Dear fellow Hanoverians:<\/p>\n
A reader, and occasional contributor to this newsletter, wrote earlier this
\nweek asking about the “Town Meeting summary” email that has long been
\npublished on “Around Town on the Web” after Town Meeting was over. ATOTW’s
\neditor had a busy week, and thought that no one would notice if the summary
\ndidn’t go out. :) But, as always, it is my firm belief that if one person
\nis asking, 10 others are wondering. Hence the following, and in a first
\nfor ATOTW, thanks to AI!<\/p>\n
2026 Annual Town Meeting Night One Summary<\/p>\n
Hanover
\nMonday, May 4, 2026
\nHanover High School<\/p>\n
A quorum having been declared, the 2026 Annual Town Meeting was called to
\norder at 7:31 p.m. by Town Moderator Douglas Thomson.<\/p>\n
Actions Taken<\/p>\n
Articles 1\u20136 \u2013 Administrative Matters
\nTown Meeting accepted the FY2025 Annual Report; accepted reports of
\ncommittees and state officials; authorized the Treasurer to accept trust
\nfunds for FY2027; assumed liability for state DEP work; and set FY2027
\ncompensation for elected officials, including the Moderator ($100 per
\nmeeting) and Town Clerk ($87,821).<\/p>\n
Article 7 \u2013 Meals Tax Revenue Allocation
\nApproved allocation of FY2027 meals tax receipts for school repairs, DPW
\nequipment, property revaluation, fire grant matching funds, stabilization,
\nand OPEB funding.<\/p>\n
Article 8 \u2013 Community Preservation Revenues
\nApproved FY2027 Community Preservation Fund allocations for open space,
\nhistoric preservation, community housing, administrative expenses,
\nreserves, and debt obligations.<\/p>\n
Article 9 \u2013 FY2027 General Fund Operating Budget
\nApproved an FY2027 operating budget of $81,158,721.<\/p>\n
Article 10 \u2013 Water Enterprise Budget
\nApproved a Water Enterprise budget of $5,406,824, plus retained earnings
\nand indirect costs.<\/p>\n
Article 11 \u2013 Transfer Station Enterprise Budget
\nApproved a Transfer Station Enterprise budget of $1,104,088, plus indirect
\ncosts.<\/p>\n
Article 12 \u2013 Chapter 90 Funds
\nAuthorized acceptance of state Chapter 90 highway grant funds.<\/p>\n
Article 13 \u2013 PEG Access Fund
\nApproved $350,000 for public, educational, and government cable access
\nservices.<\/p>\n
Article 14 \u2013 Revolving Funds
\nEstablished FY2027 revolving fund expenditure limits.<\/p>\n
Articles 15\u201318 \u2013 Capital and Operational Needs
\nApproved funding for:
\n\u2022\tWinterfest, Hanover Day, and Hanover 300 events ($75,000)
\n\u2022\tBudget\/accounting software ($38,000)
\n\u2022\tTown Clerk address printer ($20,000)
\n\u2022\tPer diem building inspectors ($100,000) <\/p>\n
Article 19 \u2013 Organic Fertilizers and Herbicides at School Properties
\nFollowing a counted vote on a motion not to approve the article, Town
\nMeeting voted instead to refer the article to a seven-member study
\ncommittee appointed by the Select Board, with recommendations to be brought
\nback at a future Town Meeting.<\/p>\n
Articles 20\u201323 \u2013 Public Safety and Facilities
\nApproved funding for:
\n\u2022\tPolice vehicles ($240,000)
\n\u2022\tPolice firearms ($60,000)
\n\u2022\tCouncil on Aging grease trap upgrades ($40,000)
\n\u2022\tHistoric document display cases ($10,000) <\/p>\n
Article 24 \u2013 PFAS Water Treatment Project
\nApproved borrowing of $32,000,000 for upgrades to water treatment
\nfacilities and SCADA systems to meet PFAS drinking water standards.<\/p>\n
Article 25 \u2013 Opioid Settlement Funds
\nApproved transfer of $271,615.24 into the opioid settlement special revenue
\naccount.<\/p>\n
Articles 26\u201335 \u2013 Library, DPW, and Fire\/EMS Capital Items
\nApproved funding for:
\n\u2022\tLibrary HVAC upgrades ($40,000)
\n\u2022\tDPW garage security improvements ($20,000)
\n\u2022\tDPW vehicle replacements and equipment
\n\u2022\tFire\/EMS support vehicle, chest compression system, and infusion pumps
\n\u2022\tAutonomous mower, replacement mower, and utility vehicle for DPW <\/p>\n
Article 36 \u2013 DPW Dump Truck
\nApproved borrowing of $250,000 for a new DPW large dump truck.<\/p>\n
Article 37 \u2013 B. Everett Hall Field
\nApproved up to $496,027 in Community Preservation funds for redesign and
\nconstruction-phase design services for B. Everett Hall Field.<\/p>\n
Adjournment
\nThe meeting adjourned at 11:11 p.m. to a second session scheduled for May
\n5, 2026.<\/p>\n
2026 Annual Town Meeting Summary \u2013 Session Two<\/p>\n
Hanover
\nTuesday, May 5, 2026
\nHanover High School<\/p>\n
A quorum having been declared, the second session of the 2026 Annual Town
\nMeeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Town Moderator Douglas Thomson.<\/p>\n
Actions Taken<\/p>\n
Article 38 \u2013 Davis Street Land Disposition
\nTown Meeting authorized the Select Board to dispose of the parcel of
\nTown-owned land located on Davis Street (Assessors Map 16, Lot 27) on terms
\ndetermined to be in the Town\u2019s best interest.<\/p>\n
Article 39 \u2013 South Shore Regional Vocational Agreement
\nTown Meeting approved amendments to the South Shore Regional Vocational
\nSchool District district agreement.<\/p>\n
Article 40 \u2013 Changing Tables in Public Establishments
\nTown Meeting voted not to adopt the proposed bylaw requiring
\ndiaper-changing stations in certain public restrooms.<\/p>\n
Article 41 \u2013 Plastic Bag Reduction Bylaw
\nTown Meeting adopted a new bylaw requiring retail establishments to provide
\neither recyclable paper bags or reusable checkout bags in place of
\nsingle-use plastic checkout bags.<\/p>\n
Article 42 \u2013 Solicitation Bylaw Amendments
\nTown Meeting approved amendments to the Town\u2019s solicitation bylaw,
\nincluding creation of a \u201cNo Solicitation List,\u201d updated licensing
\nauthority under the Police Chief, revised enforcement provisions, and an
\nexemption for nonprofit fundraising and canvassing activities.<\/p>\n
Article 43 \u2013 Hanover Crossing Liquor License Extension
\nTown Meeting approved a Home Rule Petition extending the issuance deadline
\nfor certain on-premise alcoholic beverage licenses at Hanover Crossing from
\nAugust 20, 2026 to August 20, 2029.<\/p>\n
Article 44 \u2013 Recall of Elected Officials
\nTown Meeting voted not to adopt the proposed bylaw establishing a recall
\nprocess for elected officials.<\/p>\n
Article 45 \u2013 Appointing Authority for Committees
\nTown Meeting voted not to adopt the proposed bylaw transferring committee
\nand Advisory Committee appointment authority from the Moderator to the
\nSelect Board.<\/p>\n
Article 46 \u2013 Plymouth County Government Petition
\nA motion to refer the article to a study committee was defeated following a
\ncounted vote. A subsequent motion to pass over the article was approved,
\nand the article was passed over without action.<\/p>\n
Adjournment
\nThe 2026 Annual Town Meeting was dissolved at 9:19 p.m. Town residents were
\nreminded of the upcoming Annual Town Election on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at
\nHanover High School.<\/p>\n
As always with AI, it can be known to hallucinate. If you notice any
\nerrors, please let me know by an email to cathyhb@atotw.com .<\/p>\n
For “Around Town on the Web”,
\nCathy H-B<\/p>\n
—
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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 … Continue reading