ANDOVER — Mary Carbone has attended more town public meetings than some Andover officials — but no more, she said.

The oft-nicknamed "town watchdog" vowed this week to never again attend another meeting after the selectmen voted to approve Andover Youth Services' temporary move to a town-owned house on Pearson Street.

Carbone, 69, called it inside dealing and walked out of the selectmen's conference room mid-meeting Monday night.

"I told them I wouldn't attend another meeting if they voted on it," Carbone said. "They did and I walked out. ... They had told Town Meeting that property would be demolished and used for the town yard."

The retired Cyr Circle resident has consistently been going to town board meetings since 1979. Many times she's been the only one in the audience, going to public hearings other residents ignored.

Carbone unsuccessfully ran for the Board of Selectmen last year, but she's best known for being outspoken during public comment sessions, becoming versed in the minutiae of town government.

"I cannot, in my heart, go and sit in front of them and have no respect for them," Carbone said. "I've been sitting there too long. I know exactly how it will turn out."

When interviewed this week, the selectmen said it would be sad to lose their most dedicated audience member.

But selectmen Chairman Ted Teichert said he was upset that Carbone accused them of backdoor dealings.

"We were taken aback. ... She's entitled to her own opinion," Teichert said. "What she wants to do is up to her."

Selectmen voted to let Andover Youth Services use 37-39 Pearson St. as a temporary home as it continues to raise money for a youth center.

Youth services currently operates out of a cramped 600-square-foot room — the former employee smoking room — in Town Offices.

Town Meeting voted last year to purchase the Pearson Street property for $505,000, saying it could be used to expand the town yard, where public works stockpiles sand and salt.

But now that a task force is looking at possibly moving the town yard to Ledge Road or Campanelli Drive, the Pearson Street property is sitting unused.

Teichert, Alex Vispoli and Gerald "Jerry" Stabile made the vote.

Carbone said she is not anti-youth, but just thought the town should use the property the way officials said they would when proposing it to voters.

"It should be used by the people who work at the town yard," Carbone said. "Some of them are working in small spaces, too, trying to get their work done. Why should youth services get to take it over?"

In the past, she has been critical of the town's failure to build a new senior center, and she spoke out against increasing educational spending for the town. She has vehemently opposed a Proposition 21/2 override and the Community Preservation Act.

She has gotten angry at the political process many times, but has never vowed to leave before.

Whether she'll be back is anyone's guess.

"Government is very questionable," Carbone said. "I got involved because I wanted to know how my government works. I've always spoken for what I believe in. I've done the best I can, but it's a different generation now."