The three candidates running for two three-year terms on the town council agree growth is the most important issue facing Bedford, but each has a different take on how it’s affecting town taxes.

Incumbent Michael Scanlon, a six-year councilor, debated challengers Mike Izbicki and Chris Bandazian on Monday, Feb. 19.

They discussed town issues, including road repair, a new fire station, wetland setbacks and the planned town common.

Growth
Bandazian said the Route 3 corridor is important for Bedford, but businesses should pay their fair share to keep resident property taxes down.

“It’s a very attractive area to expand our tax base but, at the same time, we need to protect our real estate value and our way of life in the residential section of this town by preserving open space, protecting our wetlands wisely and avoiding congestion,” Bandazian said.

Izbicki said increasing expenses driven by growth are battling with tax and other revenues.

He said work on the 2010 Master Plan is important and should start now.

“The town is still going to be growing, and we’re going to be looking at providing additional services as we develop the Route 3 corridor,” he said. “And I think that’s where the challenge is going to come in. We have to put together a smart development plan.”

Scanlon said growth during the last 10 to 15 years is driving additions to the budget, including increased fire and police personnell.

“We’re hiring these people because the town grew and the level of these services did not keep up with the growth rate,” Scanlon said.

The town council is “playing catch-up” to provide services for which residents are asking, Scanlon said.

Another fire station Scanlon said he favors building an additional fire station in the northwest corner of the town, as opposed to one on Route 3.

Fire and rescue vehicles currently have about a 15-minute drive to some houses in the northern section of town.

“Personally, I believe we have to protect the residents.

At this point in time, I haven’t been convinced that building a station two minutes away from another station is the way to go,” he said.

Bandazian agreed. He said Route 3 might be better covered jointly by Bedford and surrounding towns.

“It is possible that we could build a fire station cooperatively with the town of Merrimack, which has its own fire station across the border on Route 3. And both towns could service the corridor,” Bandazian said.

He said Bedford should protect where residents live, not where nonresidents drive through.

Izbicki said a station on Route 3 would be best, because in a few years when the area is fully developed, the response time will increase.

“I think, while we’re developing that corridor right now, work with developers to get the fire station in. And, I have worked with other people across the country where we have actually worked with the town and negotiated with developers where they would pay the capital costs,” he said.

Wetlands
Izbicki, who has served on the zoning board of adjustment since 2005, said Bedford has some of the pristine wetlands in New Hampshire, and the board looks at each project individually.

“We work with (wetland owners). We help them. We try to accommodate their needs and so far I think things are going pretty well,” he said.

Bandazian, who has served on the zoning board of adjustment for 15 years and is the current chairman, said he has always approached wetlands setbacks with reason.

“Our guiding principal has always been: What is the impact on the wetland during construction; what is the impact on the wetland after construction? If those impacts are beyond what is tolerable, the construction should not go forward,” Bandazian said.

He said circumstances, including slope, should determine what distance the town would require for setback. Scanlon said he has suggested that soil scientists look at each project to determine how far away construction should be.

“Personally, I believe that a number of feet -- 50 feet or 100 feet -- is an arbitrary number,” he said. “And it’s not based in fact. It’s not based in science. It’s based in, ‘Well, we think that’s a pretty good number. Let’s go with that.’”

The candidates
Izbicki has lived with his wife, Sue, in Bedford for more than 20 years and has professional experience in construction management, engineering, planning and funding.

Bandazian has lived in Bedford for 22 years and is married to Mary Ann Senatro, director of the Bedford Public Library. He served on the town council for 10 months starting in 2004.

Scanlon has lived in Bedford for 21 years and has been married to his wife, Ann, for 20 years. He has been on the town council for six years.