Town Clerk Busy With Election And Tax Bills

By By Joanna Sumner, Andover Town Clerk/Tax Collector

So much is happening here in November: an election, tax bills, and the upcoming holidays. Please remember that the Town Clerk’s office is very involved working at the polls on Election Day, November 6, and cannot be in the office. Our office will be closed on Tuesday, November 6, for the election; Monday, November 12, […]

Road Agent

By By Jon Champagne, Andover Road Agent

The town of Andover has lost a friend and so have I. As many of you may know, Lee Murray passed away recently. [Lee’s obituary appears on page ??.] Lee moved to town in 2004, after retiring as the road agent of New Boston. During his time in that position, he learned a lot about […]

Recycling Committee Plans December 1 Holiday Swap

By Janet Moore and Robin Boynton, Holiday Swap Shop Co-Chairs

The annual Holiday Swap Shop/Gift Exchange will be held on Saturday, December 1, in the AE/MS gym from approximately 8:30 AM to 2 PM. Items for the Exchange may be dropped off at the school in the main lobby on Friday, November 30, or you may bring them in the morning of December 1. This […]

Legislature Drops $62,000 Bomb On Andover School District

By Bill Bardsley, Andover Budget Committee

The state cut its contribution to the New Hampshire Retirement System, leaving $62,000 to be paid by the Andover School District for the 2011-2012 fiscal year that just ended June 30. This action was reported to the Andover Budget Committee at an October joint meeting with the Andover School Board and SAU administrators. The $62,000 […]

Selectmen Plan SSR, Dual Trash Hoppers For Transfer Station

By Jim Danforth, Board of Selectmen

Solid waste disposal costs have been relatively constant for the past five years, while recycling revenue has been fluctuating and is currently underperforming, though still reducing waste disposal costs to our town. Currently, Andover is paying about $65 a ton or about $64,000 a year in tipping fees (984 tons per year). The Selectmen have […]

Improvements To Town Communications Are In The Works

By Jim Danforth, Board of Selectmen

Starting in 2013, residents will be able to contact all elected and appointed town officials by phone and e-mail. The Board of Selectmen has authorized a new Web-based phone system for the Town offices that will reduce cost and provide all departments, officials, and committees with individual extensions. As the new phone system requires all […]

Meetings Under Way To Prepare 2013 Budget, Warrant Articles

By Jim Danforth, Board of Selectmen

On October 15, the Board of Selectmen held the first of many budget meetings and, together with the efforts of the Budget Committee, will produce a proposed 2013 Town Budget that will be voted on at Town Meeting in March. (This article does not deal with the Andover School, Fire Department, or Village District budgets.) […]

Andover/East Andover Fire Departments

By Rene Lefebvre, EAFD Chief

There is a bit of electricity in the air as we work to combine operations. Bylaw changes that had been a future project are now upon us and have taken on the urgency they deserve. The overpowering theme among the team is to get it right the first time. Last month as we settled in […]

Party Platforms Can Offer Insights Into Candidates

By Mary Anne Broshek, for the Beacon

One of the ways to get a feel for how a candidate will vote is to read the party platform of the candidate’s party. Below is a taste of a relevant document from each party, plus a link to where you can read the entire document online. Platforms change over the years, so hopefully these […]

Understanding The Questions On The November 6 Ballot

By By Susan Chase, for the Beacon

Voters going to the polls on Tuesday, November 6, will have three questions, including two amendments to the New Hampshire Constitution, to vote on in addition to choosing candidates. The first proposed amendment, Question 1 on the ballot, would prohibit a state income tax, and the second, Question 2, would allow legislators to write rules […]