North Andover Selectman Chris Nobile’s Residency in Question

8-6-22

North Andover Selectman Chris Nobile is coming under fire as some political activists are questioning whether Nobile actually lives in North Andover.

Nobile was asked during public participation earlier this year if he lived in town but Nobile refused to answer.

During a meeting discussion about the proposed Royal Crest – Merrimack College development, Nobile pushed the project on voters saying that he lived near Merrimack College and as a neighbor he wanted to see the project passed at town meeting.

In March, Nobile had listed his home at 317 Hillside Road for sale.

In April, Nobile applied to be on a town board in Ogunquit, Maine listing his Ogunquit address at 48 Ocean Street. Nobile claimed on the form that this was his summer residence. His application for the Ogunquit Comprehensive Plan Committee touts his experience on the North Andover School Committee, Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee. (APPLICATION)

In May, shortly before North Andover Town Meeting, Nobile listed his Ogunquit address on his application form to run a half marathon in Maine. (MARATHON)

His wife then registered to vote in Ogunquit, Maine.

He sold his home shortly after the May Town Meeting, when the Royal Crest proposal was rejected by the voters.

On June 15th it sold for $785,000. He originally purchased the home in 1997 for $207,000.

Sources at North Andover Town Hall say that they have received complaints that the selectman is no longer living in town. Nobile currently lists his residence as the home of Thomas Kincaid on Covertly Lane.

OFFICIAL CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION

School Committeeman Andrew McDevitt said that he believes Nobile has some explaining to do. “I think the taxpayers have the right to know if our tax dollars are paying for representation living out of the state.”

Asked if Nobile should reign if he is not living in town, McDevitt said an investigation is needed to determine Nobile’s residence.

“If he’s not a resident of the town, I’m not sure how in good conscience he can represent North Andover and take our tax dollars out of state. North Andover residents deserve a Select Board living full time in town. Additional investigation is needed to confirm his residency. North Andover should not need to wait until March elections for a vacancy.”

Nobile was contacted three times by The Valley Patriot and refused to respond to our requests.

When asked about Nobile’s residency situation, Selectman Rosemary Smedile told The Valley Patriot that Nobile needs to be forthcoming about whether or not he still lives in town.

“Well, first you should ask him if he lives in Town or not. I know he had signed up to vote on Coventry Lane, but now that the question has been made public, I think he needs to state clearly what he’s doing. The people of North Andover have the right to know if a member of the board lives in town or not.”

Smedile says she strongly believes that people elected to represent the town should live in town. She added that when she lost her house during the Columbia Gas disaster it was a total loss and she and her husband paid more money to stay in town.

“When I lost my house, people were offering us rentals outside of North Andover and we knew it was going to be more than a year before we could return. For me, it wasn’t appropriate to sit on the board if I didn’t work and live in town I represent. We paid more money to live in town that whole time, that’s how strongly I felt. Our town has a lot going on and the voters deserve that.”