Special Warrant Determines Validity of Votes on Articles

Alternative ballot lists all articles

March 23, 2021 • Saved under Town Meeting
By Michelle Dudek

With the COVID-19 era 2021 Town Meeting behind us, the Andover Select Board would like to thank everyone who joined the sessions live, watched the recordings, and/or provided feedback and questions for the second meeting.  

Voting day is Tuesday, April 13, from 11 AM to 7 PM at Andover Elementary/Middle School. In addition to electing town and school officials, this is your opportunity to vote on the budget and warrant articles presented during the Town Meetings.  Both meeting recordings and slides from the meetings are available on the Town of Andover website at Andover-NH.gov.  

The “alternative ballot” – the ballot to vote on issues presented during Town Meeting – contains the following:

Special Warrant Article: To see if the town will vote to approve optional meeting procedures as outlined in HB1129 with voting on warrant articles by ballot without further debate or opportunity to amend following the second virtual meeting to be held March 16, 2021 7:00 PM Eastern Time. This warrant is required.  Approval of this article ensures the votes on the following items. If this article fails, the governing body may revert to the 2020 operating budget or convene a special meeting at a later date to vote on an operating budget.

Article 2: A proposed operating budget of $1,930,821 – this 2021 budget is 2.47% below the 2020 Budget of $1,986,297. The total appropriations of $2,322,271, less the warrant articles to be funded by the unreserved fund balance is $2,271,271. This is a 0.47% increase over the 2020 budget, including warrant articles, raised through taxation of $2,260,797.

Article 3: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $40,000 to be added to the following Expendable Trust Funds (ETF) previously established: Forest Fire Labor ETF $5,000 (12/31/20 balance $31,709), Town Buildings ETF $20,000 (12/31/20 balance $29,417), Transfer Station Projects ETF $15,000 (12/31/20 balance $9,931).

The Select Board and the Budget Committee recommend this article. Majority vote required.

Article 4: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $251,326 to be added to the following Capital Reserve Funds (CRF) previously established.

  • Revaluation $12,826 (12/31/20 balance $13,905)
  • Highway Equipment-Grader $15,000 (12/31/20 balance $173,104)
  • Highway Projects $150,000 (12/31/20 balance $59,388)
  • Police Cruiser Replacement $13,500 (12/31/20 balance $44,034)
  • Transfer Station Equipment $10,000 (12/31/20 balance $22,730)
  • Bridge Rehabilitation $50,000 (12/31/20 balance $238,256 plus Lawrence Street Bridge $107,696)

The Select Board and the Budget Committee recommend this article. Majority vote required.

Contributing each year to these Expendable Trust Funds and Capital Reserve Funds provides the town with specific accounts from which to draw monies for designated services, projects, and commitments, thus mitigating the tax impact of a large, one-time expenditure.

The Select Board proposes funding Articles 5, 6, and 7 from the Unreserved Fund Balance.  As of October 2020 the balance of the Unreserved Fund was $795,308. The Select Board then appropriated $150,000 to offset taxes, leaving a balance of $645,308. 

Articles 5, 6, and 7 total $51,000 to come from this remaining balance, which would leave $594,308 if all three articles pass.  This remaining balance is a healthy, appropriate balance based on guidelines from the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration.

Article 5: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6,000 to
be added to the Solar Energy Capital Reserve Fund previously established. The funds for this article to come from the Unreserved Fund Balance. The Select Board and the Budget Committee recommend this article. Majority vote required.

Article 6: To see if the town will vote to establish a Boiler Replacement Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1 for replacement of the boiler at the Town Office and Andover Public Library and to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000 to be placed in this fund. The funds for this article to come from the Unreserved Fund Balance. Further, to name the Select Board as agents to expend from said fund. The Select Board and the Budget Committee recommend this article. Majority vote required.

Article 7: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $40,000 for an engineering study and site plan for a highway department garage to be built on the Town property at 41 Salisbury Highway. The funds for this article to come from the Unreserved Fund Balance. The Select Board and the Budget Committee recommend this article. Majority vote required.

An engineering study and site plan is a necessary first step in building a town garage as per the recommendation of the Andover Highway Department Advisory Committee.  We commend their thorough and thoughtful work in developing a comprehensive and feasible plan for our town.

Article 8: To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to enter into a five (5) year lease-purchase agreement in the amount of $123,400 for the purpose of leasing a backhoe, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $26,180 for the first year’s payment for that purpose. No lease agreement will be entered into without an escape clause. The Select Board and the Budget Committee recommend this article. Majority vote required.

Currently the Town is renting this backhoe and has secured an agreement that will put 80% of the rental fees towards the purchase price.  The total rental fees for five (5) months is $24,500.  Approximately $20,000 will be applied toward the purchase, leaving $4,500 as the total unreimbursed rental fee over a 5 month period.  Owning this piece of equipment and using Town employees to operate the backhoe saves the Town significantly in rental and labor fees.

Article 9: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to enter into a six (6) year lease-purchase agreement in the amount of $128,500 for the leasing of a dump truck, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $22,944 for the first year’s payment for that purpose. No lease agreement will be entered into without an escape clause. The Select Board and the Budget Committee recommend this article. Majority vote required.


Like the backhoe, Town ownership of this truck mitigates rental and labor fees in all seasons.  This truck will contribute to the plowing and sanding routes and be operated by Town employees, thus saving money.  Both the backhoe and the dump truck are recommended in the Andover Highway Department Advisory Committee’s plan.

As always, the Select Board encourages participation in meetings, feedback, and questions throughout the year.  We look forward to continuing to serve the Town of Andover.