DURHAM – Selectmen agreed Tuesday to place an article on the April town meeting warrant asking to loosen restrictions on back-lot developments.

The proposal would allow more than one house on back lots without frontage if the lot is family-owned, and eliminate the paving requirements for these lots.

The changes are being proposed by several families who would like to be able to deed back lots that lack road frontage to relatives for building homes.

These lots are considered not suitable for building under the current ordinance. Neither the Board of Selectmen nor the Planning Board has taken a position on the proposed changes.

Selectmen approved spending $128,496 from a homeland security grant as follows: $36,780 for a compressor, mobile system and service contract from DL Thurott Air; $41,643 for 45 sets of gear from IPS; and $50,073 for self-contained breathing apparatus equipment from Fire Tech and Safety.

The remaining $4,066 will be used to pay for electrical connections, and to purchase helmets for firefighters.

The items were recommended by the Fire and Rescue Safety Committee.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security approved Durham’s grant application for project costs totaling $132,562, which includes a local 10 percent match of $13,256.

In other business, an abatement was granted to Roy and Patricia Dewitt, who were taxed for a mobile home by error.

Administrative Assistant John White reported the town will receive $261,654 in state revenue sharing money, up by $16,000, which will be directed toward reducing property tax. Excise tax revenues, which are traditionally spent on roads, went up by $33,613 in 2004. Cable television franchise fees will be $23,243. On the negative side, building permit and Planning Board fees are both down.

Animal Control Officer Frank Wright is back on the job after being out due to illness. Eric Allred has been hired to clear the sidewalks at the town office.