing boundary markers

The Bedford Town Council voted Jan. 21 to accept the 2025 town boundary perambulation report and to authorize the town manager to negotiate cost-sharing with neighboring communities for replacement or repair of boundary markers.

Director of Public Works Brian DeFosse said the perambulation — a statutory boundary verification exercise done every seven years — found several markers missing or disturbed, some as a result of state DOT projects. He thanked DPW staff member Brandon Bovair for producing the schematics included in the report.

"We have noted that a few of the bounds were missing and others were disturbed," DeFosse said, and asked the council to accept the report and allow staff to work with abutting towns and DOT to reestablish markers.

Councilors discussed timing and cost: replacements vary depending on whether an original marker remains or a new survey is required. DeFosse estimated the field work took roughly 2.5 staff days per community during the October–December effort and said the town had encumbered some funds in 2025 and could stage additional funding in 2026 as needed.

Councilor Sowell moved to accept the 2025 perambulation report and authorize the town manager to negotiate cost‑sharing agreements with adjacent municipalities for monument repair or replacement. The motion was seconded and passed by roll call, 6–0.

Councilors emphasized the effort could be staged, that DOT should be asked to replace markers disturbed by state projects, and that some towns may not follow the same seven‑year schedule. DeFosse said some marker restorations may be performed by private surveyors and that final costs will be variable depending on field conditions and available records.

The council did not set a replacement schedule at the meeting beyond allowing staff to pursue negotiations and staging options.