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Select Board — April 11, 2026

The meeting functioned primarily as a series of informative committee reports and administrative updates with low-level community engagement.

Date Saturday, April 11, 2026 Public comments 1 Decisions 1 Routine

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Summary AI-generated to surface controversy & community impact without bias — always verify against the actual meeting before relying on it.

Transparency Concern: Andover Select Board Meeting (April 11, 2026)

While the April 11 Select Board meeting was framed as a general discussion on improving communication, the meeting functioned as a substantive reporting session for several major committees on topics that were not specifically detailed on the public agenda.

Specifically, the Planning Board discussed updates to the land use ordinance and proposed new fee schedules. These changes carry significant implications for property owners and developers, as they can lead to increased costs for permits and regulatory compliance. Furthermore, the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Committee reported on major funding challenges regarding the Cilleyville Bog Bridge—a project that will require significant taxpayer funds to address.

When high-impact decisions involving land use laws and large-scale infrastructure spending are not explicitly listed on the agenda, residents are denied the opportunity to prepare questions or attend specifically to voice their concerns. We are calling for more specific agendas to ensure the community can engage meaningfully with the decisions that shape Andover’s future.

Apr 11, 2026 1 public comments 1 decisions Routine
Notable statements Drag to browse

“The [CIP] committee's philosophy has generally been to identify possible funding approaches and timelines for capital projects rather than recommend whether particular projects should or should not proceed.”

— Doug Phelps · Explaining the scope of the CIP committee's reporting.

“The goal is to have a draft Master Plan update ready for public hearing later in 2026.”

— Donna Duclos · Discussing Planning Board major goals.

“Suggested having committees appear before the Select Board on a rotating quarterly basis for short updates.”

— Charlie Stewart · Improving regular communication between the board and committees.

“The Select Board is also revising the code of conduct that will likely be distributed to committee members.”

— Les Fenton · Addressing governance and committee appointments.
This meeting — choose a section

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
What was discussed

Potential increase in costs for land use permits and regulatory compliance.

What was discussed

Significant capital expenditure required for infrastructure repair/replacement.

Topics ⁠discussed

Each topic expands to quotes and full context.
Speakers: Dana Swenson
What was discussed

The Chair outlined the goal of the meeting to improve communication between the Select Board and various town committees and announced an upcoming strategic planning session.

Speakers: Cheri Swenson
What was discussed

The committee discussed membership, mowing contracts, planned 2026 activities, natural burial feasibility, and cemetery trust funds.

Speakers: Doug Phelps
What was discussed

The committee reported on the completion of its report and discussed funding challenges for the Cilleyville Bog Bridge and the relationship between CIP and the Master Plan.

Speakers: Doug Phelps
What was discussed

Discussion focused on the increasing costs of fireworks relative to town appropriations and potential fundraising methods for the 2026 celebration.

Speakers: Doug Phelps
What was discussed

Updates were provided on the coach barn, the Potter Place Festival, and the acquisition of the All Souls Union Church property.

Speakers: Donna Duclos
What was discussed

The board discussed land use ordinance updates, the Master Plan timeline, proposed land use fee schedules, and the need for a formal building inspector.

Speakers: Miranda Dwalga
What was discussed

Reported on trail work, the Natural Resource Inventory, beach sand replenishment at Highland Lake, and boundary issues regarding town-owned property.

Speakers: Donna Duclos
What was discussed

The committee discussed ex officio representation, potential vacancies, and the possibility of meeting quarterly to review financial status.

Speakers: Roland Carter, Charlie Stewart, Les Fenton
What was discussed

Residents and board members discussed methods for improving town-wide communication and suggested rotating committee updates to the Select Board.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

Land Use Ordinance and Fee Updates

The Planning Board is discussing land use ordinance updates and proposing new land use fee schedules. Changes to land use laws and fee structures typically face opposition from property owners and developers due to increased costs and regulatory changes.
Board position: The board is moving forward with updating the Master Plan and investigating revenue potential from updated fees.
medium concern
02

Cilleyville Bog Bridge Funding

The CIP Committee reported on significant funding challenges for the Cilleyville Bog Bridge, implying a need for future budget allocations or alternative funding methods for critical infrastructure.
Board position: The committee is focused on identifying funding approaches and timelines rather than making a definitive 'yes/no' recommendation.
medium concern

Community vs. board tension

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
1
Total speakers
1
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Roland Carter
Addressed
Roland inquired about current efforts to improve town communication regarding meetings, projects, and community activities. He expressed concern over how residents receive information. Key concern
Improvement of town-to-resident communication channels.
Board response
The board discussed various solutions including updating the town website, utilizing 'The Andover Hub,' implementing an opt-in email notification system, and holding periodic town hall sessions.
The board engaged in a substantive discussion regarding several practical methods to improve communication as requested.

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Cemetery Committee policy on plantings
The committee has decided to no longer allow the planting of bushes or trees within cemeteries due to maintenance and encroachment issues.
Decided

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Off-agenda high-significance topics
Transparency Alert: At the 4/11 Select Board meeting, major updates on land use fee increases and the Cilleyville Bog Bridge funding were discussed despite not being explicitly listed on the agenda. Residents should have had... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/andover/select-board/2026-04-11/ #MeetingWatch #AndoverNH
313/280 chars
Direct impact on residents (fees/regulations)
The Planning Board is moving forward with updates to land use ordinance and fee schedules. These changes could increase costs for property owners and developers in Andover. Stay informed on how these fees will impact your... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/andover/select-board/2026-04-11/ #MeetingWatch #AndoverNH
310/280 chars
Fiscal impact/infrastructure
Infrastructure Update: The CIP Committee reports significant funding challenges for the Cilleyville Bog Bridge. This will likely require future budget allocations or new funding methods from Andover taxpayers. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/andover/select-board/2026-04-11/ #MeetingWatch #AndoverNH
295/280 chars

X thread

1
At the April 11 Select Board meeting, several high-impact topics were discussed that were not clearly outlined on the public agenda. This lack of specific notice prevents residents from preparing informed comments. 🧵 #MeetingWatch #AndoverNH
241/280
2
The meeting included detailed reports on land use ordinance updates and new fee schedules from the Planning Board. Changes to land use laws and permit costs directly affect property owners and developers.
204/280
3
Additionally, the CIP Committee raised significant funding challenges regarding the Cilleyville Bog Bridge. This infrastructure issue will require major capital expenditure and will impact all Andover taxpayers.
211/280
4
When major financial and regulatory shifts are discussed under vague agenda headings, transparency suffers. We need clear agendas so residents can show up and participate in decisions that affect their wallets and our town. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/andover/select-board/2026-04-11/
247/280

Facebook — long form

Transparency Concern: Andover Select Board Meeting (April 11, 2026)

While the April 11 Select Board meeting was framed as a general discussion on improving communication, the meeting functioned as a substantive reporting session for several major committees on topics that were not specifically detailed on the public agenda. 

Specifically, the Planning Board discussed updates to the land use ordinance and proposed new fee schedules. These changes carry significant implications for property owners and developers, as they can lead to increased costs for permits and regulatory compliance. Furthermore, the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Committee reported on major funding challenges regarding the Cilleyville Bog Bridge—a project that will require significant taxpayer funds to address.

When high-impact decisions involving land use laws and large-scale infrastructure spending are not explicitly listed on the agenda, residents are denied the opportunity to prepare questions or attend specifically to voice their concerns. We are calling for more specific agendas to ensure the community can engage meaningfully with the decisions that shape Andover’s future. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/andover/select-board/2026-04-11/ #MeetingWatch #AndoverNH

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Conduct a strategic planning session.
Assigned: Select Board · Due: 2026-05-15
Hold a public panel discussion on natural/green burials.
Assigned: Cemetery Committee · Due: 2026-05-06
Place veterans' flags.
Assigned: Cemetery Committee · Due: 2026-05-16
Hold a ribbon cutting for the coach barn during the Potter Place Festival.
Assigned: Historical Society · Due: 2026-06-last Saturday
Have a draft Master Plan update ready for public hearing.
Assigned: Planning Board · Due: Fall/Early Winter 2026
Assemble permit data to estimate revenue from updated land use fees.
Assigned: Planning Board / Staff
Second trail work day on the McDonough Trail.
Assigned: Conservation Commission · Due: 2026-05-02

Member ⁠positions

2 issues · 0 explicit · 0 inferred
Dana Swenson
Chair
Present
Meeting Purpose and Strategic Planning
Outlined goal to improve communication and announced strategic planning.
Roland Carter
Vice Chair
Present
Town Communication and Governance
Expressed concern regarding how residents receive town information.
Present
Town Communication and Governance
Suggested committees provide short quarterly updates to the Select Board.
Present
Town Communication and Governance
Noted the board is revising the committee code of conduct.

Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”

Accountability ⁠flags

Documented procedural gaps. Each item links to its source.

Agenda items not discussed

Topics discussed — not on agenda

Transcript vs. official minutes

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Report composed by grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-01.