Thea Fournier may have won another round in her decade-long battle to protect herself and her neighbors from the radio frequency radiation emitted by cellular telephone antennas Tuesday night at Town Meeting. But she isn’t taking any satisfaction in the defeat of a by-law modification proposed by the Board of Selectmen. “Even though we prevailed again this year it was clear from the discussion the public needs more clarity from us on why we think the town’s intentions are mis-guided,” said Fournier, president of the activist group, North Andover Rights of Citizens. “We need to do a better job…

After steering this year’s Annual Town Meeting efficiently from start to finish in just one evening, Town Moderator Charlie Salisbury stunned Town Meeting stalwarts when he announced he will not run for re-election in March 2012. Just before midnight last night Salisbury asked for a moment of personal priviledge before calling for adjournment. “After 21 years it is time for a change; therefore I will not be a candidate for Town Moderator in March 2012,” Salisbury said, as the crowd jumped up in a standing ovation. When the crowd settled after several minutes of clapping, Salisbury continued…

North Andover will not have an additional tax on meals. At Town Meeting Tuesday night, residents voted 171-164 against Article 16, which proposed a 0.75 percent tax on meals in town. Revenue from the tax was projected to be more than $241,000 for the remainder of this year and more than $413,000 each year afterward. But opponents have said that it would produce a burden on local businesses. Resident Rebecca Abbott introduced the article, saying that the revenue would protect services and that the 139 other communities in the state that have adopted the meals tax have not seen a change in …

It's Town Meeting time and residents are gathering at North Andover Middle School to cast their votes on several important issues. There seem to be a lot of people at the school. There are 40 articles on the warrant. Check back here for updates throughout the evening. ---- 7:05 p.m. Town Meeting is started. Father Waters read a prayer, the moderator is introducing the selectmen, School Committe and Finance Committee. " We are late by four weeks," he said. "But baseball season has gotten better." 7:45 p.m. Residents zipped through the first 12 articles, approving every one. Local officials' …

After months of preparation, Town Meeting has finally arrived. "A lot of people don't understand the thousands of hours we go through to prepare," Town Clerk Joyce Bradshaw said before Monday night's Board of Selectmen meeting. "We've been preparing since January." This year, there are 40 articles on the warrant, which can be viewed in its entirety on the town Web site. Perhaps the most controversial article is a proposal for a local meals tax. Proponents say it will provide the town with needed revenues to maintain services and save jobs. Opponents argue that it will place a burden on local …

For the fourth year in a row, North Andover selectmen, School Committee and Finance Committee are in agreement on the town's budget proposal. "And I say kudos to those involved in the process, four years in a row reaching consensus budget," Selectman Tracy Watson said Monday night at the Board of Selectmen meeting. The Selectmen and Finance Committee are recommending $79,043,441 for the general fund if the proposed meals tax is approved at Town Meeting. If the meals tax is not approved, the recommended budget is $79,027, 937. The School Committee met on June 2 and approved the budget, which …

At Town Meeting tonight, residents will be able to determine how much money their elected officials make. Article 6 deals with compensation of elected officials, which must be voted on each year, and selectmen are supporting this article, which keeps the current pay rates. These salaries will include: Board of Selectmen/Licensing Commissioners -- $5,000 a year. Chairman of Board of Selectmen -- an additional $500 a year. School Committee -- $5,000 a year. School Committee Chairman -- an additional $500 a year. Moderator -- $500 for Town Meeting, $250 for each Special Town Meeting. Five years …

North Andover residents will decide at Town Meeting whether to continue allowing seniors to volunteer their services for property tax breaks. Under state law, any town may form a program that will permit persons 60 years of age and older to volunteer their services to the town in exchange for the town reducing his or her tax bill. Local procedures are decided by the town, but there are a few rules. The reduction of the real property tax bill shall not exceed $1,000 within the tax year. Also, the town must maintain a record of each taxpayer, which would include the total amount by which the …

Bob Ercolini is a man on a mission to preserve real estate property values in North Andover. Tuesday on the floor of Town Meeting, the former town selectmen will propose a $12 million property tax increase through an operational override to Proposition 2 ½. Should Town Meeting vote with him, the override provision would then have to be accepted by the general electorate at the ballot box in November. But Ercolini, who lives on Bridle Path, doesn’t really expect his tax hike initiative to pass Town Meeting scrutiny. Instead he said through a debate on his initiative, which appears as Article …

On Tuesday, voters will decide if establishing a new reserve fund for the town of North Andover is necessary. Article 19: “Establishment of Special Stabilization Fund-Reserve for Future Payroll,” seeks to create this stabilization fund for the town to “pay expenses related to fiscal years when additional payroll money must be budgeted.” North Andover resident Jaclyn Park agrees with the selectmen about establishing the new fund. “There is a lot to consider when creating this special fund; however I think that the pros outweigh the cons," Park said. "The fund would help us economically, and …

At Town Meeting Tuesday, residents will vote on whether or not to seek exemption from a prevailing wage law for more expensive projects. Article 31 proposes to petition the Legislature for an exemption to portions of the Prevailing Wage Law, which requires that public project workers not be paid less than the Massachusetts average rate. Projects under $2,000 are exempt from the that law, and Article 31 seeks to make it so that projects under $50,000 are exempt. Public projects include improving structures in the town, such as roads, buildings, ditches and sewage, and selectmen believe that a …

When Town Meeting convenes Tuesday evening at the North Andover Middle School, it will seem like deja vu all over again when Article 32 is introduced. Under Article 32, the Board of Selectmen will ask Town Meeting to request special permission from the state Legislature to award Town Meeting the authority to approve the funding of any contracts with its school unions before they go into effect. When it comes to ratification of school-related “collective bargaining agreements,” that is employment contracts which involve North Andover’s unionized school employees from its teachers and …

On June 7, North Andover will hold its annual town meeting at North Andover Middle School, and residents will vote on many proposals including Article 36, a dog vaccination requirement. Within this article, town meeting participants will vote to make changes to the Chapter 88-Dogs of the General Bylaws. The proposed new section will require that people who keep or own any dog within North Andover will have to have their dog vaccinated for rabies by the Health Agent of the Town of North Andover or the Animal Control Officer. Mother and resident Deborah Foster says that she will be attending …