News

MERRIMAC – The Town of Merrimac will be hosting a Special Town Meeting next Monday. 

The Special Town Meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sweetsir School, 104 Church St., Merrimac.

Voters will consider 12 articles on the Town Warrant:

• Article 1: FY2026 Town Budget Adjustments based on reductions or increases as a result of the actual expenditures in FY2025 following the Annual Town Meeting. 
• Article 2: Increase the amount raised and appropriated in Article 17 from the annual Town Meeting by $25,000 for Solid Waste Collection and Disposal, and Recycling collection. 
• Article 3: FY2026 Budget Adjustments for Wastewater Enterprise Fund
• Article 4: FY2026 Budget Adjustments for Water Enterprise Fund
• Article 5: Final Engineering for Wastewater Plant funding to include costs related to the bidding, design, engineering, and payment of all other costs, in the amount of $500,000, and seek approval to borrow the funds.
• Article 6: Extending the Toshiba Copier lease for a term to exceed 36 months. 
• Article 7: Renewing the Catalis (Patriot Properties) contract to continue state-mandated certification of property values, for a term to exceed 36 months.
• Article 8: Authorizing Merrimac Municipal Light Department to sell land and buildings located at 10 West Main St.
• Article 9: Merrimac Zoning By-Laws, Amendments and Additions. 
• Article 10: Addition of New MBTA Communities Multi-Family Overlay Zoning Districts.
• Article 11: Amendments to the General By-Law, to allow the Cemetery Trustees to update the rules and regulations of the Cemetery when deemed necessary.
• Article 12: Citizens Petition, Merrimac Municipal Light Department to sell land and buildings associated with the location of 10 West Main Street. 

Special Town Meeting documents can be found here. 

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The Town of Merrimac will begin flushing the town’s water system on October 19th, 2025 and will continue for two weeks, or when complete. Flushing will take place between the hours of 7:00 P.M. and 11 P.M., Sunday through Thursday nights, weather permitting. We will also flush during the day from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Please check the schedule.

Hydrant flushing helps ensure water quality and removes sediment in the water main. It also verifies ample water flow for firefighting. Low water pressure, discolored/milky water, air in pipes and at times, no water, may be experienced during flushing. When flushing in your area do not use your water to prevent it getting pulled into your home. When flushing is complete in your area, or in the morning, running your cold and hot water faucets for 5-10 minutes should alleviate this problem.

FALL 2025 HYDRANT FLUSHING

OCTOBER 19TH- till complete

If flushing is listed at night: between 7-11 pm   If flushing is during the day: between 9-12 am

10/19         Sunday Night– East Main to Attitash, Bisson, Meadow, Hillside, Pleasant View, Thorndike, Dunvegan

10/20         Monday Night –Emery St, Trailer Park, Champion, Sunset, Middle Road, Poplar Hill, Bancroft

10/21         Tuesday Day– remainder of East Main, West Main

10/22         Wednesday Day– Upper West Main, Jana Way, Birchmeadow, Heath, Heathbrook, Noyes, Chase, West Parish, Gunnison, Clement

10/23         Thursday Night– Bear Hill, Lakewoods, West Shore Road, Abbey Rd, Spencer

10/27         Monday Day – Harriman, Highland, Hansom, Landau

10/28         Tuesday Day – Church and all side streets, Grove, Orchard

10/29         Wednesday Night – School, Carriage Ct, Walnut, Colonial Dr, Lower River, Locust St & Locust grove

10/30         Thursday Night – High, Merrimac Port, South Pleasant, River Rd

Please note this schedule could be changed due to weather or other circumstances. We will update the town website with any changes.

Merrimac Water

978-346-8407                    

Assessor Office – Town Hall https://townofmerrimac.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Assessor-Admin-Clerk-Job-Posting-8.19.25-1.pdf

The Highway Department will be fertilizing the fields at the Donaghue School and Town Forest on Monday October 6th and Tuesday October 7th. Please call the Highway Department with any questions 978-346-8939.

 Merrimac – Residents and visitors are invited to view a local example of early Colonial architecture and to enjoy a look at Colonial life when the Merrimac Town Improvement Society holds their annual fall open house at the Old Sawyer House Saturday October 4, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Old Sawyer House is located at 20 East Main Street (adjacent to the Merrimac Fire Station) in Merrimac, Ma.

             Along with the one-quarter mile in-and-out trail located behind the Old Sawyer House, a new one-third mile side trail will also be open for guided walks during the open house.  The trails provide visitors with an opportunity to explore some of the woodland and vegetated areas that belong to the Town Improvement Society.

In addition to tours of the Old Sawyer House (circa 1735) and woodland trails, mulled cider and light refreshments will be served around the main fireplace of the Sawyer House. 

            A charitable organization with a Section 501 (c) (3) status, the Town Improvement Society is seeking funds to repair and restore five of the windows located on the west side of the Old Sawyer House.  The front door pediment also requires restoration. Information on the restoration project will be available at the October 4 Open House. 

The Old Sawyer House, a classic New England saltbox, was built by John Kendrick and sold to Aaron Sawyer in 1758. It remained in the Sawyer family until 1908 when it was sold, along with 14 acres of woodland, to the Merrimac Town Improvement Society. The house retains much of its original paneling, original upstairs windows and one original fireplace on the second floor. The two downstairs fireplaces were renovated in the mid-19th century. Furnishings and artifacts located in the home reflect the house’s First Period Colonial status.

The Planning Board will be having an informal discussion at its September 23, 2025 regular meeting to discuss the MBTA Zoning Bylaw and overlay district location.  The discussion will focus on questions or comments pertaining to the draft bylaw and next steps in the approval process, particularly its inclusion on the warrant for Fall Town Meeting.  The draft bylaw and proposed overlay district map are included on the Town’s website for review.  The discussion pertaining the MBTA bylaw will begin at 7 PM on September 23, 2025 at Town Hall.  The public is welcome to attend.

MBTA Zoning Bylaw CLICK HERE

MBTA Zoning Overlap Map CLICK HERE

Effective October 14th 2025

LEVEL 1 MILD DROUGHT CONDITIONS

Mandatory

Restrictions on Non-Essential Water Use

Under the Level 1 Water Use Restriction:

Our Water Management Act permit defines the following:

Nonessential outdoor water uses that are subject to mandatory restrictions include:

• NO MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK: irrigation of lawns via sprinkler or automatic irrigation systems;
• NO MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK: washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety; and
• NO MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK: washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks except as necessary to apply surface treatment such as paint, preservatives, stucco, cement or pavement. 
• YES: NO MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK: Watering ornamentals and flower gardens with drip irrigation, hand hold hose or watering cans may be permitted during non-peak hours (after 5 pm and before 9 am)

Water uses NOT subject to mandatory restrictions are those required:

• for health or safety reasons;
• by regulation;
• for production of food and fiber;
• for the maintenance of livestock; or
•  to meet the core functions of a business (for example, irrigation of a golf course as necessary to maintain tees, greens, and limited fairway watering, or irrigation by a plant nursery to maintain stock).

This conservation measure will be strictly enforced. Violators will be issued a written warning for the first offense. A second offense will be fined $50.00 and $100 for each subsequent offense.

Please call the office with any questions or concerns…978-346-8407

Paving of the following streets will take place weather dependent on Thursday, September 11th and Friday, September 12th. Please use caution and avoid the area if possible. Any questions please contact the Highway Department at 978-346-8939.

Emery Street, North Street, Harriman Road, Winter Street, Forest Street, Billings Road & Bisson Lane