Council Approves City Hall, Police Station, HHS Repairs

Haverhill City Concilor Mary Ellen Daly O’Brien. (WHAV News file photograph.)

City Councilor Mary Ellen Daly O’Brien.

A series of repairs and upgrades slated for three city buildings, including Haverhill City Hall, will move forward with unanimous support from the Haverhill City Council.

Councilors voted 9 to 0 Tuesday night to transfer a total $75,600 in funds from current and previous year capital accounts for repairs and upgrades including the city hall parking lot stairway, the police station sprinkler system and for sidewalk and curbing repairs at the high school. Councilor Mary Ellen Daly O’Brien said a lot of pressure was put on the mayor to have city hall repairs, including the concrete stairway, included among the items.

“That back staircase has been dangerous for some time. I knew it was going to cost a lot of money, it was not going to be an easy repair. But I think, one by one, chipping away, this building is a very important building in Haverhill. It was a very beautiful high school, so many graduated from here. We lent it to Amesbury when they lost their high school back in the 60s. And some people from Amesbury came to this school for their entire high school,” Daly O’Brien said.

Councilor William J. Macek told President John A. Michitson clarified a line item for air conditioner repair is for the Theodore A. Pelosi Jr. Council Chambers and not the city council office.

In addition to the $1,556.61 air conditioner repair, the city is spending $12,000 to repair the concrete stairway plus $20,489.39 for energy upgrades at city hall. Another $9,500 will be used for sprinkler system repairs and upgrades at the Haverhill police station on Bailey Boulevard.

A total $32,053.73 will be used for “safety improvements to the sidewalk and walkway at Haverhill High School” to repair uneven surfaces which have emerged since the 2010 renovation, as well as to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).