Select Board Endorses Elm Square Redesign Concept, Continues Review of Strategic Goals, ad Welcomes New Deputy Town Manager

ANDOVER, MA - The Andover Select Board met on Monday, July 28 in the Select Board Room at Town Offices. During the meeting the Board reviewed and voted to endorse a design concept for improvements to the Elm Square intersection. The proposed improvements will complement a suite of safety improvements implemented in the fall of 2023, and come following two years of planning and extensive community engagement. Specific components of the design include the removal of slip lanes, the introduction of a diagonal crosswalk from Elm Square Oyster Co. to Memorial Hall Library, and the addition of a “bike box” at the southbound approach to the intersection on Elm Street. With the Board’s endorsement, the design concept will be sent to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for review. It is anticipated that construction of these improvements will take place during the summer and fall of 2026.

The Board also revisited the process of setting strategic goals and objectives for the current fiscal year, reviewing a revised set of proposed goals presented by Town Manager Andrew Flanagan. 

In a significant personnel development, the Board voted to approve the appointment of Alex Magee as Deputy Town Manager for Administration and Finance. Magee currently serves in a similar capacity in the Town of Arlington, and previously held senior positions with the Town of Hamilton and City of Lowell.

Elm Square Safety Improvement
The Select Board reviewed and endorsed a proposed set of long-term safety improvements to the Elm Square intersection during its July 28 meeting. The proposal was presented by Deputy Town Manager Michael Lindstrom, Director of Public Works Carlos Jaquez, and Kevin Dandrade, Principal at TEC, Inc., the engineering firm supporting the project. The effort to enhance safety in Elm Square began in the Spring of 2023. Later that year, the Town implemented a series of safety improvements, including a shift to exclusive pedestrian signal phases, new “No Turn on Red” signage, adjusted stop lines, optimized signal timing, and crosswalk relocation to improve visibility and reduce conflict points.

Since then, the Town has worked with TEC and MassDOT to develop a long-term design solution through a public process that included four community forums. Several alternatives were developed and refined based on public feedback and technical analysis. At Monday’s meeting, Dandrade presented the final recommendation to move forward with Alternative 3.

Alternative 3 removes the existing right-turn “slip” lanes at the intersection and replaces them with expanded pedestrian spaces and buffered bike infrastructure. Slip lanes are separate lanes that allow vehicles to make right turns without entering the main intersection. While they can improve traffic flow, they often create additional conflict points for pedestrians and cyclists. Their removal is expected to reduce confusion, shorten pedestrian crossing distances, and calm traffic. The design also introduces a new diagonal crosswalk that spans from in front of Elm Square Oyster Co to Memorial Hall Library. This crossing is intended to align with common pedestrian traffic patterns and reduce the need for multiple crossing phases to reach key destinations in the intersection. It enhances accessibility and simplifies movement for pedestrians traveling diagonally through the square. The plan also includes the addition of a bike box on Elm Street’s southbound approach. A bike box is an area marked in front of traffic lanes at a signalized intersection that allows cyclists to wait at a red light ahead of vehicles. This improves visibility and safety for cyclists when the signal changes.

This alternative offers improved one-stage pedestrian crossings at all approaches and maintains the current level of truck accommodation, with only minimal impact to large vehicle turning movements. While traffic delays would increase slightly during peak hours, the design prioritizes pedestrian access and safety without significant reductions to traffic efficiency.

The Select Board voted to endorse Alternative 3. The proposal will now be submitted to MassDOT for formal review. The current project timeline anticipates MassDOT review and final design work through 2025, with construction expected to take place during the summer or fall of 2026.

Review of Strategic Goals and Objectives
The Select Board continued its annual process of reviewing and adopting strategic goals and objectives for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. This process was initiated at the Board’s July 14 meeting, when Town Manager Andrew Flanagan presented a preliminary set of proposed goals and reviewed progress on the prior year’s goals. Since that meeting, Select Board members submitted individual feedback recommending that the proposed objectives be consolidated into broader categories to better reflect overarching priorities.

In response to that feedback, Flanagan presented a revised version of the proposed goals at the July 28 meeting. The updated framework organized the goals into four key categories: Administration & Finance, Capital Improvements, Communications & Engagement, and Select Board Priorities. Each category includes a set of objectives designed to guide the work of Town departments and align with community needs and expectations.

During the discussion, Select Board member Kevin Coffey expressed his view that the goals remained too granular in nature and reflected routine functions of the Town that would occur regardless of their inclusion in the strategic goals. He suggested that the strategic goals should instead focus on articulating the Board’s broader policy priorities. Other members of the Board supported the updated goals as presented, noting their value in providing a roadmap for tracking progress and accountability.

No vote was taken during the meeting, as less than the entire Board was in attendance. Chair Alex Vispoli explained that, due to the significance of this annual process, the Board would wait to take action until the full membership is present. The Select Board is expected to revisit and potentially adopt the refined goals at its next meeting on August 11.

Appointment of Alex Magee as Deputy Town Manager
The Select Board voted to approve the appointment of Alex Magee as Andover’s new Deputy Town Manager for Administration and Finance. The position, which serves as the Town’s Chief of Administration and Finance, is responsible for overseeing financial management, capital planning, procurement, collective bargaining, and long-range financial strategy.

Magee was introduced by Town Manager Andrew Flanagan, who explained that Magee was selected following a highly competitive, two-month recruitment and evaluation process initiated following the departure of the prior Chief Administrative and Financial Officer at the end of May. Magee currently serves as the Deputy Town Manager and Finance Director for the Town of Arlington. In Arlington, he has overseen the Town’s long-range financial plan and development of the operating and capital budgets, while also serving as chief negotiator in collective bargaining and supervising multiple financial divisions including Budgeting, Accounting, Treasury, Tax Collections and Assessing.

Prior to his work in Arlington, Magee served as Finance Director for the Town of Hamilton, and held several roles in the City of Lowell, including Deputy Director of Public Works for Administration and Finance, Assistant to the City Manager, and Data Management Analyst. Flanagan emphasized that Magee’s experience and leadership style would allow a seamless transition into the role and make him a strong contributor to the Town’s leadership team. 

With the Board’s approval of his appointment, Magee is scheduled to assume his role in Andover on September 2. 

Other Actions 
The Select Board voted to approve one day alcoholic beverage licenses for Oak & Iron Brewing to operate beer gardens at two upcoming events on Town property. One event is the second annual Ride for Our Troops, a community bike ride that will be held on August 24 and will begin and end at Recreation Park. The event raises money to support veterans and their families. The second event is the 100^th Anniversary Celebration of Shawsheen Football Club’s historic National Cup Championship in 1925. The event is being co-hosted by the Town of Andover, the Andover Soccer Association, and the Andover Center for History & Culture. The event will be held at Lower Shawsheen Field on Sunday, September 7 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM, and will feature food trucks, soccer scrimmages, entertainment, and other family activities. During the meeting, the Board also accepted a donation to support a historic plaque that will be dedicated during this event.  

The Board is scheduled to meet next on Monday, August 11. The full meeting can be viewed online through AndoverTV.