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Town of Merrimac, MA Town Seal

Town of Merrimac to Host Pre-Town Meeting Information Session Ahead of Annual Town Meeting

MERRIMAC – The Town of Merrimac will be hosting a pre-Town Meeting information session ahead of its annual Town Meeting on Monday, April 27, and encourages residents to learn more about the important issues facing the community.

The pre-Town Meeting informational session will be held on Wednesday, April 22 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 2 School St. 

The purpose of this session is to share information on warrant articles, promote transparency and increase civic participation. Town officials will be present at the session to present details, explain budget impacts and answer any questions from residents. 

The annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, April 27, 7:30 p.m. at Sweetsir School, 104 Church St.

Voters will consider 23 articles on the Town Warrant: 

  • Article 1: Appropriate funds from Free Cash for FY2026 for snow and ice deficit, Lake Attitash invasive weeds, OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) actuarial study, poll pad upgrade and replacement, OPEB trust funding, facility repairs for the Council on Aging, health insurance consultant, employee retirement funding, police patrol vehicle, tasers, ADA compliance for town sidewalks and public meetings, and asbestos tile repairs at Pentucket Regional Elementary Schools.
  • Article 2: Appropriate funds from Water Retained Earnings for FY2026 for water meter replacement, water infrastructure, Ford Maverick truck and planning development for interconnect with Haverhill.
  • Article 3: Appropriate funds from Water Retained Earnings for FY2026 for building and road maintenance at the Wallace Way Treatment Plant.
  • Article 4: Transfer funds from Wastewater Retained Earnings for FY2026 for various replacements and repairs. 
  • Article 5: Authorize the Select Board to enter lease agreement to procure tasers for the Police Department for a five-year period. 
  • Article 6: Transfer funds from Inspectional Services Resolving Account to Town General Fund for FY2026. 
  • Article 7: Appropriate funds for demolition of 28 School St. 
  • Article 8: Appropriate funds for IT server and upgrades at Fire Department, and transfer additional funds. 
  • Article 9: Appropriate funds for salary and compensation of all elected officers of the Town. 
  • Article 10: Raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to operate the Wastewater Department Enterprise for FY2027. 
  • Article 11: Raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to operate the Water Department Enterprise for FY2027. 
  • Article 12: Raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, a sum of money from the Electric Light Operating Balance to be used by Assessors to reduce tax rate for FY2027. 
  • Article 13: Appropriate or otherwise provide funds to be expended under Cemetery Trustees for care, improvement and embellishment of cemeteries. 
  • Article 14: Raise and appropriate funds to make necessary repairs to town roadways.
  • Article 15: Accept State Grant of Chapter 90 Highway Funds and authorize Select Board to use said funds for highway purposes. 
  • Article 16: Raise and appropriate funds to be used for necessary tree maintenance. 
  • Article 17: Raise and appropriate funds for solid waste collection and disposal and recycling collection. 
  • Article 18: Amend Town of Merrimac General Bylaws Section “Authorized Revolving Funds” to add funds for Hazardous Waste Collections and Rent Control Board.
  • Article 19: Amend Town of Merrimac General Bylaws Sections 94-1, 94-3(A), 94-3(C) to change the start time of Town Meeting from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 
  • Article 20: Vote to accept M.G.L. Chapter 41, Section 100B.
  • Article 21: Affirm Notice of Landfill in accordance with 310 CMR 19,000. 
  • Article 22: Amend Merrimac Zoning Bylaw Zoning Map to include the MBTA Overlay District
  • Article 23: Authorize Merrimac Municipal Light Department to sell land and buildings located at 10 West Main St. 

The Capital Planning Committee and the Finance Committee will also each present their FY2027 recommendations. 

Merrimac’s 150th Birthday Celebration

Join the Merrimac Light Department for a birthday bash to celebrate Merrimac’s 150th Anniversary! April 11th, 2026, 6PM-8PM at Town Hall. Followed by the Town Hall Clock Tower lighting!

  • April 9, 2026 in News

Job Opportunity- Highway Junior Equipment Operator/Laborer

Town of Merrimac seeks qualified candidates for full time (40hr/wk) Highway Junior Equipment Operator/Laborer at $27.42/hour for the DPW. Responsibilities include: general road maintenance, catch basin install & repair, snow plowing, removal and sanding. Minimum Qualifications Class B CDL & Medical Certificate.

Click here for full job posting and application.

Submit resume and application to Alyssa Sexton, asexton@townofmerrimac.com.

  • April 6, 2026 in News

Public Info Session – PFC Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge Replacement

PFC Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge Replacement

What is happening?

MassDOT will host a live, in-person public information meeting to provide community members with an opportunity to become fully acquainted with the construction phase of the replacement of the Private First Class Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge which carries State Route 125, locally Bridge Street over the Merrimac River and the Bradford Rail Trail between downtown Haverhill and the Bradford neighborhood. At the meeting, MassDOT will present construction timing and phasing, measures to help the project be a good neighbor, and developments to the bridge’s appearance that have come through the design-build process. The bridge’s overall look continues to reflect what was developed through a robust public process with the Haverhill community including arches, a central overlook with lighted beacons, and the reuse of the existing ridge’s tower roofs in the Bradford Rail Trail Park, however, the main structural material will be steel, instead of concrete, providing greater constructability and more open sight lines.

How will this affect you?

The proposed project includes the full replacement of the Basiliere Bridge. Staged construction will be used to generally maintain one travel lane going towards Bradford and one lane going towards downtown Haverhill as well as one sidewalk. Night and weekend closures of the bridge with detours may be needed at times to ensure public safety. MassDOT encourages all interested members of the community to attend and learn more about this project.

When

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026

6:00PM

Where

PINNACLE AT HARBOR PLACE

2 MERRIMACK STREET, 3rd FLOOR

HAVERHILL MA 01830

To ensure its meetings are accessible, MassDOT reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, and auxiliary aids and services. To request such services, please contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer at 857-368-8580 or MassDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us. For adequate time to process such request, please make them as early as possible, ideally 10-15 days prior to the event.

Project inquiries may also be emailed to massdotmajorprojects@dot.state.ma.us. Please submit any written statements regarding the proposed undertaking to: Carrie A. Lavallee, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: BRIDGE SECTION PROJECT FILE NO. 605304

  • February 19, 2026 in News

Town of Merrimac, MA Town Seal

Town of Merrimac Awarded $1,365,000 Through State Community One Stop Grant Program For Infrastructural Improvements

MERRIMAC — The Town of Merrimac, Department of Public Works, and Select Board Chair Christopher Manni are pleased to share that Merrimac has been awarded three grants totaling $1,365,000 by the Commonwealth’s Community One Stop Grant Program.

The Community One Stop Grant Program, which was created in 2021 to help cities and towns across the state improve infrastructure and road transit safety, has granted 306 of the state’s 351 municipalities over 1,500 awards totaling more than $750 million.

Merrimac has received at least one grant from the program in each year of its operation. You can find information on grants awarded to the town on its grant page here.

The first of the awards is a $50,000 grant as part of the Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Program to support the Coastal Metals Site Readiness project. Merrimac will use the funding to develop concept plans for affordable housing areas at two locations in town, 2 Littles Court, a former planting facility, and 28 School St., the former location of the Town’s Senior Center. The Town owns both properties and intends to sell them together for affordable housing development.

The second and third grants of $1 million and $350,000 will be used to improve infrastructure around town.

The $1 million grant, awarded as part of the MassWorks program, will be used by the Town to replace the failed Mill Street culvert over Cobblers Brook and reopen the portion of Mill Street to reconnect to the Town’s wastewater treatment facility and light and power department. The Town will construct a new bridge approximately 100 feet north of the existing bridge, while the existing culvert will be removed.

The $315,000 grant, awarded as part of the Rural Development Fund, will be utilized by the Town to replace a six-inch water main at the intersection of Liberty Street and Mechanic Street with a larger eight inch water main. The increase in size will allow for enhanced water flow and better quality for an area of town that is anticipated to have substantial growth and demand for water supply in the coming years.

“The Town of Merrimac will benefit greatly from this funding, which will allow for necessary upgrades to our infrastructure, and will allow us to start the planning process for creating affordable housing opportunities in Merrimac,” said Select Board Chair Manni. “We would like to thank Robert Sinibaldi, DPW Director, Denise McClure, Town Planner and Alyssa Sexton, Administrative Coordinator, as well as the Healey-Driscoll Administration for its support in these projects.”

private well

AMMENDED WATER USE BY-LAW

At Fall Town Meeting October 2024 a by-law was passed to have the following amended:

Any person with a privately-owned well should be aware that it is likely the well has the same or a similar water source as the Public Water System. This means that it is important for persons with privately-owned wells to also be efficient and mindful when it comes to water use. Any water conservation measures recommend for the customers to follow would be extra beneficial to the water supply, if persons who have privately-owned wells considered following the recommendations as well. This is extra important during times of drought.

The Attorney General has certified this to now be part of the Town’s General By-Laws. Article XVIII, Water Use.

  • November 18, 2025 in News
Town Hall Closed 7/2 & 7/3