August 6, 2024

ANDOVER, MA – The Andover Select Board met on Tuesday, August 6 in the Select Board Meeting room at Town Offices. The Board received a presentation on the Town’s efforts to improve pedestrian safety on Lincoln Street through the creation of a shared use path. This project was identified as a townwide priority in the recently approved Complete Street Prioritization Plan. The Board also considered several important items in “second readings,” voting to approve a sewer rate plan for FY2025 through FY2029 and approving a set of strategic goals and objectives for the year ahead.

Town Manager Report
Tuesday’s meeting marked the first where a “Town Manager Report” appeared on the agenda. The concept of the Town Manager providing a report emerged during discussions among the Board and Town Manager Andrew Flanagan during the annual goals setting process, and is intended to provide an opportunity for members of the Board to be made aware of important updates related to the Town that might not otherwise appear on meeting agendas.

Highlights noted in Flanagan’s first Town Manager Report included the Planning Board’s recent issuance of a special permit for the development at 11 Lewis Street, also known as Old Town Yard. The approval marks a significant milestone in the 248,788 square foot development which is anticipated to include 163 residential units, community amenities, and retail space. Flanagan also announced the appointment of Patrick Goddard as a part-time Project Manager in the Facilities Department. Goddard previously served as Director of Facilities in the Town of Lexington, and in senior facilities management roles for private sector companies. Goddard is licensed to act as an owner project manager (OPM) on building projects, which is expected to produce a substantial cost savings for the Town compared to contracting OPM services. Goddard's appointed was later approved by the Select Board as part of the consent agenda. 

Lincoln Street
The Select Board received an overview of the Town’s efforts to evaluate pedestrian safety improvements along Lincoln Street, an approximately half-mile roadway that runs between Lowell Street and Shawsheen Road. The street is frequently utilized by Andover Public School students traveling by foot or bicycle to access West Middle School and Andover High School. Due to the limited pedestrian accommodations along Lincoln Street, creation of a shared use path on the street was identified as a priority in the Town’s recently approved Compete Streets Prioritization Plan. 

In evaluating the project, the Town determined that the roadway is too narrow to accommodate a 5’ sidewalk or shared use path if it continues to allow two way traffic. As such, the Town determined that restricting traffic on Lincoln Street to southbound one-way vehicle traffic would provide the best opportunity to create a shared-use path while also limiting impacts to trees, private properties, and drainage.

To evaluate the feasibility of creating the proposed path, the Town will launch a five-week trial project this month during which vehicle traffic on Lincoln Street will be limited to one-way travel in the southbound direction, toward Shawsheen Road. The direction of the one way trial was decided based on a traffic and safety study completed by TEC, an engineering firm, in June of 2024.  The trial will also include the installation of a temporary infrastructure, such as traffic barrels and flex posts, to narrow the vehicle travel lane and replicate the proposed width of a shared-use path that would be created in a final project. Temporary signage will be installed reflecting the one-way travel restriction.

The trial will begin on Monday, August 19 and continue through September 22. During this period, the Town will evaluate the project’s effects on traffic on Lincoln Street and in the surrounding area, as well as the benefits to pedestrian safety. 

Click here for more information about the Lincoln Street Shared Use Path pilot project.

Sewer Rates
The Select Board considered proposed sewer rates for FY2025 through FY2029 presented by Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Patrick Lawlor in a second reading. The proposal was previously reviewed by the Board during its July 22 meeting. 

The plan proposes a sewer rate increase of 6 percent annually over the next five years. The proposal will provide financial resources necessary to sustain wastewater service levels in Andover while also allowing the Town to continue offering reasonable sewer rates relative to nearby communities and peer communities throughout eastern Massachusetts.

The Board voted to approve the proposed rate structure, which will go into effect on September 1, 2024. The plan will increase the average annual sewer bill to $567.81 for the first year, which would remain among the lowest average rates of nearby and peer communities.

Central Street Historic District Study Committee
The Select Board voted to appointed Lisa Dore, Christina Erickson, John O’Hara, Gina Prisco, Joanna Reck, Katherine Robinson and Mark Rogers to the new Central Street Historic District Study Committee.

Candidates for the Committee were interviewed by a subcommittee of the Select Board comprised of Kevin Coffey, Melissa Danisch, and Alex Vispoli. Interviews were completed by the subcommittee in July.

The Select Board voted to create the Central Street Historic District Study Committee on June 17. The Committee is charged with studying the benefits, parameters, and feasibility of establishing a new historic district to protect the historic integrity of Central Street and, potentially, surrounding areas.

Select Board and Town Manager Goals
The Select Board continued the process of establishing strategic goals and objectives for FY 2025. The adoption of strategic goals and objectives is an annual process undertaken by the Select Board and is intended to establish a roadmap for the work of the Board and the Town Manager in key areas throughout the fiscal year. 

On Tuesday, Town Manager Andrew Flanagan outlined several changes to the proposed goals document based on input provided by the Select Board during its last discussion of the goals on July 22.

After discussion, the Board approved a final document that contains 21 goals and accompanying deliverables across the areas of administration and finance; capital improvements; communications and resident engagement; economic development and housing; river and open space access; and energy and sustainability.

The full document containing the approved strategic goals and objectives for FY 2025 can be viewed online.

Notable new goals approved by the Select Board include:

• Work with the Select Board to further define the relationship between the budget and the annual tax increase;
• Hold Financial Summit with the Select Board, Finance Committee and School Committee in Fall of 2024;
• Develop communication plan and prepare for changes to solid waste and recycling disposal;
• Complete the Facility Master Plan Study; and
• Develop plan for reuse of Shawsheen School. 

Other Notes

• The Select Board discussed the process for filling a vacant position on the Andover Retirement that must be appointed by the Board. The position will be posted in the coming days, and applications will be due by August 30. Applicants will interview with the full Select Board in September. 
• The Select Board voted to approve the warrant for the State Primary election on September 3, 2024. More information about voting in the State Primary has been published by the Town Clerk’s office at: andoverma.gov/elections. 

The full meeting can be viewed online through AndoverTV. The Select Board is scheduled to meet next on Monday, August 19.