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1. What is CodeRED and why is it important to me?
2. For what kinds of situations will CodeRED be used?
3. Does the CodeRED system replace other systems that have been used to provide time-sensitive information to residents?
4. Does the Town have my telephone number, or do I have to sign up to receive CodeRED emergency calls?
5. I have a business located in Bedford. Can I arrange to have CodeRED call my business?
6. The registration form only allows me to enter a primary and secondary telephone number. What if I want to register additional numbers for my address?
7. What precautions are being taken to protect personal information?
8. How will I recognize a CodeRED message?
9. What should I do if I receive a CodeRED message?
10. I have a cordless phone, and it does not work when the power goes out. How is the Town going to be able to contact me?
11. Will CodeRED leave a message on a machine?
12. What happens if the line is busy?
13. What circumstances might prohibit a message from being delivered to me?

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1. How is property value determined?
2. Why did my assessment increase, I made no improvements?
3. What improvements increase property value?
4. What if my assessment changes?
5. Do my taxes increase if my assessment increases?
6. How can I disagree with my assessment?
7. How do I get an abatement?
8. Do I have to pay my taxes while an abatement is pending?
9. Can my assessment decrease?
10. What do Assessors do?
11. What DON’T Assessors do?
12. Why do we assess property?
13. Do assessors set the property tax rates?
14. What is a revaluation?
15. Why is a revaluation necessary?
16. Do all assessments change at the same time?
17. How is the tax rate determined?
18. Can an outside authority reduce my assessment?
19. Are there tax reductions for seniors, widows/ers, veterans or limited income households?
20. My taxes went up more than 2 ½ percent, why did that happen?
21. Do Assessors need to visit my property or inspect my home?
22. What is Classification?
23. How is an assessment done at a duplex/condo/carriage house/accessory dwelling/townhouse/renting a room but living in the rest?
24. Why might my assessment be incorrect?
25. Can assessed values be adjusted for long-time residents?
26. Do I have to apply for an abatement every year?
27. Should I apply for an abatement every year?
28. How can I lower my taxes through Senior Work-Off activities?
29. A house sold for a very high amount, will my assessed value increase?
30. Why might a single-family home be assessed higher than a duplex?

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1. What is the Board of Health and what is the Health Department?
2. What services does the Board of Health provide in the community?
3. How are the Board of Health and the Health Department funded?

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1. What is a Business Certificate, DBA (doing business as)?
2. Who must file?
3. Who must sign the Business Certificate?
4. How long is my Business Certificate valid?
5. What if I “go out of business”, change my residence; change the location of the business or want to change the name or owner of the business?
6. Does the filing of a Business Certificate protect me from others using the same name?
7. What are the fees?
8. Must I display a copy of my Business Certificate?
9. What is the penalty if I do not file a certificate or statement?
10. Where do I get tax information regarding my business?

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1. How do I get a municipal lien certificate?

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1. What does the Senior Center offer?
2. How do I start using COA services?
3. Does Bedford have a large Senior population?
4. Must frail elders travel to the Senior Center for COA services?
5. Does the Bedford COA serve Seniors only?
6. Do many people use the COA Senior Center?

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1. How do I pack my items?
2. Where and When should the items be placed curbside?
3. Do I need to label my donation?
4. What do I do if my donation was not picked up on the scheduled day?

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1. What is an excise tax?
2. What if I don't own the vehicle for the entire year?
3. What determines Massachusetts residency for Excise Tax?
4. How is the Excise tax computed?
5. Where can I find more information and answers to other questions about Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise taxes?

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1. Where can I park during a snow storm?
2. If my car is to towed, where can I recover it?
3. Can I get sand and salt?
4. What if a plow damages my mailbox or front lawn?
5. How do I report a pothole?
6. How do I report a missing street sign?
7. How do I report a street light that is out?
8. Traffic lights are flashing or not working, whom do I notify?

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1. What is Compulsive Hoarding?
2. Who struggles with Hoarding behavior?
3. What are the signs of Compulsive Hoarding?
4. What are the dangers of Hoarding?
5. Is there help for those who Hoard?
6. How can I help a Hoarding friend or family member?

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1. How do I volunteer for a board or committee?
2. How is the Town of Bedford responding to COVID-19?
3. How do I sign up for emergency alerts?
4. My trash didn't get picked up, what should I do now?

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1. Can I submit an Application for Employment for a position if the application deadline has passed?

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1. I’m thinking about starting up a small business in Bedford. What should my first step be?
2. I’m going to renovate my tenant space before I move in. What’s involved with that?
3. Can I do the work myself?
4. What if I like the space the way it is and don’t plan on doing any work except for painting?
5. I’m thinking about putting up a wall sign for my business. Do I need a permit before I put it up?
6. I want my sign to be illuminated. Are there any special requirements to do this?
7. I’m thinking about staying open 24hrs. Can my sign stay on all night?
8. Can I have any additional signage besides my wall sign?

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1. I would like to have some work done on my home. Do I need a building permit?
2. What if I’m just re-shingling my roof, installing new replacement windows and/or re-siding my home; do I still need a building permit?
3. Why do I even need a permit?
4. What information do I need to submit to the building inspector to allow me to do work on my home?
5. You said I needed to submit a certified plot plan with my permit application. What is that, why do I need this and where do I get one?
6. At the closing, the bank gave me a mortgage inspection plot plan. Can I use that?
7. How much does a permit cost?
8. How long does it take to issue a permit?
9. What happens if I don’t pull a building permit?
10. I’d like to install a swimming pool on my property. What do I need to do?
11. I’d like to install a shed/detached garage on my property. What do I need to do?
12. I need to get an inspection for the work that was performed on my property. How do I schedule an inspection?
13. I own my own home. Can I pull my own permits or do I need a licensed contractor?
14. Do I need a permit to have a yard sale on my property?
15. Can I put up signs advertising my yard sale?
16. My parents are starting to need constant care. Can I add an in-law or accessory apartment to my single-family home?
17. I’m thinking about building an addition onto my house or maybe a detached accessory garage. How close can I go to my property lines?
18. I have a boat that I need to store for the winter. Can I store it on my property?
19. I have a recreational trailer that I need to store for the winter. Can I store it on my property?
20. Can I store my unregistered vehicle on my property?
21. I’m thinking about starting my own business and working out of my home. Is this allowed?
22. The company I work for let’s me take the company vehicle home with me. Am I allowed to park this commercial vehicle in the driveway of my single-family home?

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1. My water bill is high. How can I have that checked?
2. My trash or recycling was missed. How do I report a missed pickup?
3. How do I deal with a dead animal on my property?

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1. Will I have access to my driveway during paving?
2. Will paving impact trash and recycling collection?
3. How will this impact utility work or driveway repair after paving?
4. Can I park on the street during paving?
5. Who can I contact with additional questions about paving?

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1. What is salt brine?
2. When is salt brine used?

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1. What are the due dates for Real Estate Taxes?
2. What if I don’t receive a Real Estate Tax Bill?
3. What happens if I pay my Real Estate Tax late?
4. How do I change the old owner’s name that appears on the Tax Bill after purchasing the property?
5. What happens if there is an overpayment on my Real Estate Tax?
6. What happens if I don’t pay my real estate tax?
7. What should I do if I recently sold my property, but I am still receiving a tax bill?
8. How much did I pay in real estate tax last year?

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1. What if my child needs inclusion support to attend a Recreation program?
2. What is Bedford Recreation's Refund/Cancellation policy?
3. How can I reserve a field in Bedford?
4. What is the Town's Flexible Spending Tax ID Number?
5. How can I get a tax receipt (FSA) from Recreation?
6. When does the next brochure come out?
7. When is Bedford Day 2024?
8. When does registration open?
9. Can the playground area by Kids' Club be reserved?
10. How do I reserve facility space in Bedford?
11. How do I apply for financial assistance for Recreation Programs?

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1. What do I need to know about the check in process for Town Meeting?
2. How do I submit a Petitioner's Article for the Town Warrant?
3. How can I volunteer to be on a town committee?
4. Where can I read the rules?
5. When is Town Meeting?
6. Why Do Voters Need to Attend Town Meeting?
7. What is the Warrant? Why is the motion made at Town Meeting sometimes different from what is published in the Warrant?
8. Who can attend Town Meeting? Who can vote? Who can speak?
9. What to Think About Before You Speak or Present at Town Meeting.
10. What Is an Open Town Meeting?
11. What Bedford’s Town Meeting is Not.

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1. What is the Transportation Advisory Committee?
2. When and where does the Transportation Advisory Committee meet?
3. How can residents provide input to the Transportation Advisory Committee?
4. How does someone join the Transportation Advisory Committee?
5. How does the town decide where to build sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes?
6. Where are the next sidewalks planned for construction?
7. How are these improvements funded?
8. How long does it take to construct a new sidewalk?
9. How can I get my street added to the list for these kinds of improvements?
10. Can I get a crosswalk at a specific location?
11. Can the town add signs or speed bumps to prevent speeding on my street?
12. Can we lower the speed limit on my street?
13. Can anything be done about traffic on Great Road?

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1. I have too much trash. What can I do?
2. How do I schedule a bulky item pick up?
3. My trash/recycling cart is dirty/damaged/broken. Can I request a replacement?
4. Why was my cart moved? It was put down in a different place from where I put it out.
5. Where can I find more information about Special Recycling Events?
6. Where can I find information about Hazardous Waste Collection events?
7. Do I need a resident sticker to access the Compost & Recycling Center?
8. When is Yard Waste collected?

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1. What if I can't fit all my trash in the cart?
2. Can I request an extra trash cart?

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1. What is a water main?
2. What causes a water main break?
3. What happens when a water main breaks?
4. Signs of a water main break?
5. What are signs of a water main break inside your home?
6. What are signs of a water main break outside your home?
7. What should I do after a water main break?
8. How long does it take to fix a water main break?

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1. What Services Do You Offer?
2. How do I access counseling services for myself or my child?
3. How much does counseling cost?
4. I received an eviction letter, what do I do?
5. What if I need help paying my heating bills – can you help?
6. Let's say my teenager might be drinking or using drugs – what can I do?