[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6299850,"mediaKeyId","2495146-3aa3e5aad69b3590aee23c685ee064e3","parentId",2495146,"title","Votes at a glance: Haverhill Council accepts donations, approves MOA, OKs MassDOT easement and other routine items","audioSeconds",2111,"startMs",1019000,"endMs",3130000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495146-3aa3e5aad69b3590aee23c685ee064e3&start=1019&end=3130","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495146-3aa3e5aad69b3590aee23c685ee064e3/thumbnail_1019000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299850/Haverhill-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Haverhill-Council-accepts-donations-approves-MOA-OKs-MassDOT-easement-and-other-routine-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299850-16c4c475e5fa6e4722a6cc6de733a951/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195690&Signature=OuJcv-EFG5uvzYbLvquvBnpJwnLxaQHwb83e4I0B6N9XfN1~nkQTnWoFpwri8W-148hIJHXI5yPIcceL-sr9MVGQkbDyywgx5uj9c3N7obPOEvotwCZso6946CBlZFxsby~h8PBGnpAd17VKHnoURZzLg7zN1ZpDG-iOXWB5P1GQIDtMqkgzYnKP6pHoCyQwRaJRmzKwPPd0feALEb~ANUKN~eo3RCZZC~axC7SlW~nGYRdkVA4xWDXLUYmDR2MFG~8nfMPrDGoh3FhVwVjQj2PeLdrtB4047vQbZlR040ss~2o1dWD1saWWwqsPXiE9fhEibxLknM47lXLCTgbing__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Haverhill City, MA","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Haverhill City Council handled a series of routine but actionable items at the meeting. Roll-call votes, continuances and hearings passed as noted below.

Gifts for Saint Patrick’s Day senior event
- Accepted $100 from Melinda Barrett (vote: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent).
- Accepted $500 from Haverhill Bank (vote: 8 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention, 2 absent; one councilor abstained citing board membership).
- Accepted $100 from Sarah’s Place Adult Day Health Center (vote: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent).
- Accepted $200 from Bethany Community Services (vote: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent).
Councilors thanked donors for supporting the Citizen Center senior event.

City Clerk fee changes
- Approved increases to City Clerk service fees: notary/justice of the peace swearing-in fee raised from $10 to $20, and a new home birth recording fee proposed to mirror the $35 fee charged to amend a vital record (vote: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent). City Clerk Caitlin M. Wright presented the rationale, citing comparable workloads and workflows.

Ordinances and orders
- An ordinance to amend license fees for flammable material storage was placed on file for 10 days (vote to place on file: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent).
- An order authorizing the mayor to execute documents allowing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to take permanent and temporary easements and fee interests in eight parcels along Route 125 for a bridge replacement project passed on roll call (vote: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent). Mayor Barrett explained the easements are needed to extend the bridge approaches.

Permits, hearings and events
- Special Permit 24‑11 (Brian Moses, 84 Madison St.) was continued to March 18 at the applicant’s request (vote to continue: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent).
- Special Permit 25‑2 (WP Acquisition Sub LLC; addition to Haverhill Pavilion at 76 Summer St. to add a 24‑bed geriatric unit) was scheduled for a hearing on April 8 (vote to schedule: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent).
- Amusement event 25‑1 (Greek dinner dance at Hellenic Orthodox Church, March 1) was approved; roll call: 8 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention, 2 absent.
- Tag day 25‑4 (Haverhill High School boys baseball, March 8) was approved (vote: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent).

Other financial action
- Authorized payment of a prior-year bill to the City of Methuen for $1,010.60 charged to the highway account (vote: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent).

Labor agreement
- Approved a memorandum of agreement between the City of Haverhill and the Water, Wastewater, Office and Technical Group, Teamsters Local 170 (filed Feb. 13, 2025) on a roll-call vote (9 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent).

Minutes and adjournment
- Minutes from the prior meeting were accepted (motion: 9 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent). The council adjourned by unanimous roll call (9 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent).

Notes on votes and abstentions: Where a councilor declared a conflict (for example, Haverhill Bank board membership), that councilor abstained and the abstention is recorded in the roll call. Several items were procedural (scheduling or placing on file) and generated no substantive debate.

Why it matters: These routine approvals fund and enable near-term city programming (senior event), permit local land-use hearings, advance a state transportation project that affects Route 125 and finalize a local labor agreement for public‑works employees.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Haverhill City Council Meeting – February 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Haverhill City Council approved multiple routine items on roll call, including acceptance of donations for a senior Saint Patrick’s Day event, City Clerk fee changes, MassDOT easement authorization for the Route 125 bridge project and a memorandum of agreement with Teamsters Local 170.","taxTitle","Haverhill City, Essex County, Massachusetts","taxId",64850,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299855,"Haverhill launches optional historic house plaque program; library offers research support",742,2342000,3084000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495146-3aa3e5aad69b3590aee23c685ee064e3&start=2342&end=3084","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495146-3aa3e5aad69b3590aee23c685ee064e3/thumbnail_2342000.jpg","/articles/6299855/Haverhill-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Haverhill-launches-optional-historic-house-plaque-program-library-offers-research-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299855-fc18d92ebd2ffb1393a19bb59c93faf6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195690&Signature=j6gOky2WAy4xnYycKb6zVfhWBgXCNANN2voMlgHwDbiX3qIkBCqYzI5JiJ1DWhM-YNyrJq~RFRh9nPJeClr0xfIKS2~-nqf1qJxzJeEwAgrepg2xjPqvOYrPoq54QQ37gwA3URK1M6yBKKCBVHBshMHye8xmY1qGaJpYNwXyDTLmz9yF1EY4GIWEH7vsiwSH7kJBxLXSMBRa42oux~2Yz85s6Z0lQmiUlpk4G14FezbtBUUd50sGBZZPmHUn~z-Mdht3N5Z3opR0l74WFHP7R7koLO21Qc8y2w55i1mdVWhprcm9PMZ~oE1nIa~kv9nSZlbEaYACftd~ScQ~75iTKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilor Marisol Ferreira presented the Haverhill City Council with a proposed historic house plaque program developed with the Highlands Neighborhood Association and the Historical Commission. The voluntary program would allow homeowners to place a 15-by-22-inch plaque on qualifying houses to record basic historic information: original owner or architect, occupation and year built, and an optional neighborhood or district name.

Ferreira emphasized that the plaque is optional and does not place any protections, restrictions or historic-designation status on a property. The Highlands Neighborhood Association will review source materials submitted by applicants to verify the information before signage is ordered.

Becky Geller, head of Special Collections and Archives at the Haverhill Public Library, told the council the library can support homeowners researching property histories. Geller said the library holds building survey data sheets, a photographic survey (late 1970s), city and Bradford directories dating back to the 19th century, Sanborn fire insurance maps and an online digital photo archive of roughly 14,000 images; staff can also provide guidance on deed research at the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds web site (salemdeeds.com).

Geller said she has already received the first patron inquiry for the program and described Special Collections’ hours (Monday–Wednesday 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Thursday 3 p.m.–7 p.m., and planned Saturday hours one day per month), an open house scheduled March 7 from 5–7 p.m., and a Saturday session on March 15 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Councilors asked about sign sourcing; Ferreira said a local company is offering a template and homeowners may use other vendors if they prefer.

Why it matters: The program is intended to make it easier for homeowners to document local history, support walking-tour and tourism efforts, and encourage public engagement with Haverhill’s built heritage without imposing regulatory change.

What’s next: Ferreira said edits suggested by the city solicitor will be incorporated and the city website’s Historic Commission page will be updated with application instructions, research resources and ordering information; no formal council vote occurred at the meeting.","Councilor Ferreira outlined a new, optional historic house plaque program to help homeowners document and mark older properties; the library’s special collections will assist research and a local sign vendor will supply the plaques.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299858,"Councilors discuss Healey plan to add CTE seats and proposed lottery for admissions",706,1633000,2339000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495146-3aa3e5aad69b3590aee23c685ee064e3&start=1633&end=2339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495146-3aa3e5aad69b3590aee23c685ee064e3/thumbnail_1633000.jpg","/articles/6299858/Haverhill-City/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Councilors-discuss-Healey-plan-to-add-CTE-seats-and-proposed-lottery-for-admissions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299858-d3e51af79771ca04588c5d9c36eb5e0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195690&Signature=l5clFSaZQMCbo~31BdiXEyXYGBThMhZMlHUz-mFeI0YrDWZhlyPuLdCJovcAoDhcCOfHNYSh9~l0-iV-dzRCOq0mFEgCvJP7JHjp7RvPQ~c6-k9amahxgcvMLMEvclGq8s5wR2vKcI-cJMs3UN30PGqH4VVpGb1-kMRYZG3IDn62Dtuic10J42eVoiVRRFIG6X3Q7f4rIv5IMuaRFYq6ky8BTrI5FEkdj8CwBBjBRQdDEwXx3u-wNuLJWbyJPTadnBcuHNqZYmCt8fS04kn31b66myfFySpZCdk5ult3M7e0SfyneUhb8LBUtNdjyAoZK0cZb6p9gzdCvr4FAb07zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilor Matthew Mitchison told the Haverhill City Council that Governor Maura Healey’s supplemental budget would include $75 million for career-technical education (CTE) grants intended to add about 3,000 new VOTEC (vocational-technical) seats statewide over three years and a proposed $100 million for “skills capital” grants to upgrade labs and expand program capacity.

Mitchison, who identified the Governor’s plan as containing “lots of good things,” said the proposal would also create a lottery for admissions to address equity concerns and would limit selective criteria to certain disciplinary or attendance rules. He said middle schools would be required to maintain district-wide policies to expose students to CTE options and that the overall package “fits into what we’ve been working on” to align K–12, community colleges, nonprofits and employers around career pathways.

The measures, Mitchison said, aim to expand opportunities but that the proposed lottery is controversial and may not fully resolve equity questions. “I like the intent,” he said, but added that the lottery “needs to be looked at in more detail.” He also said he has asked Representative Andy Vargas to notify the council when hearings on the bill are scheduled.

Mayor James Barrett told the council the city and local partners have met with Northern Essex Community College (NECC) stakeholders and others to explore models for expanding seats locally. Barrett said four MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority) model options remain under consideration, including building on existing campuses or developing a separate campus with shared uses; he said a feasibility study among the participating communities is the first hurdle and that the current intercommunity agreement likely requires the participating communities’ approval.

Vice President Jordan welcomed the additional seats and described the proposal as “promising,” while Councilor Toohey pressed on local impacts and costs, asking whether Haverhill could lose students under a lottery and noting the city’s per‑student cost for out‑placement to regional vocational programs (Toohey described the per‑student cost as approximately $9,800 and cited local enrollment figures as an estimate). Mitchison and others said the state’s plan to add seats statewide would allocate additional capacity to local VOTEC programs but likely would not eliminate demand pressures immediately.

Councilors and the mayor described ongoing local planning, including facilitated meetings and a possible feasibility study involving roughly 11 communities; Barrett said one community was not participating at present, which could require legislative action if it remains so. Councilors asked for follow-up reports; no vote or formal council action was taken at the meeting.

Why it matters: Enrollment and admission policies for regional vocational schools affect local students’ career pathways and municipal budgets for tuition and transportation. The state funding and capital grants under consideration could materially increase local opportunities if a regional plan and feasibility study proceed.

What’s next: Councilor Mitchison said he will share hearing dates when Representative Vargas provides them; Mayor Barrett said the local stakeholder group expects more detail within weeks.","Councilor Mitchison briefed the Haverhill City Council on Gov. Maura Healey’s supplemental budget proposals to add career-technical education seats, establish a lottery for oversubscribed programs and fund capital upgrades; Mayor Barrett and councilors discussed local planning and next steps; no council action was taken.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Haverhill Council accepts donations, approves MOA, OKs MassDOT easement and other routine items

Haverhill launches optional historic house plaque program; library offers research support

Councilors discuss Healey plan to add CTE seats and proposed lottery for admissions