Allen Merriman for Zoning Board

My name is Allen Merriman and I’m running for member of the Zoning Board of Adjustments.

I’ve thrown my hat in the ring for three reasons:

1. This is a great town, we love living here, and I wish to contribute more
2. Member of the Zoning Board of Adjustments  is a role in which I can contribute effectively, having an appreciation for the need to respect personal property rights, balanced with maintaining the character of the town, respect for neighbors, and the potential for increasing the property tax base
3. There is clearly an opportunity for improvement in town government, especially as it relates to openness/transparency of town operations. 

We moved to New Hampshire, and to Amherst in particular, for the quality of life.  And I can tell you we have found that quality of life to be outstanding.  My wife, Lori, and our children, Everett and Anya, take advantage of a great deal that this community has to offer.  In return, we are happy to provide assistance in sustaining these activities, such as being a trail steward for the Amherst Conservation Commission and volunteering with the PTA and at Wilkins School. 

I want to do my part to maintain or even improve this quality of life, which does not always mean attempting to keep things exactly as they are, because stasis ultimately leads to decline.  What it does mean is striving to maintain the proper balance between growth, the character of the town and personal property rights.

I am convinced that we can strike this balance while productively resolving several ongoing issues in the town regarding land use.  There are a number of issues in the community that are impacted by zoning, including the need for recreation fields and the opportunity for new businesses and the associated property taxes. 

As a management consultant, I will bring a broad set of relevant skills to this position, including mediation and facilitation; operational and process improvements; and analysis and problem-solving.  Each of these skills would contribute to resolving long-standing issues and those which will undoubtedly arise in the future.

Finally, the opportunity exists to improve transparency in ZBA decisions which seems only available to those who personally attend the meetings, unless perhaps one is able to go to Town Hall to review records and minutes.

Attendance by current members of the board also appears to be a problem, as evidenced by the difficulty in achieving a quorum at the February meeting, at which only two members and two alternates were present.  Perhaps my opponent Mr. Rowe, for instance, has his hands full serving in the State House and really doesn’t have the time to devote to his position on the ZBA.  Zoning compliance and adjustments are difficult enough for property owners without placing the additional burden on petitioners of potentially having to attend multiple sessions and restate their case.  I would suggest that some new blood on the Board would help to overcome this apparent lack of attention and seriousness.

If I am elected to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals, I will be attentive to the needs of the town and its residents and be devoted to achieving the appropriate balance of property rights, town character and growth.