ANDOVER — Whether to create a new Town Manager position in Andover will be decided by voters at a Special Town Meeting on Sat. April 12 at 8 a.m.

Select Board Chair Brian Mills and Member Justin Thacker have advocated for the new position for over a year.  “The whole reason we are looking at this is because on the Board of Selectmen side of things, we are consumed,” said Mills at a committee meeting in town hall on March 11. Indeed, the committee meeting, followed by a select board meeting totaled over four hours.

At their first informational meeting in January, Mills explained that the town would maintain the Select Board to work directly with the Town Manager. However, positions such as town clerk, treasurer, tax collector, secretary, registrar of voters and road commissioner would be eliminated and those duties shared by the town manager and assistant town manager.

The committee’s job description for town manager lists the total cost at $81,800, which includes an initial one-year contract for 40 hours a week and an annual salary of $60,000 for the first year.

The total cost of the assistant town manager position is listed as $66,350, with a $45,000 annual salary for the first year and an initial one-year contract of 40 hours a week.

The total cost of the two positions is listed at $148,150, $1,150 more than the current town officials’ positions. The current town leaders’ benefits, including the road commissioner’s, are $147,000.

March 11

During a meeting on March 11 the committee discussed the warrant for the April 12 Special Town Meeting, including the order of articles and the cost of health insurance for the proposed new employees. The addition of a new town manager and assistant town manager as two full time employees may add $24,000 in health insurance cost.

They discussed that the research and possible hiring of two new positions may take up to three-years. “It is important that we speak as a committee,” said one member.

At this stage, the committee plans to include six articles related to the positions on the warrant. Mills stressed these may change following input from the next informational meeting.

Proposed articles

1. Choose a moderator

2. Eliminate the road commissioner position in 2027, transferring those duties and responsibilities to the new town manager.

3. Eliminate the position of town clerk in 2027, transferring those duties and responsibilities to the new town manager

4. Eliminate the position of Town Treasurer in 2027, transferring those duties and responsibilities to the new town manager.

5. Approve the change to a town manager form of government to take effect in 2027.

6. Determine if the town will provide retirement benefits to two full-time, 40-hour-a-week town employees.

An unrelated article will ask voters how they would like to use the BETE reimbursement.

If voters approve the plan in April, the Town will begin budgeting for the positions in June aiming for them to be filled by March 2027.

Thacker stated that he would create a graph comparing wages and health insurance costs to help townspeople better understand their options.

Hiring

Mills mentioned that outgoing Woodstock Town Manager Vern Maxfield, who spoke at their first informational meeting, warned that the hiring process may take time. Maxfield told Mills, “If you get five candidates tomorrow, I would be leery of all five of them.” However, Maxfield suggested that 3-6 months should be sufficient for a transition once the two positions are hired.

The hiring committee will consist of all three select board members and two citizens.

Regarding the next informational meeting, Mills said, “It should be one of the highest attended meetings that we’ve had. This is probably the biggest change we’ve had [in Andover]. We should welcome and expect a huge crowd.”

The Town Manager Search Committee includes Thacker, Mills, Town Clerk Melinda Averill, Secretary Dee Nadeau, Treasurer Amber Cooper, Planning Board Chair Sid Pew and citizen Donna Smith.

A second informational meeting will be March 25 at 6p.m. at Town Hall

Other business

Select Board member Thacker shared that he and Assistant Dee Nadeau had attended a General Assistance (GA) meeting. Thacker explained that there are many new rules, one of which requires Town Office to have GA representation when it is open.

Additionally, the required emergency phone numbers must include Thacker and Nadeau’s personal cell or home numbers. “I don’t know how we are going to do that,” said Thacker, referring to the new rule.