Warrant Articles Seek to Bolster Trust Funds

Protection against surprises in special ed, MV tuition

By Michelle Dudek, Andover School Board

The Andover School Board is recommending the School District Meeting on Monday, March 3, approve two warrant articles (numbers 5 and 6) that would use a possible budget surplus to fund the High School Tuition Expendable Trust Fund and the Special Education Expendable Trust Fund . The purpose of these trust funds, established several years […]

Bond Proposed to Catch Up Highway Projects, Minimize Costs

Deferred road and bridge projects are critical, interest rates favorable

By the Andover Board of Selectmen

This year’s Board of Selectmen is as guilty as many previous Boards of deferring work on our roads and bridges in an effort to keep the tax rate down. The highway plan from 1994 to catch up and keep up with all our highway projects was essentially derailed by the recession. But now we have […]

Andover Moves to Semi-Annual Tax Bills in June 2014

Saves town about $9,750 per year

By Andover Board of Selectmen

Once again, the issue of semi-annual tax billing was brought before the Andover Board of Selectmen at a selectmen’s meeting in November. Analysis shows that the cost to the Town of borrowing money is not insignificant. From 2006 to 2012, the Town has paid $79,602.70 in interest to borrow money in order to pay our […]

Town Minutes for December 2013

Board of Selectmen December 2 December 16 December 30 Work Session Planning Board December 10 December 24 Zoning Board of Adjustment December 17 Recreation Committee December 10 Conservation Commission December 11 School Board December 3  

Town Minutes for November 2013

Board of Selectmen November 4 November 18 Planning Board November 12 November 26 Zoning Board of Adjustment November 19 Recreation Committee November 12 Conservation Commission November 13 School Board November 5  

Conservation Commission Minutes, November 13, 2013

Condensed from approved minutes

Present: Members Larry Chase, Tina Cotton, Jerry Hersey (acting chair). Guests Derek Mansell, Sandra Graves. Excused absent: Mary Anne Broshek, Nan Kaplan. Town Lands Members voted unanimously to recommend that the Town maintain ownership of two properties in the Bradley Lake watershed. The properties were acquired years ago for non-payment of taxes. Town ownership means […]

School Board Minutes, December 3, 2013

Condensed from approved minutes

Board Present: Don Gould, Michelle Dudek, Anne Swayze, Charlie McCrave, and Kent Armstrong Administration Present: Mike Martin, Christine Barry, Robin Heins, Kathleen Boucher, Jane Slayton, and Judith Turk Public Present: Tina Cotton, Arch Weathers Board Chairperson’s Report: Charlie and Don are working with the Merrimack Valley School District Board to select the new superintendent. They […]

Anyone Can Write a Warrant Article for Town Meeting or School District Meeting

Requires signatures of 25 Andover voters

By Charlie Darling, Beacon staff

Traditionally, the Board of Selectmen writes the warrant articles for Town Meeting and we, the voters of Andover, flock to Town Meeting to discuss and ultimately vote on each article. The articles that we accept, including the total budget figure, pretty much control how the town is run for the coming year. But it’s not […]

Beacon Kicks Off 2014 Fundraising

Annual “Round Tuit” is foundation of local support

By Charlie Darling, Beacon staff
Beacon Kicks Off 2014 Fundraising

It’s that time of year again – time for Andover residents, all of whom receive the Beacon in their mailbox each month at no charge, to make a voluntary contribution for 2014 to help keep the Beacon going. If you receive your Beacon at an Andover address, you should find a “Round Tuit” envelope in […]

SAU #46 Candidates to Meet the Public, Visit AE/MS

Public invited to meet them on Tuesday, January 14

Press release

The Andover community is invited to participate in the very important process of choosing the next SAU #46 Superintendent. Please consider attending a public reception on Tuesday, February 14, at 6 PM at the Merrimack Valley Middle School to meet with the three final candidates for the position Candidates will be available for informal conversation, […]