Select Board Approves Program for Automated Trash and Recycling Carts, Receives Overview of FY2026 Budget Recommendation, and Begins Review of Warrant Articles for 2025 Annual Town Meeting

ANDOVER, MA – The Andover Select Board met on Monday, February 10 in the Select Board Conference Room at Town Offices. The meeting saw the Select Board take a significant vote regarding the Town’s upcoming transition to automated trash and recycling collection, and begin two significant annual processes: review of the recommended Fiscal Year 2026 budget, and review of articles that will appear on the Annual Town Meeting warrant.

The Board voted to approve a policy under which residents will receive free trash and recycling carts and can then obtain additional trash and recycling carts if desired. Under the policy, residents will be able to obtain an additional 64-gallon trash cart for a one-time cost of $75. Residents can also request an additional 96-gallon recycling cart at no cost after September 1, 2025. 

The Select Board received an initial presentation from Town Manager Andrew Flanagan on the recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2026, marking the beginning of a comprehensive review process that will take place over the coming months before the budget is presented at Annual Town Meeting on April 29. The Board also kicked off its annual process for reviewing articles that will appear on the Annual Town Meeting warrant, considering and voting to recommend approval of fifive articles.

Automated Trash & Recycling Collection Update 
In anticipation of Andover’s transition to automated trash and recycling collection on July 1, 2025, the Select Board considered and voted to approve a plan detailing the terms by which residents will be able to obtain Town-issued trash and recycling carts.

The automated trash and recycling system will require all residents to use standardized trash and recycling carts. Under the program approved by the Select Board, all households will receive one 64-gallon trash cart, and one 96-gallon recycling cart at no cost. Residents will have the option to obtain a second 64-gallon trash cart for a one-time cost of $75 beginning on July 1, 2025. Additional 96-gallon recycling carts will be available to residents at no cost after September 1, 2025. There will be no annual or recurring cost for residents that receive a supplemental trash or recycling cart.

Residents who would prefer small carts will have the option to swap their standard issued carts for a 34-gallon trash cart or a 64-gallon recycling cart.

During discussion of this proposal, Town Manager Andrew Flanagan described the capacity of these carts. A 64-gallon trash cart is approximately equal in capacity to two standard trash barrels. A 96-gallon recycling cart has the same capacity as approximately of 5.5 standard recycling bins. Throughout the public outreach campaign on the transition to automated trash and recycling collection, the Town will have sample carts available at public forums and other events to enable residents to better understand the size of the receptacles and determine how many they will need. 

FY2026 Recommended Budget and Financial Plan 
Town Manager Andrew Flanagan presented an overview of the recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2026, released on Friday, February 7. The proposed budget totals $233,390,260, reflecting a 4.59% increase over the previous year. Key revenue sources include property taxes, state aid and local receipts. The use of $3,865,000 in free cash is reserved for capital expenditures. Property taxes are projected to increase by 3.39%, while state aid is expected to rise by 3.12%. Local receipts are anticipated to grow by 10.16%, and the use of free cash for capital expenditures will nearly double.

Flanagan highlighted significant expenditure areas, including a 3.73% increase in the School Department budget and a 2.27% increase in Town Department budgets. The budget also fully funds the Town’s commitments to pension and OPEB liabilities, which occur in the context of a 9.72% increase in retirement and health insurance costs. The Solid Waste budget includes a 3.96% increase, reflecting the second year of the new contract with Republic Services. Additionally, the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is consistent with the funding target of 7% of the operating budget, representing a 3.18% increase from FY2025.

The budget addresses personnel costs, with no net increase in full-time equivalents (FTEs) and funding for the Compensation Fund, a reserve to fund salary increases that will be determined through upcoming collective bargaining agrees with Town unions, negotiations with set at $1,135,000. The budget includes the addition of two firefighters, the cost of which offset by increased ambulance revenues. Utility costs are projected to rise by 5.5%, despite an 11% reduction in overall energy use.

Flanagan also discussed the history and future projections of budget deficits, noting that projecting future deficits is a standard practice in municipal financing. The Town plans to release an updated Long Range Financial Plan in early fall 2025 and will conduct workshops with representatives from the Select Board, Finance Committee, and School Committee to explore options for increasing revenues, reducing expenses, and modifying budget assumptions. 

The FY2026 budget recommendation will undergo extensive review before Town Meeting is asked to consider its approval on April 29. A full-day budget workshop with the Select Board, Finance Committee, and School Committee will be held on Saturday, March 8, during which all departments will present an overview of their proposed budget. Each board and committee will independently review the proposal and vote on a recommendation relative to its approval by Town Meeting that will be published in the Finance Committee Report. 

Annual Town Meeting Article Review 
The Select Board began the process of reviewing Annual Town Meeting articles. Through this annual process, the Select Board reviews articles that will appear on the Town Meeting warrant and votes on whether to recommend approval or disapproval of the articles. These recommendations are ultimately published in the Finance Committee Report, which is printed and mailed to all residents before Town Meeting. 

This process will continue over the Select Board’s next three meetings. On Monday, the Select Board reviewed and voted to recommend approval of five articles. 

Bylaw Amendment Conservation Revolving Fund
This article would authorize the creation of a Conservation Revolving Fund. Revolving funds allow municipalities to collect revenues from specific services or activities and use those revenues to support the same services or activities without requiring further appropriation. In this case, the revolving fund is intended to collect funds generated through the Town of Andover’s Forest Stewardship Plan. The plan is expected to generate some revenue through the sale of harvested timber. These funds could then be used for related improvements to Conservation properties. 

Bylaw Amendment Town Events Revolving Fund
Similarly to the previously discussed article, this article would create a new revolving fund to support Town events. The fund would collect revenue from permit fees charged to organizations hosting events in Andover. The article would authorize the Town to expend these funds to pay for custodial services, public safety services, and other costs associated with other events.

Chapter 90 Authorizations
This is a standing article considered each year that allows the Town to take any easements related to Chapter 90 projects (i.e., capital improvements to local roadways).

Granting Easements
This is a reoccurring article that allows the Select Board to grant easements for water, drainage, sewer, utility, or other public purposes.

Stabilization Fund Bond Premium
This article authorizes the transfer of $250,000 from the Bond Premium Stabilization Fund to the General Fund to offset non-exempt debt interest payments. 

 Other Actions 

• The Board vote to approve the warrant for the 2025 Annual Town Election, which will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The Annual Town Election will elect the Moderator and members to the Select Board, School Committee, Trustees of the Punchard Free School, and the Andover Housing Authority. Notably, Alex Vispoli and Melissa Danisch, current members of the Select Board whose terms expire this year, are the two candidates for election to the Select Board. There are four candidates, including two incumbents, running for two seats on the Andover School Committee. There are no changes to polling locations for the Town Election, and polls will be open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM. 
• The Board voted to approve an application from National Grid for construction of  underground electric conduits across Teaberry Lane and Ballardvale Road.

 The Board is scheduled to meet next on Monday, February 24. The full meeting can be viewed online through AndoverTV.