December 4, 2023

Select Board Sets Tax Classification for FY2024, Reviews Recommendations of the Town Governance Study Committee

 

 

  • Select Board votes to set tax classification for Fiscal Year 2024; and
  • Reviews recommendations of the Town Governance Study Committee.

 


ANDOVER, MA – The Andover Select Board convened on Monday, December 4 in the School Committee Conference Room at the Andover Public Schools Administrative Offices. Key actions taken by the Board included the approval of the tax classification for all property for FY2024. Additionally, the Board reviewed recommendations from the Town Governance Study Committee (TGSC), endorsing a series of actions that can be implemented administratively by the Town Manager and beginning its review of recommendations that require action by Town Meeting.

Tax Classification
The Select Board voted to set the tax classification for FY2024, approving a residential factor of 85.5751 percent and a 169.5 shift.

The annual tax classification process was initiated by the Board during a public hearing at its previous meeting on November 29. During that discussion, the Chief Assessor presented an overview of pertinent property value data, including the FY2024 assessment of property in Andover recently approved by the Department of Revenue (DOR).

Andover has a split tax rate, meaning that commercial and industrial property taxpayers pay a higher rate compared to residential taxpayers, and shoulder more of the overall tax burden. The amount of the overall tax burden that is shifted to commercial and industrial property (CIP) is determined by a tax shift. This shift and corresponding residential factor must be determined by the Select Board annually.

The 169.5 shift approved by the Select Board is projected to result in the most uniform tax increases across all property types. This shift sets the residential tax rate at $12.88 per $1,000 of assessed value, and $25.49 per $1,000 of assessed value for CIP properties.

Under the approved model, the average single family property tax bill is projected to increase by 5.2 percent, from $11,733 in FY2023 to $12,344. This is the result of significant increases to the assessed values of residential properties in Andover, which grew by 10.8 percent last year.

The average tax bill for commercial properties will increase by 4.7 percent, and the average tax bill for industrial properties will increase by 9.0 percent.

Town Governance Committee Recommendations
 The Select Board considered a series of six recommendations made by the Town Governance Study Committee (TGSC). The Committee was formed in 2019 and was charged with examining and proposing amendments to Andover’s charter, bylaws, and governing practices.

After a comprehensive, multi-year review process, the Committee recommended that Andover retain its Open Town Meeting form of government and issued a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing the Town’s governance.

These recommendations were presented in a final report issued by the Committee in December 2021, and have been reviewed by the Select Board in tranches periodically since late 2022.

On Monday, the Select Board considered three recommendations that can be implemented administratively by the Town Manager. These recommendations included: the development and circulation of new resident welcome packets offering an overview of Town government and services; the establishment of an evaluation process for individuals appointed to various boards, committees, and commissions; and an endorsement of coordination between permit-granting and advisory bodies. Following discussion, the Board voted to accept all of these recommendations.

Three additional TGSC recommendations that would require action by Town Meeting were discussed by the Board on Monday.

The first such recommendation considered relates to the pre-submission of amendments to Town Meeting warrant articles. Presently, amendments to articles are generally submitted on the floor during Town Meeting, limiting the ability of Town Counsel to review the legality of amendments and for advisory committees to assess policy implications.

The TGSC’s recommendation on this matter would encourage Town Meeting voters to submit amendments three days prior to Town Meeting. While amendments could still be filed on the floor during Town Meeting, priority would be offered to amendments submitted before the three-day deadline. In the opinion of the TGSC, allowing time for the review of amendments would enhance the efficiency, transparency, and quality of deliberations of Town Meeting.

The Board also considered a recommendation related to the process by which appointments by the Town Manager are approved. Presently, all appointments made by the Town Manager, including full-time and seasonal employees, must be approved by the Select Board. The TSGC’s recommendation on this topic suggests limiting the Select Board’s confirmation to a few senior positions, including the Deputy Town Manager, Policy Chief, Fire Rescue Chief, and Finance Director. This recommendation is intended to provide clarity to the division between the Select Board's policymaking role and the Town Manager's administrative authority. Further, the TGSC noted that the current practice causes delays in hiring candidates in competitive employee searches.

Lastly, the Board considered a recommendation to change the sequence of elected officials taking office after Town elections in relation to Annual Town Meeting.

Currently, Town elections are held in March and officials elected are sworn-in the next day. Annual Town Meeting is generally held several weeks later. This sequencing sometimes leaves newly elected officials with limited time to learn budget, capital improvement plan, bylaw, and zoning matters to be voted on at Annual Town Meeting. Furthermore, the current practice leads to scenarios where elected boards with policy positions printed in the Finance Committee Report may not reflect the views of the elected boards at Town Meeting due to the shifting composition of the boards resulting from the election.

The Committee’s recommendation calls for elected officials to take office after Annual Town Meeting.

The Select Board did not take action on the three TGSC recommendations requiring Town Meeting action. These items will be revisited at a future meeting. 

Other Actions 

  • Town Manager Flanagan announced that he intends to recommend the appropriation of $150,000 from free cash for the clearing of downed trees on Town Conservation Land. Several Conservation properties sustained significant damage during the extreme weather on September 8. While Conservation staff and volunteers have worked to clear frequently-used trails over the past several months, significant work remains. This appropriation would enable the Town to engage professional tree services to support ongoing work.
  • Flanagan provided an update on construction activity by Flagship Pioneering at 3000 Minuteman Road. A Tax Increment Finance (TIF) agreement with Flagship was approved by Town Meeting in May. According to Flanagan, Flagship has applied for permitting for the first phase of construction at the site. The Town is working closely with Flagship to provide guidance through the permitting process.
  • Members of the Andover 375th Anniversary Committee announced the release of an Anniversary Journal documenting events and other activities hosted from April 2021 through June 2022 [AS1] in celebration of the Town’s 375th Anniversary. Within the fourteen-month span, the Committee hosted eight major community events, and several smaller events in partnership with local organizations. The journal will be available online, and will be placed in a time capsule with other memorabilia from the anniversary year.

The full meeting can be viewed online through AndoverTV.