Merrimac

Photo: Construction Work Begins on New Merrimac Police Station

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mpdpatchMerrimac Police Department
Eric M. Shears, Chief of Police
16 East Main St.
Merrimac, MA 01860

 

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Sitework Begins on Merrimac Police Station

MERRIMAC — Construction on the first standalone police station in Merrimac’s history is now underway.

Chief Eric Shears is pleased to announce that sitework has begun at 2 Jana Way, the future home of the Merrimac Police Department. Erosion control has been put in place, and the first trees were cleared this week.

Work began Monday, May 13. A public bid process was won earlier this year by LD Russo Inc. of Harvard, the lowest bidder of six contracting firms that competed for the project.

“Working with our Owner’s Project Manager Bill Cunniff of NV5 and our Architect Greg Carell, we have designed a solid police station for our community,” Chief Shears said. “We are very excited to see the construction work begin, and I am grateful to our community for their unending support and contributions to this project.”

Merrimac residents voted in November 2018 to fund the design, engineering and construction of a $6.5 million facility after a lengthy public process.

Bid documents were available electronically on February 12, 2019. Sub-Contractor Bids were due March 5, 2019. General Contractor Bids were due March 14, 2019. The project was very competitive, and the top three bidders were within $222,000 of each other. The Merrimac Board of Selectmen awarded LD Russo the contract on April 1, and it was signed on April 16.

The project was designed and put out to bid with the main building and five optional alternates, which would be added depending on the bids. The alternates include the following:

  • Metal Roof — Important based on community feedback, long-lasting
  • Out Building/Garage for equipment and specialized vehicles
  • Carport for all-weather vehicle access
  • Second access road to Rt. 110 in case main driveway became blocked
  • Designer landscaping

At this time, only the main building with the metal roof will be built. The department is exploring grant funding, donations and other possible sources of funding to possibly add the other alternates.

Construction is expected to be completed in March 2020. A formal groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for June 6. Details will be announced shortly.

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Merrimac Police Collect 51 Pounds of Medication During National Drug Take Back Day

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mpdpatchMerrimac Police Department
Eric M. Shears, Chief of Police
16 East Main St.
Merrimac, MA 01860

 

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Merrimac Police Collect 51 Pounds of Medication During National Drug Take Back Day

MERRIMAC — Chief Eric Shears is pleased to announce that the Merrimac Police Department turned in 51 pounds of unused medication following National Drug Take Back Day.

In collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Merrimac Police coordinated a “take back” event on April 27 at the Merrimac Police Station on East Main Street.

The collection event was part of a semi-annual initiative, where thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country work to provide community members with an easy, accessible way to dispose of expired or unwanted prescription drugs.

This April’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day set new records, according to the DEA, as approximately 6,400 collection sites were set up by local, state, tribal and federal groups. As a result, approximately 469 tons of prescription medications were collected and disposed of.

Since the first Prescription Drug Take Back Day event was held in the fall of 2010, approximately 5,908 tons of medication has been collected through semi-annual, DEA-sponsored events.

The Merrimac Police Department has hosted two Prescription Drug Take Back Days per year since 2013, and since then has accepted and properly disposed of several hundred pounds of unused medication.

“Prescription Drug Take Back Days are a great opportunity for residents to discard unwanted or expired medications safely,” said Police Sgt. David Vance. “It’s also a great opportunity for us to educate residents about the dangers of prescription drug use.”

Studies suggest that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet, and Take Back Day offers Americans a safe and secure way to remove those excess drugs from their homes.

Residents who missed National Drug Take Back Day can still turn in their unused medications at the Merrimac Police Department’s kiosk, which is located in the police station lobby. Residents should note that liquids, needles or sharps are not accepted.

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Merrimac, State Officials Investigating after Pontoon Boat Capsizes on Lake Attitash

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For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Merrimac, State Officials Investigating after Pontoon Boat Capsizes on Lake Attitash

MERRIMAC — Police Chief Eric Shears and Fire Chief Larry Fisher report that officials in Merrimac are investigating after a pontoon boat, delivering chemicals to treat Lake Attitash, capsized shortly after entering the lake from the town boat ramp.

Merrimac Police and Fire responded to the town boat ramp at 3:30 p.m. for a report of a capsized boat with two people in the water. Upon arrival, first responders noted that the two parties were out of the water, having been rescued by a second vessel that was with them.

An on-scene investigation determined that two boats were treating the lake for algae when a 30-foot aluminium pontoon boat capsized about 100 yards off the boat ramp.

The boats were being operated by SOLitude Lake Management, a Virginia company with an office in Shrewsbury that specializes in “lake, pond, wetland and fisheries management programs that include water quality testing and restoration” according to its website.

SOLitude was treating the lake with aluminium solutions to limit the availability of phosphorus in the lake and reduce nuisance algae blooms. The company had been permitted to be on site since April 17 and was scheduled to finish work by May 3.

Upon capsizing, the boat spilled chemical solutions that it was placing into the lake anyway, for the purposes of treating the lake. The company was permitted by the Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Amesbury and Town of Merrimac Conservation Commissions to do that work.

The Massachusetts Environmental police and DEP personnel responded Tuesday evening to assess the water conditions, and the boat was removed from the water.

After assessments, there are no immediate concerns with the spill. The pH of the water also remained neutral and normal after the spill.

Police and fire units cleared the scene 8:33 p.m., but the police and fire chiefs remained on scene until approximately 10:30 p.m.

No one was injured during what appears to be an unfortunate boating accident.

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Wally the Green Monster and World Series Trophy to Visit Merrimac Police and Fire Station

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For Immediate Release

Monday, April 8, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Wally the Green Monster and World Series Trophy to Visit Merrimac Police and Fire Station

MERRIMAC — Police Chief Eric Shears and Fire Chief Larry Fisher are pleased to announce that Wally the Green Monster, the official mascot of the Boston Red Sox, will be paying a visit to town — along with the 2018 World Series trophy — later this month.

Red Sox mascot Wally. (Courtesy Photo Boston Red Sox)
Red Sox mascot Wally. (Courtesy Photo Boston Red Sox)

WHEN: 

Sunday, April 21, from 2:30-5 p.m.

WHERE: 

Merrimac Police and Fire Station, 16 East Main St.

WHAT: 

The Merrimac Santa Committee, Merrimac Police Association, Merrimac Fire Department Hose Company 1 and the Merrimac Fire Couplings will be welcoming Wally on April 21. Residents will have a chance to meet the mascot and have their photo taken with both Wally and the 2018 World Series trophy.

There is no cost to attend the event, and photos will be taken on-site and distributed later to attendees.

“We’re very excited to have Wally and the World Series trophy right here in Merrimac for everyone in our community to see up close,” Chief Shears said. “I want to thank our entire community for their continued support of our town’s public safety agencies and the Santa Committee.”

“This will be a great way for families to spend a Sunday afternoon and create a lasting memory, and I hope everyone takes advantage of this unique opportunity,” Chief Fisher added.

“This event is the result of a concerted effort by so many in our community, and I want to thank them all for making this possible and creating a one-of-a-kind celebration for our families,” added Santa Committee member Tom Jordan.

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