By Robin Thomas
MERRIMAC — Selectmen this week approved the Planning Board's request to hire a consultant to review possible bylaw changes.
Planning Board Chairman Ray Gingras asked for "approval to spend not to exceed $1,000." He said the money is in the budget and could be considered two separate costs, each within the $500 limit not requiring selectmen's approval. But he said, "We wanted to be up-front with you folks."
Gingras said the Planning Board has been considering bylaw changes to the Village Residential Zone, the densely populated area that excludes the downtown. He said problems were created when the new bylaw was implemented, and now the board is looking at building height issues and lot shape.
Gingras told selectmen, "What we'd like to do is readdress the lot width." He said most of the new construction are two-family homes, which the board likes because it's a good use of land. However, he said builders are "taking advantage of the new building height, and they (buildings) are not fitting in the neighborhood."
Gingras said that in the board's opinion, some buildings are too high. "When you really look at it, it's four stories."
Local builder Tony McDonough disagreed with the Planning Board's view. "In all reality, it's 2¬½ stories," McDonough said.
Gingras said there are two other bylaws the board wants to revisit, but they will probably not address them this year due to budget constraints.
In other business, selectmen agreed to meet with a Web services company, Virtual Town Hall, and those department heads who have Web sites. The town has been looking for an affordable way to maintain the town Web site since the resignation of volunteer webmaster, Michael Miracle.
Miracle has been discussing options with Treasurer and Finance Director Carol McLeod, and he suggested placing a notice in the newspaper and on the Web site for a volunteer webmaster (with a stipend). Selectman Earl Baumgardner said they could hire a webmaster in conjunction with the cable TV station.
Chairman Carol Traynor agreed. "I don't know where the money would come from if we didn't piggyback it with the cable funds."
