Fiscal Year 2026 Goals
Back to Board Goals and Status Updates
Last modified: March 31, 2026
Strengthen Governance Through Policy and Financial Oversight
| Goal | Status |
|---|---|
| Complete a comprehensive review and update of Select Board financial policies. | Select Board has Updated Policies 7-10, 7-11, 7-12, 7-17, and also Adopted New Policies 7-18, 7-19, 7-20. |
Assign Select Board members as liaisons to each Select Board goal to facilitate accountability and regular progress reporting. | Liaisons Assigned. Updates provided on website and quarterly during SB meetings during the fiscal year. |
Lead: Rachel Hughes
Partner: Greg Satterwhite
Secure Hanover’s Long-Term Financial Health
| Goal | Status |
|---|---|
| Develop and implement a sustainable financial plan extending through at least FY2032, including a 5–10-year capital forecast, in collaboration with the Town Manager, Advisory Committee, and School Administration, and School Committee. | Select Board Policy 7-20 represents the development portion of this goal; the implementation is part of the January budget review during Select Board meetings. Town Manager's Budget was submitted pursuant to the deadline in the Town Manager Act adhering to this policy. |
| Explore regional partnerships and operational efficiencies (e.g., shared services, grant writing, public safety, equipment). | Moving towards a shared Veterans Service Officer with Hanson. An Article has been included in the 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant for the purchase of an autonomous lawn mower. Exploring the concept of a shared Town Planner. There is a proposed rollout of the online operational budget tool ClearGov. |
| Advocate at the county and state level for flexible solutions to retirement system funding and other intergovernmental financial obligations. | Select Board met with Plymouth County Treasurer Tom O’Brien at the December 15th Select Board meeting; Select Board submitted a formal letter to Plymouth County Retirement Association (PCRA), but has not received a response. Hanover's request for PCRA to evaluate several pre-payment options (potentially made in December of 2026), that could reduce the FY28 - FY31 annual pension contributions is pending.
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Lead: Vanessa O'Connor
Partner: Rachel Hughes
Safeguard and Expand Hanover’s Water Resources
| Goal | Status |
|---|---|
| Continue collaboration on the regional MWRA water supply initiative to support long-term capacity and growth. | The Town Manager continues to work with a consortium of area towns, including meetings with State Senators and Representatives on this matter. |
| Oversee implementation of PFAS mitigation and water infrastructure projects, including coordination with engineering consultants and EPA and seek grant opportunities for long-term PFAS remediation funding. | Ongoing, including PFAS settlements with 3M. Presentation from consulting engineers provided at the November 3rd Select Board meeting. $32,000,000 debt request is on the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant for voter consideration. Town continues to look into all possible funding sources including low-interest loans from the State, litigation, and all other grants. |
| Explore feasibility of limiting synthetic pesticides and fertilizers from use in town facility operations. | Presentation prepared by DPW Director Kurt Kelley. The May 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant includes a request to fund organics for a four year pilot on selected school properties. |
Lead: Greg Satterwhite
Partner: Steve Louko
Advance Environmental Resilience and Energy Initiatives
| Goal | Status |
|---|---|
Reassess and continue to pursue the installation of solar energy systems on municipal properties, starting with the transfer station. | Substantive progress has not been made on this yet; there are numerous complications facing Hanover to further this along but there might be avenues to explore further during the remainder of this fiscal year. |
| Continue to advocate for federal support and funding to clean up and redevelop the Fireworks Site as part of the National Priorities List. | Town Manager has continued regular communication with EPA and forwarded all to Select Board. The draft Hazards Ranking System Package was completed by EPA’s consultant, TechLaw, and is now at EPA headquarters for review. |
Lead: Rhonda Nyman
Partner: Vanessa O'Connor
Enhance Community Livability, Access, and Affordability
| Goal | Status |
|---|---|
Continue work on transportation infrastructure and safety, particularly along Routes 139 and 53, in coordination with MassDOT. | Progress continues; Town Manager has been actively engaged with members of the Rte 139 Committee, MDOT, Sen. Keenan’s Office. Project is currently on track towards the 25% engineering phase. Burying the utilities is currently a sticking point. Town is working with MDOT on immediate solutions that can be implemented to help reduce speeds and provide safer driving conditions along Route 139. |
| Complete key pedestrian safety projects, including the Rail Trail crossing (West Hanover). | Project completed. |
Advance affordable housing initiatives, including expansion of senior housing to maintain compliance with state thresholds. | Affordable Housing initiatives have made substantive progress under Affordable Housing Trust which includes two members of the Select Board. Legion Housing was made permanently affordable, investigations of Town land adjacent to Legion Drive continues on schedule and has received wetland delineation approval from Con Comm, conceptual/initial discussions of utilizing the Salmond School property sometime in the future for affordable housing commenced, and some early discussions with Habitat for Humanity have started to seek parcels that could be a fit for a partnership. Affordable Housing Trust presented at the March 16th Select Board Meeting the feasibility of expanding the Legion Housing development to an adjacent parcel of Town owned land. |
Continue to support the appropriate adaptive reuse of the Sylvester School for community purposes. | Hanover Boy Scouts are now utilizing space at Sylvester; this is in addition to all the current uses: DPW Administration, Food Pantry, police virtual lab, IT department, youth wrestling, SNAP, etc. The Town Manager is also looking into more ways for the community to enjoy the use of the John Curtis Free Library. Boy Scouts are also utilizing the Broadway Fire House for storage needs. Town Manager is working with Hanover Chamber to provide shared space for the Chamber at Sylvester.
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Lead: Steve Louko
Partner: Rhonda Nyman