Dear fellow Hanoverians:
A reader, and occasional contributor to this newsletter, wrote earlier this
week asking about the “Town Meeting summary” email that has long been
published on “Around Town on the Web” after Town Meeting was over. ATOTW’s
editor had a busy week, and thought that no one would notice if the summary
didn’t go out. :) But, as always, it is my firm belief that if one person
is asking, 10 others are wondering. Hence the following, and in a first
for ATOTW, thanks to AI!
2026 Annual Town Meeting Night One Summary
Hanover
Monday, May 4, 2026
Hanover High School
A quorum having been declared, the 2026 Annual Town Meeting was called to
order at 7:31 p.m. by Town Moderator Douglas Thomson.
Actions Taken
Articles 1–6 – Administrative Matters
Town Meeting accepted the FY2025 Annual Report; accepted reports of
committees and state officials; authorized the Treasurer to accept trust
funds for FY2027; assumed liability for state DEP work; and set FY2027
compensation for elected officials, including the Moderator ($100 per
meeting) and Town Clerk ($87,821).
Article 7 – Meals Tax Revenue Allocation
Approved allocation of FY2027 meals tax receipts for school repairs, DPW
equipment, property revaluation, fire grant matching funds, stabilization,
and OPEB funding.
Article 8 – Community Preservation Revenues
Approved FY2027 Community Preservation Fund allocations for open space,
historic preservation, community housing, administrative expenses,
reserves, and debt obligations.
Article 9 – FY2027 General Fund Operating Budget
Approved an FY2027 operating budget of $81,158,721.
Article 10 – Water Enterprise Budget
Approved a Water Enterprise budget of $5,406,824, plus retained earnings
and indirect costs.
Article 11 – Transfer Station Enterprise Budget
Approved a Transfer Station Enterprise budget of $1,104,088, plus indirect
costs.
Article 12 – Chapter 90 Funds
Authorized acceptance of state Chapter 90 highway grant funds.
Article 13 – PEG Access Fund
Approved $350,000 for public, educational, and government cable access
services.
Article 14 – Revolving Funds
Established FY2027 revolving fund expenditure limits.
Articles 15–18 – Capital and Operational Needs
Approved funding for:
• Winterfest, Hanover Day, and Hanover 300 events ($75,000)
• Budget/accounting software ($38,000)
• Town Clerk address printer ($20,000)
• Per diem building inspectors ($100,000)
Article 19 – Organic Fertilizers and Herbicides at School Properties
Following a counted vote on a motion not to approve the article, Town
Meeting voted instead to refer the article to a seven-member study
committee appointed by the Select Board, with recommendations to be brought
back at a future Town Meeting.
Articles 20–23 – Public Safety and Facilities
Approved funding for:
• Police vehicles ($240,000)
• Police firearms ($60,000)
• Council on Aging grease trap upgrades ($40,000)
• Historic document display cases ($10,000)
Article 24 – PFAS Water Treatment Project
Approved borrowing of $32,000,000 for upgrades to water treatment
facilities and SCADA systems to meet PFAS drinking water standards.
Article 25 – Opioid Settlement Funds
Approved transfer of $271,615.24 into the opioid settlement special revenue
account.
Articles 26–35 – Library, DPW, and Fire/EMS Capital Items
Approved funding for:
• Library HVAC upgrades ($40,000)
• DPW garage security improvements ($20,000)
• DPW vehicle replacements and equipment
• Fire/EMS support vehicle, chest compression system, and infusion pumps
• Autonomous mower, replacement mower, and utility vehicle for DPW
Article 36 – DPW Dump Truck
Approved borrowing of $250,000 for a new DPW large dump truck.
Article 37 – B. Everett Hall Field
Approved up to $496,027 in Community Preservation funds for redesign and
construction-phase design services for B. Everett Hall Field.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:11 p.m. to a second session scheduled for May
5, 2026.
2026 Annual Town Meeting Summary – Session Two
Hanover
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Hanover High School
A quorum having been declared, the second session of the 2026 Annual Town
Meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Town Moderator Douglas Thomson.
Actions Taken
Article 38 – Davis Street Land Disposition
Town Meeting authorized the Select Board to dispose of the parcel of
Town-owned land located on Davis Street (Assessors Map 16, Lot 27) on terms
determined to be in the Town’s best interest.
Article 39 – South Shore Regional Vocational Agreement
Town Meeting approved amendments to the South Shore Regional Vocational
School District district agreement.
Article 40 – Changing Tables in Public Establishments
Town Meeting voted not to adopt the proposed bylaw requiring
diaper-changing stations in certain public restrooms.
Article 41 – Plastic Bag Reduction Bylaw
Town Meeting adopted a new bylaw requiring retail establishments to provide
either recyclable paper bags or reusable checkout bags in place of
single-use plastic checkout bags.
Article 42 – Solicitation Bylaw Amendments
Town Meeting approved amendments to the Town’s solicitation bylaw,
including creation of a “No Solicitation List,” updated licensing
authority under the Police Chief, revised enforcement provisions, and an
exemption for nonprofit fundraising and canvassing activities.
Article 43 – Hanover Crossing Liquor License Extension
Town Meeting approved a Home Rule Petition extending the issuance deadline
for certain on-premise alcoholic beverage licenses at Hanover Crossing from
August 20, 2026 to August 20, 2029.
Article 44 – Recall of Elected Officials
Town Meeting voted not to adopt the proposed bylaw establishing a recall
process for elected officials.
Article 45 – Appointing Authority for Committees
Town Meeting voted not to adopt the proposed bylaw transferring committee
and Advisory Committee appointment authority from the Moderator to the
Select Board.
Article 46 – Plymouth County Government Petition
A motion to refer the article to a study committee was defeated following a
counted vote. A subsequent motion to pass over the article was approved,
and the article was passed over without action.
Adjournment
The 2026 Annual Town Meeting was dissolved at 9:19 p.m. Town residents were
reminded of the upcoming Annual Town Election on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at
Hanover High School.
As always with AI, it can be known to hallucinate. If you notice any
errors, please let me know by an email to cathyhb@atotw.com .
For “Around Town on the Web”,
Cathy H-B
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