Thursday, March 23, 2000 Older Editions

Andover's decision day is next Tuesday

By Neil Fater

Candidates for Andover's top elected positions have debated for the final time, and now await Andover's decision next Tuesday night.

The town election is next Tuesday, March 28, with all precincts casting ballots at the Andover High School field house, off Shawsheen Road. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be regular shuttle bus service from the Senior Center

Voters will choose two of three candidates for selectmen: Ted Teichert, Don Robb and incumbent Brian Major.

They will also choose one new Andover Housing Authority member from among candidates Michael Frishman, Francis O'Connor and Charles Erban.

The moderator's race hosts traditional foes, incumbent Jim Doherty and challenger John Doyle.

Leading the uncontested races, is the School Committee election, where incumbent Frank "Skip" Eccles and Gerry Gustus are running for the two seats.

The candidates for each of these races had a chance to appear in a final debate last week, hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Only Doherty appeared for the moderator's debate, and only Frishman and O'Connor spoke at the housing authority debate.

However, all three candidates for selectmen did appear and answered questions both from each other and from the audience.

None of the selectman candidates offered an opinion on charging betterments for sidewalks, nor did they cite a specific cut to the budget they would make, when asked to do so in an audience question.

Reducing the tax burden

However, Robb did say the town can look at providing more money to a stabilization -- or emergency -- fund, to be tapped when the economy is bad and the town needs the money. This can be used to help decrease the amount of tax money that is available to increase departmental budgets.

"(Also) I think we could challenge every manager within the system and say, 'What can you do to produce a 1- to 2-percent decrease in the activities of your department?'" said Robb.

Brian Major noted that Andover has started paying for sidewalk restorations out of its operating budget, rather than through bonds. This policy, initiated at the request of the Finance Committee, has meant that taxpayers do not have to pay the additional cost of interest.

Major also said that departments can gain outside funding for some programs and positions by writing high-quality grant applications. Police are paying some of the cost of two new patrol officers for the next three years thanks to a grant they will receive.

Teichert said he "wouldn't want to see any particular department reduced. I think they're all vitally important. I'd have to find, and get all the information handed to me at the time to make such a decision on that."

Improving downtown parking

One issue that nearly every selectman for the past several decades has had to wrestle with is Andover's downtown parking situation. More recently, there has been discussion about building a parking garage in either the Old Andover Village lot downtown, or near the commuter rail and town yard by Railroad Street. How do the candidates feel about this?

"We're looking at whether the town yard should move," said Major. "If it is to be relocated, then perhaps we can take a look at parking strategies down in that part of the town, and mix it in with some commercial space as well."

Teichert said he would look at putting a parking garage at either the Old Andover Village lot or near the MBTA station on Railroad Street.

"Being a merchant for many years, I always thought there was a parking problem downtown. I also realize the employees of many businesses need to be educated as far as where to park," said Teichert.

"I'm disappointed there isn't a solution before us," said Robb, noting the town hired a downtown planner more than a year ago, yet still has not unveiled a plan.

"What we don't need is another study. We need action. We need some quick decisions to be made, and we have to think of parking as part of the total downtown picture, which is how, long-term, do we maintain the viability of our downtown?" he said. "We should be looking to our town employees, who are supposed to be looking at that very problem."

Whither the town yard?

Selectmen were also asked where they would put an expanded town yard.

Teichert said he favors breaking it into multiple locations.

"I don't think it should be put in one specific area where it could affect many residents in the surrounding place," said Teichert. "I'd like to see the downtown yard be where it is, and then have satellites in certain areas, but it wouldn't be that big where it would affect that many residents around the area."

Robb clearly believes the yard should remain where it is. He noted that the town has been buying land around the town yard area to expand it.

"At least that's what we were told when we approved money last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. I think the whole issue needs to be clarified from the ground up," said Robb.

"If we want to move the town yard so badly, why have we been buying, consistently over the last five years, pieces of property near the present town yard? We spent that money. We have that land," said Robb. "That town yard is there now and is a known factor. I'm not sure we want to go looking all around town and say, 'Do you want a town yard in your neighborhood, or your neighborhood?'"

Major noted the town is looking into several options, including expansion of the current site, moving the yard to land off Route 125, or having a private business buy and lease an area back to the town. But he did not commit to any of them.

"We are taking a look at each of those alternatives, and it may be that the town yard gets broken up and placed in multiple locations. We need to continue that process that's in place right now," said Major.