Selectmen Push for More Volunteers on Town Committees

Road and Bridges, Cable TV, and more

By the Andover Board of Selectmen

If there were any doubts about who runs our town, Town Meeting made it very clear that we all do. In 2014, the Board of Selectmen plans to build and strengthen appointed committees. The Board is currently organizing a new Andover Roads and Bridges Committee and is seeking volunteers. The Board is also seeking new […]

Selectmen Postpone Semi-Annual Tax Bills Until 2015

Input from Town Meeting prompts change

By the Andover Board of Selectmen

At a February meeting of the Board of Selectmen, the Board voted to change from an annual tax billing to a semi-annual tax billing. The Board heard from residents about real savings generated by going to a semi-annual tax billing and other advantages. We also heard from residents who prefer annual tax billing, as it […]

Town Meeting 2014 Results, Article by Article

$1 million bond for roads and bridges fails

By Charlie Darling, Beacon staff
Town Meeting 2014 Results, Article by Article

The 2014 Andover Town Meeting convened on March 11 in the AE/MS gym at 7 PM. Because Articles 1 through 5 were on the ballot during voting from 11 AM to 7 PM, the meeting started by addressing Article 6. Article 6: $1,000,000 bond for road and bridge work. A 2/3 vote by secret ballot […]

Selectmen Seek Members for New Roads and Bridges Committee

Interim actions in place to protect failing bridges

By the Andover Board of Selectmen

The Board of Selectmen, with the full support of both the Budget Committee and our past Road Agent, Jon Champagne, submitted to Town Meeting a request to borrow $1,000,000 to “catch up” deferred and delayed road and bridge projects. That request failed. Several new and different options and ideas about how to fund the deferred […]

School District Meeting 2014 Results, Article by Article

Meeting approves facilities study

By Charlie Darling, Beacon staff

Before the meeting began, Andover School Board chair Don Gould recognized retiring Superintendent of Schools Mike Martin as a quiet problem solver and presented him with a golf club with the AE/MS eagle pointed on it. Article 1: To accept the reports printed in the School District report. With no discussion, the article passed unanimously. […]

School Meeting Hands Board Support, Challenges

Seeks help from all on facilities assessment

By Andover School Board

The Andover School District Meeting of 2014 witnessed changes, voter support, and challenges to make our Eagles fly ever higher. Incoming SAU 46 Superintendent, Mark MacLean, was introduced. Present and retiring Superintendent Dr. Mike Martin was recognized and presented a retirement gift of a golf club displaying the Andover Eagle emblem. Another one displaying the […]

Town Meetings Pass 2014 Budgets

Budgets rise 3.7%; taxes could rise 10%

By Ed Hiller, Andover Budget Committee
Town Meetings Pass 2014 Budgets

The Andover town budgets for 2014 have been finalized by the several annual meetings. The School appropriation is up $88,597 over last year. The Town appropriation (net of pass-throughs) is up $141,188 over last year. The Fire Department appropriations are essentially unchanged. As a result, the total net appropriations for 2014 are up by $230,651 […]

Fourth of July Committee Needs New Members!

Help needed to continue annual celebration

By Judy Perreault, Fourth of July Committee

The Andover Fourth of July Committee has some good and bad news. The bad news is we have lost some key members and others for various reasons can no longer continue. After 71 years, unless we can get some working members from participating groups and the community, Andover might not be having a Fourth of […]

Andover Fire Department

House fire rallies community behind AFD, family

By Rene Lefebvre, AFD chief
Andover Fire Department

You know it has been a long cold winter when even we hardy New Englanders groan at late March snowstorms. I am so ready for spring. Several weeks ago, your fire and emergency medical team were called to a structure fire on Flaghole Road. Thankfully, the homeowners were outside when we arrived, allowing us to […]