Select Board Appoints Member to Retirement Board, Discusses Schedule For 2025 Annual Town Meeting  

ANDOVER, MA - The Andover Select Board met on Monday, September 23 in the Select Board Conference Room at Town Offices. The Board appointed Mathew Fabiani to the Retirement Board after interviewing three candidates for the one Select Board-appointed position on the Board, and discussed potential dates for the 2025 Annual Town Meeting, considering the impact of April vacation and other factors on attendance. They discussed two alternative dates and postponed the decision to their next meeting on September 30 to allow for further review.

Retirement Board

The Select Board conducted interviews of applicants to serve on the Andover Retirement Board. The Retirement Board is responsible for administering the retirement system that serves Town of Andover employees and retirees. It is comprised of five members, one of which is appointed by the Select Board.

The Select Board solicited applications throughout August. Five candidates appeared on the agenda for consideration on Monday, however two withdrew their candidacy during the meeting.

After conducting thorough interviews of the remaining three candidates, the Board voted to appoint Mathew Fabiani to the Retirement Board. Fabiani has an extensive background in financial management. He holds an economics degree from Providence College and works as a certified financial planner (CFP). 

Town Meeting Schedule

As part of its review of the 2025 Annual Town Meeting and Town Election Calendar, the Board had extensive discussions regarding potential dates for the 2025 Annual Town Meeting. Deputy Town Manager and Town Clerk Austin Simko outlined a recommendation for Town Meeting to begin on Monday, April 28, and to continue on April 29, April 30, and May 1 if necessary. This proposal would set Annual Town Meeting to take place at approximately the same time that it has during most years since 2016. 

Several members of the Select Board expressed concern about holding Town Meeting on these dates, as April 29 is the first day that students return from April vacation next year. Notably, April vacation falls later in 2025 than is typical. Members of the Board noted that this factor may pose challenges to parents who wish to attend Town Meeting. 

Two alternative solutions were proposed in order to avoid beginning Town Meeting directly after April vacation: (1) beginning Town Meeting later in the week, on Tuesday, April 29; and (2) beginning Town Meeting the next week, on Monday, May 5. In the latter scenario, the Collins Center for the Performing Arts, where Annual Town Meeting is typically held, would not be available, which would require the Andover High School Field House to be used instead.  

The Board did not vote on either option, and decided to continue the discussion to its meeting on September 30 to allow Town staff additional time to review the implications and feasibility of both options. Additionally, the Board requested that the Town attempt to identify dates for Annual Town Meeting in future years to avoid similar scheduling dilemmas going forward. 

Other Actions

• The Select Board revisited an application from Shoyu Restaurant and Bar, located at 38-40 Park Street, that would alter the restaurant’s existing alcoholic beverage license premise to allow it to serve alcohol in an outdoor seating area in the parking lot in front of the restaurant. This hearing was continued during the Board’s meeting on September 16 in response to concerns regarding excessively loud music being played at the establishment on certain evenings when it hosts karaoke events. Since then, Deputy Town Manager and Town Clerk Austin Simko had extensive conversations with both the residents and applicant. Shoyu agreed to reduce the volume and “bass” of music that is played during these events. Ultimately, the Board approved Shoyu’s application with the added condition that the establishment must close its windows during hours when karaoke is offered. 
• The Select Board set official Trick-or-Treating hours for the Town of Andover for October 31, 2024 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM.
• During the Town Manager Report, Town Manager Andrew Flanagan noted that the Town is beginning the process of implementing Phase 1 of the Chandler Road Recreation Area project, which includes the creation of a community garden along Chander Road and a parking area. A community information session on this phase of the project will be held on Monday, September 30, and more public information is soon to follow.
• Deputy Town Manager and Town Clerk Austin Simko provided a brief update regarding P&G Gillette’s pending special permit application before the Planning Board to expand manufacturing operations at its Andover site. At the Board’s last meeting, a resident raised concerns regarding whether the expanded operations would result in PFAS emissions. According to Simko, the Town has engaged with P&G extensively over recent months to understand the company’s manufacturing processes. Further, air quality emissions are regulated by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Department has reviewed and approved an air quality plan for the site. It is anticipated that these issues will be discussed in greater detail by P&G representatives during an upcoming meeting of the Planning Board. 

The full meeting can be viewed online through AndoverTV. The Select Board is scheduled to meet next on Monday, September 30.