Thursday, April 27, 2000 Older Editions

Article 4: Town Meeting approves new positions, bigger budget

By Neil Fater

While the Finance Committee called on residents to slow growth and think about the future, Town Meeting voters Monday did not pare anything from the more than $90 million budget sought by selectmen.

However, voters did agree with the FinCom that Andover should pay for maintenance items such as replacing windows and installing water spigots with current dollars, rather than with borrowed money.

The FinCom and selectmen split ranks over five of the 31 budget line items. Besides disagreeing on how to pay for some maintenance items, the two also disagreed on whether to add positions to conservation, youth services and elder services.

Finance Committee members warned residents that within three years Andover may have to take drastic measures to handle a $1 million shortfall.

"We are growing at a rapid pace, and we are reaching and could in three years get to a point where we'd need an override just to fund our operating budget," Finance Committee Chairman Don Schroeder told Town Meeting.

"By not adding all the positions we might like to," he said, "we'd have a lot more control."

The FinCom also told Town Meeting that its proposed budget could include those new postions. But the departments would have to prioritize and eliminate some other spending to do so.

Although some residents sided with the FinCom, the majority listened to selectmen and fellow voters who listed reasons why each of the three new positions was needed.

While the two proposed FinCom amendments were defeated with hand votes, the FinCom's view on elder services' budget took a standing vote to defeat, 537-502.

Conservation

While the FinCom argued the part-time conservation land manager position would mean that area had grown 250 percent in the last three years, selectmen said the position was for the long-term benefit of the town.

Michael Frishman, of Andover Street, argued the position is needed because nearly 5 percent of Andover land is under the town's control.

"It is not something a volunteer can do," said Michael Frishman, one of Andover's conservation volunteers. "We need someone who's assigned to this."

Youth services

Selectman Brian Major argued youth services needs a new position because the two employees there are already working many unpaid overtime hours.

"They're so overtaxed, we're about to put them into burn-out mode," he said. "This position is not just adding brand new services, it's putting us in a position to cover those programs we already have."

"We're talking about .0003 percent of the budget," said Jerry Silverman, of Dufton Road.

"This program has picked up the middle school, not only after school, but during the summer," he said. "It's a 52-week program. You have two people running the program. There's a need here."

Elder services

Selectman Mary French argued in favor of a clerical position for elder services, saying the department has been growing.

"More outreach, more offerings. More hands are needed," said French.

Maintenance items

Voters did agree with the FinCom to pay for smaller maintenance items now, rather than borrowing so that more money could be put in the town's stabilization fund. Selectmen wanted to put more in the fund, which would be used if Andover fell on hard times.

"What we are talking about is basic fiscal responsiblity," said FinCom member Joanne Marden. "We're asking Town Meeting to look beyond this year's budget .

"If we allow this to go forward, we set a precedent," she said. "We set a precedent that TM is not concerned about future taxpayers paying for items that no longer have a future life."

Chrisopher Haynes, 13 Brady Loop, said he gets calls from mortgage companies wanting to loan him money.

"It seems to sound like it's the same story," he said. "I really don't want to see my checking account bigger at the expense of increasing my mortgage. "

(carpeting, paint, water spigots, not worth paying over 10 years. Harry Voorhees says he wouldn't do it for his house, so he sides with FinCom.)

Lori Becker, speaking from floor, "There are a lot of items that we can pay for now," says

We have to think about how much we're spending, but we need to think about how much we're borrowing as well."

(amendment caries by handvote, and is approved as FinCom wants)