A split select board voted 3-2 on Jan. 8 to not put a nonbinding ballot question on the ballot for the March 26 election that would have asked if Andover should do away with its open town meeting form of government, even after a 62 percent majority approved doing so at special town meeting in November.
Town officials cited state law, saying ballot questions could only be approved by annual town meeting, although the select board does have the option to add them independently of town meeting. The select board has maintained the Town Governance Study Committee already considered the question and determined Andover’s open town meeting form of government remains the best option.
“You are smart people [who] fully understand what the citizens of Andover request and expect in this, and are fully able to act accordingly under your own power,” Kevin Coffey, who is running for select board in the March election, said during select board’s Jan. 17 meeting. “Please, do the right thing. Respect those who elected you.”
Select board members Laura Gregory, Annie Gilbert, and Chair Melissa Danisch voted to keep the question off this year’s ballot, while Alex Vispoli and Chris Huntress voted to give voters a chance to weigh in on the question this year. Gilbert and Huntress are not seeking reeelction.
On Jan. 17 the board did accept a citizen’s position to put the question on the annual town meeting warrant. But with annual town meeting falling after this year’s local election, voters will have to wait at least until the local election in March 2025 to vote on the nonbinding ballot question.