Priority Issues Facing Hanover
MY VIEW OF THE CURRENT SITUATION
Over the past several years, much of the focus has been on finances, budgets, and the 2025 override. That override vote was a critical first step as it helped stabilize service levels and provided breathing room to strengthen the Town’s long-term financial strategy. But the work is not done. Hanover still faces difficult choices as we balance service levels, affordability, and sustainability … particularly as we work toward fully funding our pension obligations by FY31.
At the same time, building a strong community requires more than sound budgeting. It also requires a focus on people, quality of life, and long-term stewardship of the Town’s resources. Beyond the annual operating budget, Hanover faces several key priorities that demand attention. These are the groupings of issues I will focus on and the type of actions I will champion as a Select Board member:
BRINGING HANOVER TOGETHER:
While not a policy issue, this is a leadership tone I would like to setas a Select Board member. After several years of difficult budget decisions and override debates, our community has experienced growing division and partisanship even in roles meant to be non-partisan, like the Select Board. As we approach Hanover’s 300-year anniversary, we have an opportunity to reset the tone. I am committed to fostering respectful dialogue, rebuilding trust, and focusing on what unites us as a community. Our town has many challenges to address, and we need to minimize external distractions from the task at hand.
BIG PICTURE PRIORITY AREAS:
Core Infrastructure and Financial Planning
Quality of Life
Operations Excellence
DEDICATION TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT:
Team Hanover must always strive to improve. While many (most) initiatives and projects are a success, some are not. Town staff as well as elected and appointed officials must critically evaluate completed projects to ensure taxpayer dollars were spent wisely, identify what worked well and should become best practice, and address what did not … all in a transparent manner. This is a first step towards Operational Excellence.
MANAGEMENT OF LONGTERM LIABILITIES:
Finally, we must responsibly manage our long-term liabilities which includes a mix of existing debt, Plymouth County Retirement payments, and OPEB obligations. This approach will require financial discipline, long-term planning, and maintaining a strong bond rating with agencies such as Moody's Investors Service. And it will require a firm commitment not to push these multi-million-dollar costs onto the next generation.
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The Water Enterprise must address PFAS challenges, upgrading Hanover’s three treatment plants, and continuing investment in aging water main replacements while also developing a long-term water supply strategy that supports residents, businesses, and responsible growth.
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Maintaining and modernizing schools, municipal buildings, and other town infrastructure through disciplined long-term planning is outlined in the Town’s new 10-year Capital Investment Plan. This requires a careful balance between usage of debt, free cash, retained earnings, and stabilization funds. It will also require forward-looking thinking to capture timing, costs, and property tax impacts of major construction projects.
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With limited “New Growth” available under Proposition 2½ constraints, Select Board advocacy for smart growth concepts, including support of local business growth, is essential. At the same time, we must actively manage key revenue sources such as meals tax, motor vehicle excise, investment income, and fees to offset the expense side of budgeting.
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I believe Hanover must better align resources to meet the needs of its growing senior population. The findings from the Needs Assessment looking at Aging in Hanover, conducted by the Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston, highlights several key issues including supporting aging in place initiatives, expanding housing options for seniors, enhancing social engagement programming, and addressing health impacts caused by issues such as isolation and loneliness.
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Advancing the fireworks site cleanup in coordination with state and federal partners is critical to Hanover’s environmental footprint. Equally important is protecting and maintaining the existing network of open spaces and trail systems. In order to further build on a long-standing commitment to the environment, the town needs to better leverage our Green Community status to secure annual grants, expand solar opportunities, reduce energy costs, and lower our long-term carbon footprint. This needs to be done over time with realistic, affordable and measurable goals.
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Building a modern, secure, and efficient technology framework is essential. This includes strengthening cybersecurity, updating policies (including the use of AI), clarifying leasing versus purchasing decisions, and actively managing hardware lifecycles. Artificial Intelligence platforms may present an opportunity to improve efficiency and enhance how the Town interacts with residents and businesses. To jump-start this initiative, I support relaunching the Technology Committee with a clear, updated mandate.