ANDOVER – 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:
First Session of Annual Meeting (Official Ballot Voting)
Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Time: 11 AM–7 PM
Location: AE/MS, 20 School Street, Andover
Second Session of Annual Meeting (Transaction of All Other Business)
Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Time: 7 PM
Location: AE/MS, 20 School Street, Andover
Details:
Article 01 Election of Town Officers
To choose all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year (by ballot vote during polling hours 8 AM–7 PM, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025).
Yes No
Article 02 Operating Budget
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,715,998 for general municipal operations. This article does not include appropriations contained in special or individual articles addressed separately. The Select Board and Budget Committee recommend. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 03 Capital Reserve Accounts
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the total sum of $362,402 to be added to the following Capital Reserve Funds previously established:
CRF Ambulance Replacement $10,000
CRF Revaluation $14,902
CRF Highway Maintenance Equipment $30,000
CRF Highway Projects $220,000
CRF Police Cruiser Replacement $26,000
CRF Transfer Station Equipment $10,000
CRF Bridge Rehabilitations $50,000
CRF Forest Fire Equipment $1,500
The Select Board and Budget Committee recommend this article. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 04 Expendable Trust Funds
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the total sum of $40,000 to be added to the following Expendable Trust Funds previously established.
ETF Technology $15,000
ETF Town Buildings $15,000
ETF T.S. Recycling/Solid Waste Projects $10,000
The Selectmen & Budget Committee recommend. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 05 To vote to Establish Police Building CRF
To see if the Town will vote to establish a Police Building Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1 for constructing a Police Department building and to raise and appropriate the sum of $30,000 to be placed in this fund. Further, to name the Select Board as agents to expend from said fund.
Recommended by the Select Board and Budget Committee. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 06 To vote to Establish Employee Health Insurance ETF
To see if the Town will vote to establish an Employee Health Insurance Expendable Trust Fund per RSA 31:19-a, for the purpose of paying costs associated with health insurance plan changes and to raise and appropriate $15,000 to be placed in this fund. Further, to name the Select Board as agents to expend from said fund. Recommended by the Select Board and Budget Committee. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 07 To vote to Establish Welfare ETF
To see if the Town will vote to establish a Welfare Expendable Trust Fund per RSA 31:19-a, for the purpose of paying costs associated with Welfare and to raise and appropriate $10,000 to be placed in this fund. Further, to name the Select Board as agents to expend from said fund. Recommended by the Select Board and Budget Committee. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 08 To vote to Establish Emergency Management ETF
To see if the Town will vote to establish an Emergency Management Expendable Trust Fund per RSA 31:19-a, for the purpose of maintaining funds to support the Town’s emergency management program and to raise and appropriate $4,000 to be placed in this fund. Further, to name the Select Board as agents to expend from said fund. Recommended by the Select Board and Budget Committee. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 09 To vote to appoint Town Treasurer
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to appoint a town treasurer in accordance with RSA 41:26-e, rather than electing a treasurer. Such appointment shall be made in accordance with RSA 669:17-d by the Select Board and will go into effect next budget year 2026. Recommended by Select Board and Budget Committee. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 10 To vote to determine the position Town Clerk-Tax Collector combined office.
To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to RSA 41:45-a, to determine whether the position of Town Clerk-Tax Collector shall continue as a combined office. If the majority of those voting do not vote in favor of continuing the combined position, then at the next annual meeting, the Town shall elect one individual as Town Clerk and another as Town Tax Collector. Recommended by Select Board and Budget Committee. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 11 To vote to discontinue Lawrence Street Capital Reserve Fund
To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the Lawrence Street Capital Reserve Fund, created in 2015. Said funds, with accumulated interest to date of withdrawal, are to be transferred to the municipality’s general fund. Recommended by the Select Board and Budget Committee. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 12 To vote to discontinue the Solar Energy System Expendable Trust Fund
To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the Solar Energy System Expendable Trust Fund, created in 2017. Said funds, with accumulated interest to date of withdrawal, are to be transferred to the municipality’s general fund. Recommended by the Select Board and Budget Committee. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 13 To vote for a Highway Department change to Andover Department of Public Works
To see if the Town will vote to consolidate the services of the Highway Department, Transfer Station, maintenance of Town Buildings, maintenance of Cemeteries, maintenance of Parks, and maintenance of Public Beaches into single department to be known as the Andover Department of Public Works. Further, if approved, the current position of Highway Supervisor will be retitled Director of Andover Department of Public Works, and the position will remain an appointed role under the authority of the Select Board. This article, if approved, shall have no impact on the 2025 budget as presented. Recommended by the Select Board. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 14 To vote to decrease the Board of Selectmen from 5 members to 3 members
Are you in favor of decreasing the Board of Selectmen to 3 members? Submitted by Petition. (By Ballot vote during polling hours.)
Yes No
Article 15 To vote to Establish a Camping Ordinance and Permit process
To see if the Town will vote to adopt a Camping Ordinance establishing a permit process for non-commercial recreational property use as a campsite for longer than 14 days, to protect the health and safety of the community. (By Ballot vote during polling hours.)
Yes No
Article 16 To vote on Rejecting Taxpayer funding for private education
To vote on Property Taxes for Private Education: A call for Responsible Use
Whereas, taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent and deserve clear, verifiable evidence that it is being spent wisely and delivering results; and
Whereas, taxpayers dollars are being diverted from public schools to private and religious education through Education Freedom Accounts (vouchers), and this shift does not reduce public school expenses, leaving local taxpayers to cover the difference through higher property taxes; and
Whereas, unlike public schools, private education funded by taxpayers through vouchers lacks key accountability measures, such as reporting how funds are used, tracking student performance, ensuring services for students with disabilities, and conducting background checks for staff.
Therefore, we, the voters of Andover, New Hampshire, call on our state elected officials to uphold their duty to fiscal responsibility by rejecting any expansion of taxpayer funding for private education until we have full accountability, transparency, and a sustainable funding plan that ensures no further strain on public schools or local property taxpayers.
We further direct the Andover Select Board to deliver this warrant article and results in writing to New Hampshire’s Governor and members of the State Legislature within 30 days of this vote. Submitted by Petition. (Majority vote required.)
Yes No
Article 17 Transact any other business
To transact any other business that may come legally before this meeting.
Yes No