The polls will be open 11 AM to 7 PM on Tuesday, March 14. Articles 1 through 4, below, will be voted on by ballot during polling hours. During Town Meeting, which begins after the polls close at 7 PM, the remaining articles will be discussed and voted on.
The inhabitants of the Town of Andover in the County of Merrimack in the state of New Hampshire qualified to vote in Town affairs are hereby notified that the Annual Town Meeting will be held as follows:
Article 1: To choose all necessary town officers for the ensuing year. (By ballot vote during polling hours, 11 AM to 7 PM, on Tuesday, March 14.)
Article 2: To see if the Town will vote to make possible construction of brand-new workforce housing. Changes would make possible new construction of two-family dwellings in the Rural Residential district, multi-family dwellings in the Village district, the creation of a single private driveway to access these homes, and multi-use buildings (e.g. dwelling / office / retail) in the Village district. The Planning Board recommends a “yes” vote.
Article 3: To see if the Town will vote to clarify the ambiguous language of Zoning Ordinance Article 6, Non-conforming Structures or Use. The new language makes a clear distinction between a change of land use and a change to a structure and provides future guidance to landowners and the Zoning Board. The Planning Board recommends a “yes” vote.
Article 4: Are you in favor of increasing the Board of Selectmen to 5 members? (Majority ballot vote required.)
Article 5: Passage of this article shall override the 10 percent limitation imposed on this appropriation due to the non-recommendation of the Budget Committee. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,963,959 gross budget for the purpose of constructing and furnishing a highway garage on Town land, up to $400,000 of which will come from unassigned fund balance and $250,000 of which will be raised through taxation; and to authorize the issuance of not more than $1,313,959 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33); and to authorize the Select Board to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the date, maturities, interest rate, and other details of such bonds or notes; and to authorize the Select Board to apply for and accept any federal, state, or private funds that may become available in respect of the Project to use toward the Project, reduce the amount that must be bonded, or to pay debt service on such bonds or notes. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Not Recommended by the Budget Committee 3-4.) (3/5 ballot vote required).
Article 6: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the selectmen to enter into a six year lease-purchase agreement in the amount of $167,971 for the purpose of leasing a 6-wheel dump truck and to raise and appropriate the sum of $31,793.44 for the first year’s payment for that purpose. This lease agreement contains an escape clause. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Recommended by the Budget Committee 4-3.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 7: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,338,523 for general municipal operations. This article does not include appropriations contained in special or individual articles addressed separately. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 8: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000 to be added to the Forest Fire Labor ETF previously established. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 9: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $650,000 for the purpose of construction of a Highway Department garage, $400,000 of which will come from unassigned fund balance and $250,000 of which will be raised through taxation. This special warrant article will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will not lapse until the garage is completed or by 2025, whichever is sooner. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 10: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 to be added to the Town Buildings ETF previously established. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 11: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000 to be added to the Transfer Station Projects ETF previously established. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 12: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $11,300 to be added to the Revaluation CRF previously established. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 13: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000 to be added to the Highway Equipment CRF previously established. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 14: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000 to be added to the Highway Projects CRF previously established. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 15: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $13,500 to be added to the Police Cruiser CRF previously established. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 16: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 to be added to the Bridge Rehabilitation CRF previously established. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 17: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $26,000 for the purpose of entering into a contract with Hoyle Tanner for a town-wide Bridge Evaluation and Bridge Capital Improvement Plan. Said amount to come from the unreserved fund balance. (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 18: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $44,641 consisting of additional wages of $20,565, health insurance of $13,053, payroll taxes of $3,672, supplemental insurances of $856, and retirement of $6,495 for the purpose of additional compensation for the Town Clerk / Tax Collector. (Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Not Recommended by the Budget Committee 2-5.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 19: Shall the Town readopt the optional veterans tax credit in accordance with RSA 72:28, II, for an annual tax credit on residential property of $500 (Five Hundred Dollars)? (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 20: Shall the Town readopt the all veterans tax credit in accordance with RSA 72:28-b, for an annual tax credit on residential property which shall be equal to the same amount as the standard or optional veterans tax credit voted by the town under RSA 72:28? (The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this appropriation.) (Majority vote required.)
Article 21: To see if the Town will vote to place the town owned 6.3-acre lot #15-582-198 (also referred to as the McDonough parcel or the Dyer’s Crossing parcel) into a non-lapsing Conservation Easement.
Article 22: To transact any other business that may come legally before this meeting.