Herbicide Program
As I write this, we are experiencing 80 degree weather in the middle of April. Wow. Spring has sprung! The first blooms of the season are here, the grass is coming back to life and insects are waking up. With the warm weather, we can also expect weeds. New Hampshire Electric Cooperative has sent notifications to customers and the Town Offices explaining their intent to apply herbicides along the power line rights of way to treat weeds.

Beekeepers and others concerned with this activity can request personal notification. A “Coupon for Personal Notification Request” form is on the Town website. Fill it out and send it to NHEC’s contract consultant, Vegetation Control Service Inc, so that you can alert them of potential issues and sensitive areas of your property. You can also contact the Program Manager directly to discuss this further. His contact details are on the form. The deadline for requests for notifications is June 1.

Town Meeting Appropriations
A productive four-hour Town Meeting resulted in the Town approving all but the bond article, voting to go with the Select Board’s operating budget, voting for additional funds to the operating budget to cover higher pay increases for the Police Department, and voting to apply $625,000 of the unassigned fund balance towards the Highway Department facility project instead of the original $400,000 recommended. As a result of all of these generous decisions, the Town exceeded, by a small amount, the legal limit of what could be appropriated.

The rule is that the Town can approve up to 10% more than what the Budget Committee recommended. Therefore, the full amount voted can not be appropriated. However, the spirit of the decisions made by the legislative body (the voters at Town Meeting!) can still be adhered to by the Select Board by managing within the final allowed budget. At a recent Select Board meeting, it was agreed that would be achievable.

The Town also voted to have five members on the Select Board. In March 2024, these two new seats will be on the ballot.

The New Select Board
In the 1960’s, American psychologist Bruce Tuckman identified that groups usually go through several phases: Forming, storming, norming, and performing. Later, he also added adjourning. Each year, after Town Meeting, committees and boards often go through these phases. With two of the three selectmen being new to the role, I’m happy to report that I’ve observed they’re zipping through the initial phases and getting on with doing the Town’s business. This is great!

Selectman James (Jim) Delaney is the new Chair. He’s focusing on a lot of loose ends that need wrapping up, as well as some new work that needs to be addressed. Selectman Dana Swenson is now the lead on the future Highway Department facilities project, putting his extensive experience with construction projects to use. Selectman Roland Carter is starting his term by taking lead on the radon issue at the Town Offices/Library building.

The new selectmen are also signing up for workshops and classes provided by the New Hampshire Municipal Association, including what I like to refer to as “Selectman 101”. These well-attended sessions are offered both online and in person.

The new Select Board has agreed to move their regularly scheduled meetings to the second and fourth Thursdays of the month with 6 PM start times. All additional meetings, some which you might hear referred to as working sessions, will be posted and held as needed. All meetings are open to the public, except the nonpublic sessions (which are always a subsection of a meeting), however not all meetings will offer “Public Comments” as part of the agenda. Also, all meetings are now broadcast via Zoom. See the agenda for details.

Radon
The Town Office/Library building will be undergoing radon mitigation work beginning on Wednesday, May 10. Work includes relocating all of the Town records currently stored in the basement, repairing the basement floor, and installing systems to make the air in the building safe. The work may take a few days. At this time, we don’t know what the status of the building will be in terms of open hours. I can tell you that all of the Town employees who work in the building will be very happy to see this unexpected problem permanently resolved! Keep an eye on the Town website for updates.

Bridges
Did you know that Andover has three major bridge projects on the dashboard with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation? These are Project 20650 for the two Route 11 bridges that go over Sucker Brook, Project 40392 for the Route 4 bridge over the Blackwater River, and Project 41407 for the Lawrence Road bridge over the Blackwater River. Also, the bridge on Elbow Pond Road over Mountain Brook is now on the NHDOT’s bridge “Red List”.
Please watch the Town website for announcements about Public Hearings and information regarding Andover’s bridges and their associated projects.

Bicycles and Motorcycles
As a motorcyclist, I’m well aware that bicyclists and motorcyclists alike are pulling their bikes out of winter hibernation and once again joyfully sharing the roads with everyone else. On our bikes, we’re a lot smaller than cars and trucks and often more difficult to spot. Riders on the road include absolute beginners exploring public roads for the very first time through to seasoned pros. Some will still be in their first decade of life, some in their eightieth. Please keep an eye out for all of them, all of us, give wide berths if overtaking and offer a friendly wave.

Say Hello
In my first 14 weeks here, I’ve met many residents, processed several issues and requests, visited property owners to view problems, listened to many suggestions, and even helped one gentleman identify the north star. That’s what’s great about this job. Every day is unique.
If you wish to discuss Town issues with me, or anything really, feel free to email me at tadmin@nullandover-nh.gov or call 603 487-6785.

See you on the roads. Stay safe.