The swearing in ceremony at Haverhill City Hall auditorium.
Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini, sworn into a seventh term this morning, by U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey said he seeks to make Haverhill “a walkable city” during his new term.
To achieve this goal, he said, “It will take millions to fix the sidewalks in the city and millions more to build more. That is our challenge. But the Chinese have a saying, the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. This year, I’ll propose that we take the first step to becoming a more walkable city by investing more in our sidewalks than we have invested for decades.” The mayor also recounted the city’s situation as he said it existed during his first term.
“This is our time! Today we stand no longer at the brink of receivership. Today we stand on the brink of greatness and we ready to build the city of tomorrow. But with every opportunity come challenges.”
Michitson, Barrett Take Top Council Posts
As expected, John A. Michitson was elected president of the city council, and Melinda E. Barrett was elected council vice president. Councilors typically name the two top vote-getters to these leadership posts.
Councilors also welcomed new members Andy Vargas and Joseph J. Bevilacqua.
Bevilacqua to Announce School Committee Decision
Bevilacqua says he will announce later today whether he plans to remain on the Haverhill School Committee. He told WHAV News that, either way, he will attend the first school committee meeting of the year.
WHAV plans to present full coverage of the inauguration tomorrow.
Very few of the sidewalks are walkable now.
His plan to combat the looming shortage of parking downtown.
“Today we stand no longer at the brink of receivership.” –
I must have misread the city budget where over 30% of it is from state aid.
Start TODAY with every new building permit and require concrete sidewalks be constructed like there once was on both sides of the street. No more asphalt or one time asphalt curbing.
At 34 square miles, that’s a lot of walking and a lot of sidewalks to build ! Rep. Dempsey had better open up the state house money spigot once again and up the anti. Either that or the Mayor will have to unlock the cash he is hiding under his bed !