Town spending plan: Pay-and-display parking pulls in again
Downtown Andover could see more pay and dispay parking units. Andover selectmen will be asked this year to replace parking meters behind Old Town Hall with pay-and-display parking units, and to move the existing meters to the library parking lot, at a cost of $60,000.
Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski released his Capital Improvement Program this week, and the meter proposal and rest of the report is available at www.andoverma.gov in the "what's new" box. Stapczynski recommends $7,655,207 in new vehicles, maintenance, repairs and upgrades to town buildings, property and infrastructure. It's the lowest CIP number he's ever recommended, a reflection of the economic times, he says.
A public hearing on the CIP will be Nov. 16 in the second-floor meeting room of Town Offices, 36 Bartlet St., and selectmen will vote on the plan Monday, Dec. 21. Printed copies are available at Town Offices and Memorial Hall Library.
- Bethany Bray
For two new places, tastes are on the way
There were no food samples from two new downtown restaurants at the recent Taste of the Andovers event, but residents received a hint of what they will offer anyway.
Staff from the just-opened LaRossa's, located on Barnard Street where Mawby's used to be, joined Yella's, the new Lebanese restaurant about to open on Post Office Avenue, and gave out menus to whet the appetite for what they offer.
Nancy Hargreaves-Pierce of Enterprise Bank, who chaired the Andover Chamber of Commerce event, said "any new restaurant business (in Andover) is always welcome."
- Judy Wakefield
Meeting warrant open
Have something the town should consider? The warrant for 2010 annual Town Meeting opened on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Residents can submit warrant articles to the town clerk's office until it closes on Friday, Jan. 29.
Town Meeting is planned for April 28 and 29, and May 3 and 4, if needed.
- Bethany Bray
Late start
Selectmen and School Committee members met in executive session, along with the town manager, superintendent and director of human resources to discuss collective bargaining before the Nov. 2 selectmens meeting. A few minutes after the posted start time of 7:30 p.m., Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski poked his head out of the closed-door session and said we need just five more minutes, but held up ten fingers, tounge-in-cheek.SClBThe selectmens meeting finally got underway at 7:50 p.m.
- Bethany Bray
