Select Board Receives First “Business Scorecard,” Approves All Way Stops at Four Intersections, Approves Appointment of Key Leadership Positions

ANDOVER, MA – The Andover Select Board met on Tuesday, January 20 in the Select Board Room. The meeting featured several notable developments, including the introduction of the first “business scorecard,” which provides a comprehensive look at metrics related to the health of Andover’s business sector. The Board also considered and voted to approve a recommendation brought forward by the Transportation working group to create all way stops at four intersections to improve traffic safety. In a significant personnel development, the Select Board voted to approve the appointments of Brittney Lavoie to the position of Deputy Town Manager and Hayley Green to the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

All Way Stops at Four Intersections
The Select Board reviewed a series of proposed traffic control changes to establish new stop conditions at four intersections in Andover: North Street at Greenwood Road, Chandler Road at Greenwood Road, Cutler Road at Reservation Road, and Harold Parker Road at Jenkins Road. The recommendations proposed converting the first three locations to all-way stops, and establishing a three-way stop at Harold Parker Road and Jenkins Road.

Deputy Town Manager Mike Lindstrom introduced the proposals and explained that the requests originated from residents and neighborhood groups who raised concerns about safety at the intersections. Lindstrom noted that these requests are evaluated by the Town’s internal Transportation Working Group, which reviews crash data and other site-specific information to determine whether changes are warranted.

Andover Police Department Safety Officer Glen Ota provided an overview of existing conditions at each site, the safety challenges observed, and how the proposed stop controls would improve visibility, reduce conflict points, and clarify right-of-way for motorists. Following discussion, the Select Board voted to accept the recommendations for each intersection.

Business Scorecard
Deputy Town Manager and Town Clerk Austin Simko, Director of Planning and Land Use Paul Materazzo, and Director of Business, Arts, and Cultural Development Ann Ormond introduced a new Business Scorecard designed to provide the Select Board with consistent, data-driven insight into the health of Andover’s business sector. The development of a business scorecard was identified as one of the Select Board’s Strategic Goals and Objectives for FY2026, and the scorecard is expected to be presented on a regularly basis going forward. Simko explained that the scorecard compiles indicators that can help inform policy discussions and track trends over time.

The scorecard includes quarterly room and meals tax collections, business certificate issuances and renewals, commercial building and sign permit fees, and commercial real estate occupancy and vacancy rates townwide, downtown, and within the River Road Corridor. Most discussion during the meeting focused on vacancy and occupancy trends. Downtown Andover continues to maintain a distinctly high occupancy rate of more than 96 percent. 

In contrast, the River Road Corridor currently reflects lower occupancy, at 68.6 percent, which staff attributed in part to broader economic conditions affecting the life sciences industry. Materazzo noted that vacancy in the corridor is concentrated among a small number of large properties. For example, the Phillips site, totaling approximately 697,000 square feet, accounts for 44 percent of all vacant space and the Putnam property, totaling approximately 332,000 square feet, accounts for 21 percent. Together, those two properties account for roughly 65 percent of the corridor’s vacancy.

Materazzo explained that the Town is taking a proactive approach to supporting reinvestment and attracting new businesses in the corridor, including efforts to expand housing opportunities through the Multifamily Overlay District adopted in accordance with the MBTA Communities zoning law. The Select Board expressed appreciation for the initial scorecard and supported the plan to continue providing the information regularly.

Click here to view the full business scorecard.

Appointment of Deputy Town Manager and Chief Financial Officer Officer
Town Manager Andrew Flanagan introduced the promotions of Brittney Lavoie to Deputy Town Manager and Hayley Green to Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He expressed that both have made significant contributions to the organization in their prior roles and that their respective transitions align with the Town’s current operational needs. These appointments are among the limited number of senior leadership positions that require Select Board approval under the Town Charter. 

In her new role as Deputy Town Manager, Lavoie will focus on strengthening internal operations across the organization, including oversight of the Town’s personnel functions, organizational development efforts, and coordination among departments. She will also support the Select Board on designated matters as assigned. Lavoie joined the Town in 2024 as Chief People Officer, where she has led the Town’s People and Human Resources Department.

Green was appointed CFO after more than a decade of service with the Town of Andover. Green joined the Town in 2015 and served as Town Accountant for nearly nine years before most recently serving as Director of Budget and Capital Management. As CFO, she will provide executive leadership on the Town’s financial operations and long-term fiscal planning, supporting budget development and financial strategy while also managing the Town’s Finance divisions. 

 Other Actions 

• Andover resident Donna Cooper presented an initial overview of a citizen-petitioned Town Meeting article that proposes restricting the use of certain rodenticides. Cooper explained that some commonly used anticoagulant rodenticides can cause secondary impacts to wildlife when predators consume poisoned rodents. The Town Meeting article is intended to encourage consideration of alternative approaches such as integrated pest management. The presentation was intended to introduce the Select Board to the topic, and the Board will revisit the article and consider a recommendation as part of its warrant article review process in the coming weeks.
• The Select Board reviewed a proposed section of the Select Board Policy Guidelines related to the process of appointing a Town Manager in the event of a vacancy. 
• The Select Board voted to accept a donation from the Friends of Andover Dog Park in the amount of $4,809.12 to support improvements at the Andover Dog Park.

The Board is scheduled to meet next on Monday, February 9. The full meeting can be viewed online through AndoverTV.