The Haverhill School Committee is moving ahead with an application for financial assistance from the state regarding needed repairs at two city schools. The Committee voted last Thursday to approve sending a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for necessary upgrades to the William H. Moody School and the Silver Hill Elementary […]
By John Lee Grant |
Haverhill High School gymnasium. (WHAV News file photograph.)
The Haverhill City Council on Tuesday approved spending $60,000 to pay for a feasibility study and design for a partial roof replacement project at Haverhill High School.
The study and schematic design are required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority as part of a possible state Accelerated Repair Program grant.
During the Schematic Design Study phase, the MSBA will work with the city’s project manager to find an economic, educationally appropriate and sustainable solution to the repair of the facility.
In a related matter, a request by Council President Melinda E. Barrett for a status update on the newly combined city and school’s maintenance department was put on hold after Council Vice President Colin F. LePage said new Maintenance Director Steve Dorrance plans to address the Council in person to discuss what has been achieved over the past three months as well as his vision going
By John Lee Grant |
Haverhill City Councilor Timothy J. Jordan. (WHAV News file photograph by Jay Saulnier.)
The business of running a city is not just about how money should be spent, but also when. This was demonstrated this week in a matter showing Haverhill’s mayor and City Council do not always see eye to eye.
It became apparent when Councilors Colin F. LePage and Timothy J. Jordan expressed frustration with the lack of movement on a proposal to hire a social worker to accompany police on certain calls. The request, made two months ago by Haverhill Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro, received the full support of the City Council. Since then, however, to Jordan’s dismay, the mayor has taken no action and said he’ll consider it only during the next budget, which begins July 1.
By John Lee Grant |
February 4, 2021
Rocky Morrison, Ava Valianti and City Councilor Colin F. LePage in 2019. (WHAV News file photograph.)
As the song goes, the City of Boston may love that dirty water, the Clean River Project does not and has been doing something about it.
On Tuesday, the Haverhill City Council heard from Rocky Morrison, who founded the organization in 2005 after seeing piles of trash along the banks of the Merrimack River. At the request of Council Vice President Colin F. LePage, Morrison provided an overview. He told councilors his team pulled more than 20 tons of debris out of the river in the past year alone. Kristen Bachman, office manager for the project, gave examples of what they found.
Council Vice President Colin F. LePage. (WHAV News file photograph.)
Haverhill city councilors want regional and state help in easing the crisis of homelessness especially during the era of COVID-19.
The Council, led by Council Vice President Colin F. LePage, unanimously agreed last week to reach out to Mayor James J. Fiorentini, the state legislative delegation and surrounding cities and towns for help. Jeanine Murphy, CEO of Emmaus House, said her organization’s programs are being stretched to their limits this year as a result of COVID-19 and the need for social distancing.
“Normally, in the wintertime, we can go up to 45 people, but we’re not going to be able to do that this winter because we’re at our max in terms of maintaining social distancing and safe protocols,” she explained.