The polls will be open from 11 AM to 7 PM
on Tuesday, March 11, 2014.
Articles 1 through 5, below, will be
voted on during polling hours.
By state law, Articles 1 through 5
cannot be voted on during Town Meeting,
which begins after the polls close at 7 PM.
Article 1: To choose all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year. (By ballot during polling hours.)
Article 2: Are you in favor of Amendment No. 1 to the Andover Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board to incorporate the provisions of RSA 674:33-a for equitable waivers of dimensional requirements where a violation is found resulting from good faith error or that has existed for more than ten years without enforcement action? (By ballot during polling hours. See page 42 of the 2013 Andover Town Report for the full text of Amendment No. 1.)
Article 3: Are you in favor of Amendment No. 2 to the Andover Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board to delete provisions for the Board of Adjustment to set fees? If these provisions are deleted, the Board of Selectmen will have the authority to set fees for Zoning Ordinance Administration. (By ballot during polling hours. See page 42 of the 2013 Andover Town Report for the full text of Amendment No. 2.)
Article 4: Are you in favor of Amendment No. 3 to the Andover Zoning Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board, to incorporate an updated process for Building Permits into the Zoning Ordinance as follows:
1. Amend the Article titled “Administration and Enforcement” to provide for an appointed Zoning Administrator and Deputy Zoning Administrator, to replace the position of Building Inspector.
2. Insert a new Article titled “Building Permits and Certificates of Compliance” to create a process for the Zoning Administrator to issue Building Permits and Certificates of Compliance that require permit holders to adhere to the provisions of the Andover Zoning Ordinance relative to buildings and structures.
3. Insert a new Article titled “General Performance Standards” to specify the performance standards for buildings, structures, and related construction that requires a building permit.
(By ballot during polling hours. See page 42 of the 2013 Andover Town Report for the full text of Amendment No. 3.)
Article 5: Are you in favor of repealing the Andover Building Ordinance as proposed by the Planning Board? The Planning Board has determined that the ordinance is obsolete and does not meet the requirements of current state law. The old Andover Building Ordinance is to be replaced by Amendment No. 3 to the Andover Zoning Ordinance, in Article III. (By ballot during polling hours.)
Once the polls close at 7 PM,
Town Meeting will begin by considering
Article 6 and the articles that follow.
Article 6: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000,000 to finance a capital project for design, engineering, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and repair of roads and bridges and related improvements throughout the town; and to authorize the issuance of not more than $1,000,000 of bonds or notes in accordance with RSA 33; and to authorize the Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the interest rate and other details of such bonds or notes; and, furthermore, to raise and appropriate an additional sum of $158,000 for one or more payments due before the end of one year after the date of issuance of the bonds. A 2/3 vote by ballot is required. If this article passes, Warrant Article 8 will be null and void. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 7: To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of One Million, Three Hundred Eighty-Four Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty-One Dollars ($1,384,331) for general municipal operations as recommended by the Budget Committee. This appropriation does not include appropriations that are voted for in other articles. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 8: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $150,000 to add to the Highway Project Capital Reserve Fund previously established in 2012. This article will be voted on only in the event that Article 6 does not pass. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 9: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $200,000 to add to the Bridge Capital Reserve Fund in anticipation of the replacement of Lawrence St. Bridge and to authorize the Selectmen to transfer said amount from the Unreserved Fund Balance. This fund will be used toward the Town’s portion of a Federal Bridge Aid Grant. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 10: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $25,000 to add to the Bridge Capital Reserve Fund, previously established. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 11: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $10,000 to add to the Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund previously established. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 12: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $25,000 to purchase a police cruiser and to enter into a loan agreement for five years in the amount of $25,000 for said purpose; and further to raise and appropriate $5,000 to add to the Police Cruiser Capital Reserve Fund, previously established, for the payment of the first year of the loan. 2/3 ballot vote required. If this article passes then Article 13 will be null and void. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article..
Article 13: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $7,000 to add to the Police Cruiser Capital Reserve Fund, previously established. This article will be voted on only in the event that Article 12 does not pass. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 14: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $25,000 to add to the Ambulance Capital Reserve Fund, previously established. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 15: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $10,000 to add to the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund, previously established. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 16: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to add to the Transfer Station Capital Reserve Fund, previously established. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 17: To see if the town will vote to establish a Town Buildings Expendable Trust Fund per RSA 31:19a for the purpose of maintenance of Town-owned buildings, and to establish the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend, and to raise and appropriate $6,000 to add to the fund. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 18: To see if the town will vote to establish a Forest Fire Emergency Labor Expendable Trust Fund per RSA 31:19a, and to raise and appropriate $2,0000 to add to the fund, and to establish the Board of Selectmen and/or the Fire Warden as agents to expend. The Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend this article.
Article 19: To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey title to real estate acquired pursuant to the Tax Collector’s deed by public auction, sealed bid, or in such other manner as the Selectmen may determine as justice may require pursuant to RSA 80:42, the following properties:
16-619-166 located on Franklin Highway (4.9 acres)
20-320-363 located on Bridge Street (11 acres)
Article 20: To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of Twelve Hundred Dollars ($1,200) for the purpose of continuing the street lighting on Flaghole Road in the Town of Andover, New Hampshire as installed on January 1, 2014 and to continue that street lighting indefinitely until specific rescission by vote at an Annual or Special Meeting of the Town. The Selectmen do not recommend this article. At press time, the Budget Committee’s decision to recommend or not to recommend was not available. (Submitted by petition.)
Article 21: To see what action the town will take with regards to semi-annual property tax bills in accordance with New Hampshire RSA 76:15-b II. (Submitted by petition.)
Article 22: To see if the Town will urge:
That the New Hampshire State Legislature join nearly 500 municipalities and 16 other states, including all other New England states, in calling upon Congress to move forward a constitutional amendment that guarantees the right of our elected representatives and of the American people to safeguard fair elections through authority to regulate political spending, and clarifies that constitutional rights were established for people, not corporations.
That the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation support such a constitutional amendment.
That the New Hampshire State Legislature support such an amendment once it is approved by Congress and sent to the State for ratification.
The record of the vote approving this article shall be transmitted by written notice to New Hampshire’s congressional delegation, and to New Hampshire’s state legislators, and to the President of the United States informing them of the instructions from their constituents by the Selectmen within 30 days of the vote. (Submitted by petition.)
Article 23: To transact any other business that may legally come before this meeting.