Bedford’s City Council unanimously (7-0) voted Tuesday night to authorize the publication of a notice of intention to issue $22,025,000 in certificates of obligation to fund the City’s new Senior Center and remodeling of the fire stations, as well as funding for other capital projects.

Pending a two-week notice period, the bond will fund the remodel of the old Airport YMCA building, located at Central and Cummings, into the Senior Center, as stated by the Council meeting’s agenda.

According to the City’s website, the new Senior Center will include “various multi-purpose rooms, a lounge, fitness area, commercial kitchen, game room, craft/ceramics room, library nook, reception area, several offices for staff and restrooms.”

Since demolishing the building for the Boys Ranch makeover, the Senior Center has been temporarily located at the Old Bedford School while the YMCA moved to its new permanent location at Generations Park, at Boys Ranch.  Construction of the new Senior Center is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, the City’s website estimated.

Another item to be covered by the certificate of obligation will be all three fire stations.  “The fire stations are all in bad shape,” said Council Member Amy Sabol prior to the meeting.  The stations lack “facilities for women,” she added and the fire chief has stated “Station 2 was so poorly designed it should be torn down.”

The funding from the $22 million bond, according to Tuesday night’s agenda, would also be committed toward “public safety facilities and vehicles, park facilities, streets, including Brown Trail, radios for communication and water/sewer improvements to fund the 2024-2025 Capital Improvement Plan.”