The voters have spoken. Wednesday's Special Town Meeting brought more than 200 people -- considerably lower turnout than the average Town Meeting -- to North Andover High School to cast their votes on several proposals that would impact their lives and their town's budget. In addition to the Fire Department proposal for new fire trucks being approved, every other measure passed with little-to-no opposition. The meeting only lasted a little more than an hour. Cool News for the Library The Stevens Memorial Library will get its new HVAC system. Last spring, the HVAC system broke and the …

Voters at Wednesday's Special Town Meeting unanimously gave the green light to purchase two new fire trucks for the Fire Department. Fire Chief Andrew Melnikas spoke to the audience of more than 200 people before the vote, calling on them to approve of his proposal to replace Ladder 1 and Engine 3 with new trucks. The proposal for the new trucks -- Article 1 --  was the main reason for the Special Town Meeting. Melnikas called for the purchase earlier this fall, noting that Ladder 1 does not have a functioning ladder and Engine 3 needs a new motor. "The ladder truck for the last few years …

Special Town Meeting will be Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at North Andover High School. Here is a summary of what you will be voting on: Article 1 A "yes" vote authorizes the town to borrow up to $1.3 million to purchase two new fire trucks. The Fire Department has a ladder truck without a functioning ladder and another truck with no motor, and Fire Chief Melnikas has requested that the town replace those vehicles with new ones. Article 2 A "yes" vote allows the town spend up to $460,000 to purchase a new HVAC system for the Stevens Memorial Library. The library's HVAC system broke down in May, …

As voters prepared for Special Town Meeting Wednesday, Fire Chief Andrew Melnikas kept an optimistic attitude about the Fire Department getting new fire trucks. "I believe that it will go well," Melnikas said. He has been asked to speak at Town Meeting before the vote. The new fire trucks were the main reason the Special Town Meeting was called in the first place. Melnikas requested two new trucks last month because the department's ladder truck doesn't have a functional ladder and its Engine 3 truck needs a new motor. There was concern over the price tag, a staggering $1.3 million for the …

Voters will head to Town Hall on Wednesday to vote on several proposals at the Special Town Meeting. One of those proposals is to spend up to $460,000 on a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for the Stevens Memorial Library building. The cost includes a new HVAC system as well as an engineer to oversee the project. The Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee have supported the proposal. "Replacing the HVAC system at the library is essential for the maintaining of the library's collections and for the comfort of its patrons," Town Manager Mark Rees said. "We are also …

Selectmen approved and signed the Special Town Meeting Warrant Monday night. After some minor rewording, the selectmen read off each article that will appear on the warrant at Special Town Meeting Nov. 17 and voted to sign off on each one being on the warrant. Here is a run-down of what will be on the warrant.   Article 1 The first article, the main reason the Special Town Meeting was called, is a measure to raise (in this case by borrowing) and appropriate up to $1.3 million to buy two new fire trucks for the Fire Department. Last month, in our Playing With Fire series, we broke the news …

The Board of Selectmen voted Monday night to approve the articles to be presented to voters at the upcoming Special Town Meeting. There are 9 articles in total, with a 10th one possible. Monday's vote was to place the articles on the warrant, not to vote on their merits. Fire Trucks Article 1, the biggest item at the Nov. 17 Town Meeting, to be held in the North Andover High School Auditorium, calls for the purchase of two fire trucks – up to $1.3 million – to replace two badly damaged fire trucks the town has. Earlier this month, selectmen voted to call for the Special Town Meeting after …