Community Development Department Staff
Timothy J. Thompson, AICP, Community Development Director
Tim has been a professional planner in the State of NH for the past 14+ years. He is a graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, receiving dual degrees; a Bachelor of Urban Planning & Development and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design. Tim began his professional career as a City Planner for the City of Rochester, then spent 11+ years as the Town Planner for the Town of Londonderry prior to coming to Merrimack in August 2011.
Tim is active in the NH planning community, as a member of both Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association and NH Planners Association, and having spent over 7 years on the executive committees of both organizations. In June of 2011, Tim was honored by NHPA as the co-recipient of the 2011 Professional Planner of the Year award.
Tim is a NH native, residing in his hometown of Concord, where he lives with his wife and 2 sons.
Nancy Larson, Planning & Zoning Administrator
Nancy has served as the Planning and Zoning Administrator with the Community Development Department since December 2006 and is primarily responsible for reviewing proposed development plans and interpreting the Zoning Ordinance.
Nancy was previously employed as a professional planner for ten years with the Town of Bedford (her native/home town). Nancy is currently involved in a variety of volunteer/civic activities in Bedford, including representative to the NH Rail Transit Authority, American Red Cross Platelet Donor, Town of Bedford Public Election Official and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
As an avid outdoor enthusiast, Nancy enjoys a variety of interests including backbacking, camping, snowshoeing, snow boarding, running and cycling (on and off road). It is not uncommon to see Nancy pedaling to work and in fact, has participated in the Mount Washington Bicycle Hillclimb four times and hopes to make 2012 her fifth ascent.
Nancy holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA.
Jeffrey Morrissette, Assistant Planner
Jeff graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1993 from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH. Jeff began his career working at a small environmental consulting company for approximately two years. He then accumulated approximately 13 years of combined civil engineering and land surveying experience working at several small to medium sized private-sector firms.
Jeff is currently licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor (MA), a NH Septic Designer, and certified as an Engineer-in-Training (NH). He is a member of the New Hampshire Planners Association, and previously served 4 years and vice-chaired on a Conservation Commission.
Jeff and his wife currently reside in Pepperell, Massachusetts. He has been employed as the Town of Merrimack Assistant Planner since October of 2009.
Evelyn Gillis, Community Development Office Manager
Evelyn has been in municipal government for thirty plus years. Her top priority has been to set an example for excellent “customer service”.
She also reminds on a daily basis that “success” and “happiness” are equally important and honorable objectives as “getting the job done”.
Her principal duties and scope include as appropriate, management and accountability for people, equipment, facilities and dollars.
Diane Semales, Planning & Zoning Secretary
Diane is a relative newcomer to the Community Development Department, hired in 2010. Diane’s understanding of Merrimack business owner needs comes from her background in accounting and previous employment for NH DOT and at a local newspaper in marketing & advertising. Diane attended college in Massachusetts and studied Business Management before settling with her family in New Hampshire in 1990. Diane brings her knowledge of the community and State of NH processes to Merrimack as Secretary for Planning and Zoning for the Community Development Department.