The Planning Board Monday night created a five-member panel to conduct public hearings and a review of the town's existing zoning laws. The panel will advise the Planning Board on any proposed changes.

A total of nine residents expressed an interest in serving on the board. Four were appointed to serve with Planning Board member George Potts, who will be the chairman.

Named to the panel were Eugene Barden, a former Planning Board member; Jody Watts, a Realtor; Paul Johnson, an attorney, and Jay Mahler, an attorney and a member of the town's Historical Commission.

Town Planner Peter Kane said the group would be an extension of the Planning Board. Its public meetings, which will begin in February, are designed to let residents, builders and land developers to offer proposed changes to the current zoning bylaws that the Planning Board would consider presenting to a Town Meeting.

The town's zoning bylaws, Kane said, "is supposed to be an evolving document."