On March 12, Andover taxpayers gathered in the AE/MS gym for Andover’s annual Town Meeting. Moderator Dan Coolidge opened the meeting with an introduction of the Selectmen: Vicky Mishcon, Don Gross, and Jim Danforth; Town Administrator Marj Roy; Town Clerk Joanna Sumner; and State Representative Mario Ratzki. Judy Evans led the Pledge of Allegiance. Janet Moore gave a heartfelt tribute to Sandra Graves, who is stepping down after serving as a Library Trustee and the library board’s treasurer for 33 years. Sandra received a standing ovation.
Dan reviewed the new voter ID process for Town Meeting. Andover residents must present photo ID to obtain a Voter ID Card that must be held up when a hand count is required to determine passage or defeat of an article. Attached to the Voter ID Cards are ballots that can be marked and submitted when a ballot vote is required. At this 2013 meeting, hand votes were required several times; ballot votes were not.
Article 1: Election of officers for the ensuing year. The ballot results are here.
Article 2: Tax anticipation notes.
The loans required are short-term, actually called a “line of credit.” Article 2 passed.
Article 3: To authorize the Selectmen to accept and expend unanticipated money.
Article 3 passed, with one opposed.
Article 4: To authorize the Board of Selectmen to accept gifts of personal property which may be offered to the Town.
Article 4 passed unanimously.
Article 5: To authorize prepayment of taxes.
Article 5 passed unanimously.
Article 6: $1,309,936 for the operating budget.
Meeting attendants requested that the article be reviewed section by section in order to ask questions or comment on specific parts.
Selectman Jim Danforth made a motion to raise the Selectmen’s annual salary from $1,500 to $2,000. During the past year he spent $3,400 on mileage, research, training seminars, and printer supplies in addition to a lot of time to do the job. These expenses might deter those with fewer financial resources from running for Selectman.
Jon Champagne asked if other Selectmen shared this sentiment. Selectmen Gross and Mishcon shook their heads “no.” Vicky Mishcon stated that when she was solicited to run for Selectman, she was told that she could spend as little or as much time and money as she desired.
This motion was not a Board of Selectmen or Budget Committee recommended item.
Arch Weathers stated that in his observation of many Board of Selectmen meetings, those who serve do so because they choose public service as an important component of their lives, and that an additional $500 would not be an incentive. The motion was defeated.
Town Offices Expense: Toby Locke asked why there was such a large increase. The Town Offices need to purchase a default generator that starts up automatically when power goes out; both Fire Department buildings have one. The Police Department will get the portable generator currently used by the Town Offices. Multiple buildings cannot tie into one system.
Technology and Computers is a new line item to purchase a technical support contract for software upgrades and support for the many programs needed to do Town accounting functions and business.
Highways and Bridges: There was considerable discussion about the volatility of costs for materials, equipment, and fuel, as well as the unpredictability of weather conditions.
Road Agent Jon Champagne reported that we are seeing savings from producing our own sand, but the cost of salt is going up, and diesel fuel will most likely go up as well.
The rental of equipment used to store the materials should and does come from this account. It’s better to budget in safety rather than try to find the money needed later. Don Gross added that money not needed is saved.
John Thompson made a motion to increase Winter Materials and Miscellaneous from $23,000 to $28,000. Andy Guptill seconded. The motion was defeated on a show-of-hands vote, 55 to 51.
An amendment corrected an error in the “Police Benefits (Full Time)” line item, which was $14,903 too high. A motion under Article 22 (see below) added $8,000 to the Parks and Recreation line item for completion of the Blackwater Park building. The meeting passed a budget of $1,303,033.
Article 7: To expand the purpose of the existing Bridge Rehabilitation Capital Reserve Fund.
Toby Locke asked if the projects that will be approved are determined by Andover, or dictated by another agency. Vicky Mishcon strongly stated that the Town of Andover will make these decisions. The account was started to put away the 20% Town cost of state bridge repair/replacement; now we’d like the option to use the money for emergency Town bridge repairs.
Article 7 passed.
Article 8: $25,000 to the Bridge Rehabilitation Capital Reserve Fund.
Article 8 passed.
Article 9: $150,000 for the completion of road improvement projects, with $50,000 to come from the Highway Projects Capital Reserve Fund.
Article 9 passed.
Article 10: $13,440 to fund the third year of the town-wide revaluation.
Several residents expressed displeasure with Avitar’s seemingly high assessments. While we are currently locked into a contract, it was requested that the Town seek a different assessor for the next round of appraisals.
Article 10 passed on a show-of-hands vote, 44 to 37.
Article 11: $5,110 to the Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund.
Article 11 passed.
Article 12: $10,000 to the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund.
Article 12 passed unanimously.
Article 13: $10,000 to the Transfer Station Capital Reserve Fund.
This year, there will be equipment rented to pilot Single Stream Recycling (in which recycled items don’t have to be separated by type). If successful, the Town will purchase the necessary equipment to continue. If not, the current equipment will have to be replaced. A compactor/bailer costs about $30,000.
Article 13 passed.
Article 14: $25,000 for a new police cruiser, with $18,000 to come from the Police Cruiser Capital Reserve Fund.
Chief Laramie explained that we are on an eight-year cruiser replacement cycle. The cars are used two shifts per day. A lot of mileage and vehicle wear often is not seen, and we need to be able to respond quickly when called.
Article 14 passed.
Article 15: $25,000 to the Ambulance Capital Reserve Fund.
Article 15 passed.
Article 16: $4,000 for repairing damaged stones, grass seeding, and the completion of the survey work at the East Andover Cemetery and to repair two water line leaks in Proctor Cemetery.
Cemetery Trustee Mary Ann Levesque reported that most funds go for maintenance. In addition, there was vandalism this past year that will require expert repair services.
Article 16 passed.
Article 17: To establish a Recreation Revolving Fund in which the money received from fees and charges for recreation programs and park services and facilities shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year. These funds may be expended only for recreation purposes.
Motion made by Alan Hanscom and seconded by Mario Ratzki to add “donations.”
This article will allow the Recreation Committee to adjust participation fees as needed without waiting for a Town vote.
Article 17 passed, with one opposed.
Article 18: To expend $15,400 from the Blackwater Park Fund to complete the building at Blackwater Park.
Alan Hanscom proposed an amendment to appropriate an additional $8,000 so that the Recreation Building can be completed this summer. Howard George seconded and said that the Recreation Department has never requested Town funds before and would really like to get this building finished.
Dan Coolidge stated that this amendment is not legal, as it was not advertised; Vicky Mishcon agreed.
John Kinney advised that this request could be made at another time in the meeting. Alan Hanscom withdrew the motion.
Vicky Mishcon moved that the dollar amount be changed to “remaining balance,” seconded by Joann Hicks. Amendment passed unanimously.
Article 18 passed unanimously.
Article 19: To expend funds from the Cilleyville-Bog Bridge Fund for maintenance and repair of the bridge.
Article 19 passed unanimously.
Article 20: Property tax exemption for solar energy systems and/or wind energy systems.
There was much discussion about the added value to a home that would not be taxed for modifications that would reduce the energy costs to the homeowners, and that the adjacent homes would see an increase in taxes because there is no increase in assessed value of homes that have value added.
The incentive of the exemption is to reduce fossil fuel use for the future of the planet.
Article 20 passed.
Article 21: To modify the elderly exemptions from property tax.
Article 21 passed.
Article 22: Any other business.
Alan Hanscom made a motion to increase the Recreation Department budget by $8,000. Steve Barton second. The motion passed.
Jeff Dickinson made a motion to prohibit drones in Andover. The motion was defeated.
Tina Cotton asked the Selectmen to look into the issue of non-US citizens being able to serve on municipal boards.