The patriotic song America was written in 1831 by Samuel Francis Smith while attending the Andover Theological Seminary. Andover is often referred to as the "Home of America". Andover's 250th Anniversary Banner, 1896, Click for larger image
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Boards & Committees

Committee Volunteers Needed
Board & Committee Membership

Andover Cultural Council
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times:  as needed

Purpose: To promote cultural activities in Andover through the distribution of funds received from the state.  The Council awards small grants to individuals and organizations that sponsor cultural activities.

Ref. - Mass. General Laws Chapter 10, Section 58

Andover Green Advisory Board

Purpose: To promote sustainable practices and provide input to various boards and town departments.

Andover Green Advisory Board Mission

Andover Housing Authority
Elected: 5 year terms
Meeting Times: 3rd Thursday of every month

PURPOSE: To oversee the management of housing units, vouchers and certificate programs funded through state and federal agencies.

Ref. - Mass. General Law Chapter 121B: Section 11 & 26.

View more information on the Andover Housing Authority.

Andover Housing Partnership Committee
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times:  as needed

Purpose: To address affordability issues in Andover by developing recommendations for the Selectmen which take into consideration all means available for making Andover more affordable to current and future generations.

Who can purchase homes in Andover?

Audit Committee
Term: 3 years
Committee Liaisons: Board of Selectmen - Alex J. Vispoli
Finance Committee - Mark Merritt
School Committee - Dennis Forgue

Ballardvale Historic District Commission
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times:  monthly as needed

Purpose: To ensure that changes and additions within the Historic District are harmonious to the District and to prevent changes that might detract from the aesthetic and historic values of the District.

Ref. - General Bylaws Article XII, Section 36

Board of Assessors
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times:  as needed

Purpose: The Board is responsible for the valuation of all real estate and personal property items in the town. The Board hears appeals in these two categories along with motor vehicle excise. The Assessors are also responsible for awarding property tax exemptions provided by statute. 

Ref. - Mass. General Laws, Chapter 41, Sections 1 & 24-26

Board of Health
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times:  3rd or 4th Monday of every Month

Purpose: The Board of Health is responsible for promoting public health in Andover. It conducts investigations of health and environmental problems and manages and coordinates health programs and services within the town. Major concerns include preventing and controlling communicable diseases and ensuring that health requirements governing food service establishments, water supply, sewage disposal, housing and public swimming areas are met.

Ref. - Mass. General Laws, Chapter 111, Section 26-32.

See Board of Health page for more information.

Board of Registrars
Appointed by Selectmen: 3 years (Manager appoints Town Clerk)
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To assist the Town Clerk’s office in promoting and maintaining voter registration.

Ref. - Mass. General Law, Chapter 51, Section 15

Cable Advisory Committee
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times: monthly as needed

Purpose: To advise the Board of Selectmen on matters pertaining to cable television in the community and serve as a liaison between the community and the Town’s cable TV franchise. The Committee promotes educational, public access, and local programming use by Town agencies and citizens. 

Commission on Disability
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times: 4th Wednesday of every month

Purpose: To address Andover's disability needs for the Town and its residents, visitors and families with disabilities.

Ref. - Mass. General Laws Chapter 40 Section 8J.

See Commission on Disability page for more information.

Conservation Commission
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month

Purpose: To protect Andover’s natural resources in accordance with state law and the Town's Wetlands Protection Bylaw, Article XIV, and to act as trustees in perpetuity of the town’s conservation land.  

Ref. - Mass. General Laws Chapter 40, Section 5 and 8C

See Conservation Commission page for more information.

Council on Aging
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times: 2nd Thursday of every month

Purpose: The Council on Aging provides input and guidance to the Town and the Elder Services Division which coordinates and carries out programs designed to meet the needs of the elderly including Senior Center activities. These programs are developed in collaboration with programs of the Mass. Department of Elder Affairs and others. Its activities include the provision of congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, counseling and recreation for the elderly, Social Day Care program, Property Tax Work Off Program, health clinics, exercise classes, newsletter, outreach and advocacy.

Ref. - Mass. General Laws Chapter 40, Section  8B

See Elder Services page for more information.

Design Review Board
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years

Elderly Tax Aid
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times:  as needed

Purpose: To help seniors who can't pay their taxes.

Fish Brook Watershed Advisory Committee
Appointed by Town Manager: 2 years

Fish Brook Report

Greater Lawrence Technical School District Committee
Elected: 5 year terms
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To report each year in conformity with the terms of the Agreement to Establish a Regional School District. Participating communities in the district are the City of Lawrence and the Towns of Andover, North Andover and Methuen.

Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years

Ipswich River Watershed Council

Purpose: To advise local, state, and federal agencies on factors contributing to low-flow and no-flow episodes experienced on the Ipswich River. Balancing the water needs of communities with the ecological health of the river is a critical watershed protection issue.

Lowell Junction Interchange Task Force
Appointed by Town Manager: 1 year

Main Street Committee
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 year terms
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To provide a forum for local businesses, citizens, and government to discuss matters relating to Main Street Andover. Throughout the design and public meeting process, the Committee, working with the Design Consultants Inc., made recommendations to improve and adapt the plans to be compatible with Andover's unique character. The Main Street Improvement Project is expected to begin in the spring of 2005.

Memorial Hall Library Trustees
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times: 2nd Monday of every month

Purpose: The mission of the Trustees is to oversee the management of the library, including the selection of the Library Director, the approval of the budget, administration of invested funds and the establishment of general policies.  

Ref. - Mass. General Laws, Chapter 78, Section 11

See Library web site for more information.

Patriotic Holiday Committee
Appointed by Town Manager: 1 year
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To carry out the proper observance of Patriots Day and all such holidays and events as the Board of Selectmen may designate from time to time.

See Patriotic Holiday Committee page for more information.

Planning Board

Appointed by Town Manager: 5 year terms
Meeting Times: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Purpose: To consider and advise upon municipal improvements either at the request of other officials of the town or upon its own initiative. The Planning Board reviews the Capital Improvement Plan and Town Meeting articles relating to main ways, land developments, zoning, playgrounds and parks, and sites for permanent buildings. 

Ref. - Mass. General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 81

Preservation Commission
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To advise the Town concerning the preservation of its historic and archeological resources.

Ref. - Chapter 40, Section 8D

Recycling Committee
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To advise the Town on all matters pertaining to recycling.

See Recycling page for more information.

Retirement Board
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To provide retirement benefits to members and retirees as defined in Mass. General Laws, Chapter 32.

Safety Committee
Meeting Times: Third Thursday of each month at 9:30 am.

Purpose: The Town of Andover Executive Safety Committee members represent the major Town Departments, such as the Department of Public Works, Plant & Facilities, Library Services, School Department and Public Safety.

The functions of the Safety Committee include, but are not limited to: identifying safety risks and providing Town and School employees with appropriate training to mitigate those risks, reviewing all accident reports to determine causes and corrective actions, assisting the Town in cost-saving measures through the MIIA Rewards program for risk mitigation, providing a forum for all employees at express concerns or share ideas regarding safety and risk management and working to make workplace safety a cornerstone of the Town's employment practices.

Employees are encouraged to attend a meeting, communicate with the Committee and submit ideas for newsletter articles or training classes.

Scholarship Committee
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To select recipients of educational financial aid and the amounts awarded to deserving town residents selected upon consideration of financial need, character, scholastic performance and involvement in community work and extracurricular activities.

Ref. - Mass. General Laws Chapter 60, Section 3C

Spring Grove Cemetery Trustees
Appointed by Town Manager: as needed
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To advise the Town on all matters pertaining to Spring Grove Cemetery.

Technology Committee
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 year
Meeting Times: as needed

TRIAD Council

Towle Fund
Appointed by Town Manager: 3 years
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To administer funds, bequeathed by the late Margaret G. Towle, to the Town of Andover for assistance to Andover residents in need of aid, comfort or support on account of age, disability or unemployment.

Town Yard Task Force
Appointed by Town Manager: 1 year
Meeting Times: as needed

Trustees of Cornell Fund
Elected: as needed
Meeting Times: as needed

PURPOSE: The Trustees of Cornell Fund administer the funds for the John Cornell Fuel Assistance Fund which was established in 1893 to be used for the needy and poor to purchase wood or coal. In 1995 the trust documents were modified by the Probate court of Massachusetts to permit the use of all types of fuel for heating, cooking or electrical purposes.

Ref. - Town Meeting Article 17 of 1893

Trustees of Punchard Free School
Elected: 3 years
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To disburse scholarship funds held in the Punchard Free School Trust. Punchard Trustees maintain and administer two separate funds for the support of the Andover High School:  One provides support for special projects requested by teachers and approved by the principal; the other fund provides eight major scholarships which are awarded to graduating seniors. The Punchard Trustees were originally created in 1850 by the will of Benjamin Punchard, a local industrialist, who left funds to provide for the beginning of a public secondary school system in Andover.

Youth Council
Appointed by Town Manager: as needed
Meeting Times: as needed

Purpose: To promote programs and opportunities for youth in Town and to meet challenges and problems of youth.

Ref. - M.G.L., Chapter 40 Section8E

Zoning Board of Appeals
Appointed by Selectmen: 5 years
Meeting Times: 1st Thursday of every month

Meeting times: 1st Thursday of every month

Purpose: Issues special permits for use of property, grants variances from dimensional requirements of the By-Law, and hears appeals from decisions of the Building Commissioner.

Ref. - Mass. General Law, Chapter 40A, Section12

See Zoning Board of Appeals page for more information.


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