ANDOVER — Like they did last year, town meeting voters on Saturday OK’d raising $68,000 to pay SAD 44 to keep Andover Elementary School open for 2013-14.

They also authorized selectmen and the treasurer to borrow $320,000 to reconstruct and pave a one-mile stretch of Farmers Hill Road, but balked at raising $100,000 to buy a used ladder truck to replace the 1975 ladder truck.

Voters amended several articles and pared requests of 3 percent raises for municipal employees to 2 percent, exempting fire department officers from raises, per fire Chief Rob Dixon.

Article 12 sought to raise $100,000 through taxation to pay SAD 44 to keep the school open, but several residents said they couldn’t afford higher taxes.

SAD 44’s school board voted to close the Andover school in April 2011, but voters fearing the town would suffer hardships without a school, raised $214,000 in June 2011 and paid the district to keep their school open.

Last year, voters proactively leveraged $68,000 to SAD 44 to cover the building’s utilities and pay the school principal, and the district kept the school open. That allowed the town to begin the process to leave the district.

Resident and Appeals Board alternate Scott Owings said he didn’t like how the article was worded.

“I know there’s a lot of emotion around this particular issue; it’s the big issue of the year,” Owings said. “My situation is, I can’t afford my taxes to go up any more and I don’t think I’m alone in that.”

He didn’t want to raise any money due to uncertainties with the school district, school board and school building. Still, Owings said he had no desire to see the school closed.

“Whether we raise $100,000 or $68,000, I cannot afford my taxes to go up any more,” he said.

Several residents showed their support with applause.

The article was amended to raise $68,000. Former SAD 44 school board member Sid Pew of Andover said there was a chance the school board would reject the payment and vote to close the school.

Pew said the school board isn’t “overly enthused about keeping the school open.”

He asked voters to instead raise the recommended $100,000 to better the odds.

“If you want to keep the school open, then going this route is probably the cheapest way to go,” Board of Selectmen Chairman Keith Farrington said.

Voters approved the $68,000 amendment, and then the article.

But they weren’t keen on adding $38,964 a year for 10 years for debt service on the Farmers Hill Road reconstruction. The town is paying $60,729 a year for seven more years on a previous loan.

However, several admitted that Andover is obligated to take care of its roads and opted to reconstruct the road.

On the ladder truck article, the initial motion was for $120,000 to buy a 1995 ladder truck. But that was amended to $100,000 when Chief Dixon said that was the sale price from a Pennsylvania fire company.

“This is an opportunity — that’s all it is — to buy something that is in the best interest for the town,” Dixon said. “We need to have aerial protection in this town.”

Others, however, said Andover didn’t need a ladder truck, had too much equipment and needed a tanker more than a ladder truck. Dixon said he’s trying to replace the tanker via a grant and is awaiting that outcome.

Dixon agreed that the department’s real need is for a tanker, because the 1975 ladder truck is certified and operational. He just doesn’t expect it to last much longer.

“It’s 40 years old and when it dies, you are not going to replace it for $100,000,” Dixon said.

Voters, however, overwhelmingly rejected the article.

They also defeated an amendment to the Building Permits Regulation Ordinance that required submission of a certified, engineered plan for all structures with a clear span exceeding 24 feet.

Voters objected to the wording and interpretations of “clear span” even after Planning Board Chairman Jim Adler defined it as open space. He wanted to prevent roof cave-ins, especially on commercial buildings.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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