Andover will hold a special election Aug. 10 at the Andover Town Hall from 2-6 p.m. to fill a vacancy on the Board of Selectmen.

Selectman Justin Thacker did not run for reelection this year for his three-year term, but no one took out nomination papers for the June 9 election, according to Selectman Brian Mills. Mills said Thacker received several write-in votes, but declined to serve.

As of the deadline, July 15, only Mark Thurston, a former selectman, has taken out papers for the special election, said Mills.

Finding people to serve on town boards has been an ongoing problem for a while, Mills added.

“It has been several years since we had multiple candidates,” Mills said. The school committee had two vacancies, he said, and two write-ins took the seats. 

Asked what he thinks is the cause of the lack of interest, Mills said, “I really feel because the (select) board requires so much time to be effective, people don’t want to give the time for $73 a week. We are doing a town manager’s job for very little money.”

Andover has had discussions and votes over the years about adopting a town manager form of government, but has turned it down each time, most recently last year out of concern for the cost, according to Mills.

“I believe this is the third time I have been involved with the process,” he said. “I don’t think the average resident realizes what is required to run a town. They are concerned about taxes, which is valid. What they don’t realize is we cost ourselves thousands of dollars in mistakes, missed grant money, oversight and accountability, and most important, consistency on running the town.”

Mills has been a selectman many times, “five or six,” he said. His current term is up next year, and he said he would like to be done on the board.

The term of fellow Selectman Fred Detheridge is up in 2028.

Fortunately, boards with only two selectmen instead of three have been able to function, Mills said.

“I have been on the board the last few years, I believe three or four times, with a board of two,” said Mills. “If the two members don’t agree on motions made then no action is taken. We’ve been lucky that those boards worked well together and actually have taken action on some necessary needs for the town.

“I have seen a lot of changes over the years, most for the better, some not so good,” he added. “Like a lot of towns in Maine, Andover has struggled to keep citizens involved in the running of their town. For me, I realized early on that you have to be involved if you want to be a part of creating Andover’s future.”

Alison Aloisio is a freelance writer.