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Select Board Chair Greg Satwite outlines goals to expand housing, services and environmental protections
Summary
Select Board Chair Greg Satwite told the Save the Town breakfast attendees that Hanover will prioritize livability by expanding housing and health services for an aging population, advancing environmental stewardship and completing water and pedestrian infrastructure projects.
Select Board Chair Greg Satwite told attendees at the Hanover Chamber of Commerce’s Save the Town breakfast that the town’s priorities for the coming year center on keeping Hanover livable for residents of all ages.
"According to a UMass study, by 2030, 30% of all Hanover residents will be 60 years old or older," Satwite said, using the projection to frame his call for expanded access to affordable housing, health services and a well‑supported Council on Aging. "An active and supported council on aging is the most cost‑effective preventative maintenance that we have for our older residents," he said.
The chair said the Select Board will press for measures to support an aging population, including housing options that let longtime residents stay in town and services that support social and emotional health. He also listed environmental stewardship and climate resilience among the board’s priorities, saying the town will maintain and expand open space and parks while advancing water infrastructure planning.
Satwite highlighted transportation‑focused goals championed by fellow board member Steve Luc: completing sidewalk gaps, building ADA‑compliant crossings and advancing a townwide pedestrian and multimodal network to better connect neighborhoods, schools and parks. "We always talk about sidewalks," he said, and added the board wants to make measurable progress on pedestrian safety on routes such as Route 139.
The chair urged residents to volunteer for committees, noting the master plan implementation group will be restarted and the town needs community input on topics including environmentally responsible fertilizer and herbicide practices. He also said the Select Board will pursue technology and innovation improvements and announced he will serve as the board’s liaison to the Chamber of Commerce for the coming year to strengthen coordination with local businesses.
Satwite’s remarks were delivered as part of a broader morning of presentations; no formal votes or motions were taken at the breakfast. The Select Board’s next procedural steps on the items he described—the water infrastructure work, pedestrian projects and committee appointments—were not specified during the event.
