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Merrimack 2012 Master Plan Steering Committee Minutes
Meeting Date: October 9, 2012
Attending: Robert Best, Jeff Sebring, Alastair Millns, Nancy Vigezzi, John Segedy, Bob McCabe,
Barbara Watson, Matthew Passalacqua, Chris Ortega
Tim Thompson, AICP – Town of Merrimack
Gordon Leedy, AICP, Robin Bousa ‐ VHB
Meeting called to order at 7:30 PM
1. Acceptance of minutes from 9/18/12 meeting – motion to accept by Alastair Millns, second by Bob Best, all were in favor (Chris Ortega and John Segedy abstaining).
2. Discussion of the transportation chapter
Robin Bousa discussed the draft chapter on transportation.
Tim Thompson indicated that the plan table on jurisdiction should reflect that US Route 3
from Greeley Road to Bedford Road is in the Urban Compact Area and falls under Town
control.
John Segedy asked that the numbers in the discussion regarding major employers should be
indicated in the table and text as number of employees.
There was a discussion of sidewalks. The plan should reflect priority areas for sidewalks:
Baboosic Lake Road from the center to the school; Route 3 from Greeley Road to Bedford
Road; Continental Boulevard from Exit 11 to Windsor Drive.
There was also discussion of exaction fees, and their potential application to a system of
fees in lieu of construction of sidewalk and roadway improvements. The question was asked
regarding whether exaction fees can be used to purchase capital equipment to maintain
sidewalks.
The plan should identify potential future bicycle routes through town. These are anticipated
to be striped lanes on major through roads.
Bob McCabe indicated that there is a network of trails that are currently being used for off‐
road cycling. He agreed to research and provide additional information for inclusion in the
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plan. This information may be more appropriately included in the discussion of recreation
facilities.
3. Discussion of Capital Planning
Chris Ortega, representing the School Board indicated that the Board agreed that the
coordination of Capital Plans should be coordinated, but that development of the plans
should not be ceded to a joint committee, but rather, more appropriately rest with the
“corporate entities” responsible for the three elements of the budget: Town, School Board,
and Village District governing bodies. There is a need to make a distinction between
“Districts” and “departments” in the plan, as “departments” report to the Town Council,
while “Districts” are independent bodies.
Bob Best indicated that his reading of the applicable statute appears to require that the
three entities should actively create their Capital Improvement Plans as a single entity (joint
committee). Mr. Ortega indicated that the advice of School Board counsel differs from this
assessment, but that the Board agrees on the need for a cooperative effort. Both agreed
that this discussion should be reviewed and resolved in another forum.
4. Next steps – next meeting will be 10/30/12 during which a combined document will be
reviewed. The meeting will also include a preliminary discussion on implementation. VHB will
work with Tim Thompson to schedule a public forum at some point in the future to present
information from the plan.
5. Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.