Selectmen Set Halloween Hours: No EEE Adjustment in North Andover

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover's trick-or-treating hours will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday Oct. 31, after the select board approved the police chief's recommendation. Town Manager Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues said the board of health believed temperatures had dropped low enough that mosquitoes are becoming dormant, reducing the danger from the current outbreak of mosquito-borne virus EEE. The health director still recommended people be cautious, she said.

"If we do see warm temperatures that day, he does recommend people take precautions like wearing bug spray," said Murphy-Rodrigues.

Some neighboring communities such as Andover have moved their trick-or-treating hours because of the EEE outbreak.

In other holiday news, the board approved the annual Veterans Day Parade, to take place Nov. 11 at 10 a.m.

The board also approved the town manager's proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Policy Statement, which lays out goals for the coming budget process. And they confirmed her appointment of Andrew Shapiro as the town's new community and economic development director.

After extensive discussion, they approved a further-restricted version of the Winterlights liquor permit for the Stevens-Coolidge Place. The holiday light event will have liquor on Saturday nights, based on a motion by Selectman Phil DeCologero. They initially requested permits for Thursdays through Sundays, and reduced their request to just Fridays and Saturdays ahead of Monday's meeting. DeCologero's motion also requires the Stevens-Coolidge to collect data on alcohol sales and attendance, so they can assess how much it is a draw.

The board discussed taking a more comprehensive look at the Stevens-Coolidge Place's expansion as an event space, in response to complaints from neighbors.

"Can we work with neighbors to determine what makes the most sense," asked DeCologero?

Despite these concerns, the board also approved liquor permits for the "Boos & Brews" event at the Stevens Coolidge Place, Oct. 24 and 25 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. A one-day request for an event at Smolak Farm was also approved.