September 18 Select Board Brief

Select Board Adopts Strategic Goals and Objectives for 2023-2024, Receives Update on September 27 Quad Board Meeting, and Approves Appointment of New Town Counsel

The Andover Select Board held its first meeting of the month on Monday, September 18 at the Robb Senior Center. During the meeting, the Board voted to approve strategic goals and objectives for 2023-2024, finalizing a set of priorities that will guide the Town’s work in key areas throughout the year. The Board also received an update on the financial impact analysis of the proposed Andover High School project that will be presented during next week’s “Quad Board” meeting. In a significant personnel development, the Board approved the appointment of Doug Heim as Town Counsel, the first appointment to the position since 1993.

The meeting also marked the conclusion of the Board’s annual performance review of Town Manager Andrew Flanagan, as they voted to approve an “exceeds expectations” rating based on evaluations completed prior to the meeting.

A Path to Improve Accessibility and Safety

Town Releases Plan for Improvement of Sidewalk and Curb Ramp Infrastructure 

In a significant stride towards enhancing the accessibility, safety, and connectivity of Andover’s sidewalk infrastructure, the Town released an Infrastructure Improvement Plan for Sidewalks and Curb Ramps this month. Also referred to as a Sidewalk Master Plan, the document outlines a comprehensive strategy to enhance Andover’s sidewalk network, provide an improved level of service, and inform decisions related to sidewalk maintenance and rehabilitation efforts.

The release of the plan caps off an intensive planning process conducted in collaboration with Environmental Partners Group, LLC (EP) initiated in 2021. The initial phase of the process involved a comprehensive inventory of the 60 miles of sidewalks and 1,002 curb ramps maintained by the Town of Andover. Engineers from EP assessed each sidewalk, documenting factors including general condition, material type, width, presence of grass strips, and maintenance needs. The condition of sidewalks was categorized as excellent, good, fair, or poor.

Pedestrian curb ramps, crucial for accessibility, were assessed for condition, material type, ramp type and the presence of detectable warning panels. This comprehensive data collection served as the foundation for the subsequent analysis and prioritization phases.

The majority of sidewalks were constructed using asphalt, with over 70% of them in good or excellent condition. Cement concrete was the predominant material for curb ramps, with approximately 69% in excellent or good condition.

Using the insights garnered through this multifaceted assessment, a five-year capital plan for sidewalk improvements was developed. The plan identifies a list of sidewalks slated for replacement or extension each year. On average, the plan recommends dedicating 65 percent of funding for sidewalk reconstruction, and 35 percent for construction of new sidewalks over the next five years. The plan recommends expending an average of $1.55 million annually over the next 5 years.

Town Holds 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

On Monday, September 11, the Andover community came together for a ceremony to honor the memory of those who were lost on September 11, 2001. Ribbons were placed on four wreaths at the base of the flagpole in front of Town Offices in honor of the four Andover who tragically lost their lives on that day: Christopher Morrison, Millie Naiman, Betty Ong, and Len Taylor.

Town Installs Speed Feedback Signs to Boost Awareness of Reduced Speed Limits

As the Town of Andover continues the rollout of the recently adopted 25 mile per hour (MPH) townwide speed limit, new speed feedback signs are being deployed across town to promote awareness of the measure among motorists.

The speed feedback signs use radar technology that actively measures and displays the speed of approaching vehicles. By providing real-time feedback, the signs remind drivers to adjust their speed according to the posted limit.

Similar signs have been used in Andover for several years. The Town of Andover purchased twenty additional speed feedback signs earlier this year as a component of a multi-faceted strategy to encourage compliance with the 25 MPH town wide speed limit and to promote road safety more broadly.

This month, the Town began installing the signs in strategic locations throughout Andover known to experience a high volume of speeding based on traffic data and reports from residents.  

Town Hosts Second Community Forum on Haggetts Pond

Rail Trail Project

The Town of Andover hosted its second community forum on the proposed Haggetts Pond Rail Trail project on Monday, September 11 at the Robb Senior Center. The project aims to create the first ADA accessible trail in Andover, a long-standing priority of the Town and the Commission on Disability. The paved route would span approximately 1.6 miles along the existing railbed near Haggetts Pond, from Bellevue Road to High Plain Road.

The goals of the project are to improve the existing trail to make it more inclusive and accessible, improve parking at the trail, develop a plan for maintenance of the trail after its completion, and to incorporate measures to protect the Town’s drinking water supply.

During the forum, Town staff and consultants from BSC Group, an engineering firm hired to design the trail, provided an overview of the project, including several modifications that have been made in response to public input garnered through previous community meetings.

According to Director of Public Works Chris Cronin, these changes include reducing the width of the paved portion from 10 feet to 8 feet and adding a 4-foot gravel walking shoulder along the trail for users who prefer an unpaved surface. Additional modifications have been made in response to community input. These changes include improvements to the proposed parking area on Haggetts Pond Road, which will now have parking on both sides of the street, measures to reduce parking on the shoulder of Haggetts Pond Road, the use of porous pavement in parking areas to reduce stormwater impacts, and accommodations intended to address the removal of trees.

Select Board, School Committee, Finance Committee, and Andover High School Building Committee to Meet on Wednesday, September 27

A joint meeting of the Select Board, School Committee, Finance Committee, and Andover High School Building Committee (SBC), referred to as a "Quad Board" Meeting, will be held on Wednesday, September 27 at the Robb Senior Center’s Lifelong Learning Room. The meeting will focus on the financial impacts of the proposed Andover High School Building project. 

Andover's Biggest Community Event Comes to Main Street this Weekend

Andover's biggest community event of the year is days away! Mark your calendar and make a plan to head to Andover Day on Saturday, September 23 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Downtown Andover will come to life with music, entertainment, food, refreshments, and over 200 vendor booths. Main Street will be closed from Elm Square to Wheeler Street all day for the event.

Town Accepting Applications for Election Officials

The Town of Andover is seeking Election Officials. Free and fair elections are critical to our democracy at the local, state, and federal levels.  Election Officials play a vital role in ensuring that all registered voters in the Town of Andover are given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.  Under the supervision of the Town Clerk’s Office, Election Officials become part of an important team and help the Town of Andover have a successful and efficient election.

Election Officials receive the training to do the job, connect with members of the community, and receive compensation in the form of an hourly wage or earned service time for certain Town program(s).

A Look Inside the Response to the Severe Storm on September 8

On Friday, September 8, Andover was heavily impacted by an extreme weather event. In the span of approximately 15 minutes, severe winds inflicted significant damage across town, downing trees and power lines, and leaving many streets impassable. More than 80 percent of the community lost power immediately, and the majority of town would remain in the dark for the next 48 hours.

In the aftermath of the storm, Town departments immediately mobilized to respond to the crisis, responding to an influx of emergency calls, clearing trees and debris from roadways, opening emergency cooling centers, providing updates and alerts to residents, and more. Town staff worked through the weekend as thousands of residents remained without power. 

Watch a brief segment produced by AndoverTV at the link below for a closer look at the impact experienced across Andover during the storm and the Town's response.

Andover Health Division Hosting Community Flu Clinics This Fall

Protect yourself and your community this fall! Get your flu shot at one of the vaccine clinics being hosted by the Andover Health Division at the Robb Center. "High Dose" Clinics for individuals age 65+ will be held on October 5 and October 12. A clinic for all members of the community aged 5+ will be held on November 2.

Appointments are required. Register online at the link below.