Public Meetings This Week: Negotiations Begin with Educational Support Professionals

Haverhill School Committee members appear perplexed by gifts of “uncompensated time” delivered by union members last December. (Courtesy photograph.)

The public has opportunities to shape policy this week as various Haverhill boards meet. In the interest of transparency in government, WHAV provides this list of upcoming meetings every week.

Negotiations begin in earnest this week aimed at giving Haverhill schools’ educational support professionals a new contract by June. 30.

Haverhill School Committee Negotiating Team for the ESP Unit of the Haverhill Education Association meets behind closed doors tomorrow at 5 p.m., in the School Administration Conference Room, Haverhill City Hall. Union President Anthony J. Parolisi previewed the contract talks last December, saying one goal is to ensure members—who currently earn between $19,0000 and $27,000 a year—earn a living wage. He notes MIT’s living wage calculator for Essex County suggests an income of at least $38 an hour.

Educational support professionals provided faux holiday gifts to School Committee members. The gifts represented uncompensated work provided by union members. Such extra work includes teaching double classes when there are no substitutes and being used as lunchroom monitors. (See earlier story.)

In other public meetings this week:

Tuesday, Feb. 11

Haverhill Board of Assessors meets for its regular weekly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 11, 9 a.m., in room 115, Haverhill City Hall, 4 Summer St.

Haverhill Retirement Board meets Tuesday, Feb. 11, 9 a.m., in room 303, Haverhill City Hall. The agenda includes investment consultant review and updates, Teamsters union local 170 contract discussion, new members and retires.

Collaborative for Regional Educational Services and Training (CREST) Board of Directors, Tuesday, Feb. 11, noon, 20 Shattuck Road, Andover. Among other items, board will discuss financing for new facility.

Haverhill City Council is being asked to approve taking an additional $170,000 from bond proceeds—a total of $570,000—to cover the additional cost of replacing the roof at Haverhill High School’s Charles W. White Pool. Other items include Mayor James F. Fiorentini’s veto of a parking ordinance which aimed to give all city councilors a parking pass and invoke the “rule of necessity.” (See related story.) City Councilor Timothy J. Jordan also plans to discuss repairs to the city’s Water Street fire station and Councilor John A. Michitson will provide updates on attracting alternative internet providers and cyber security. The Council meets Tuesday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m., in Theodore A. Pelosi Jr. City Council Chambers, room 202, in Haverhill City Hall.

Haverhill Public Schools Diversity Committee receives a report on the number of full-time Latino professionals working in the school system and hears plans to set “measurable short-term goals” and “specific tasks” to be completed. The Committee meets Tuesday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m., in room 301, Haverhill City Hall.

Wednesday, Feb. 12

Pentucket Lake Elementary School Site Council meets to discuss its school improvement plan, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 8 a.m., at the school’s conference room, 252 Concord St., Haverhill.

Haverhill School Committee Finance Subcommittee discusses, among other items, money for a study by Matrix Consulting Group and extra money from the Student Opportunity Act. The Committee meets Wednesday, Feb. 12, 8:30 a.m., in the Superintendent’s office, room 104, Haverhill City Hall.

Haverhill’s Water and Wastewater Rating Boards plan to discuss water and wastewater abatement requests when they meet Wednesday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m., in room 300, Haverhill City Hall.

Haverhill Planning Board discusses discharging bonds posted for developments at Augustin Avenue/MacKenzie Way and Cataline Way/Lyons Farm Estates. The bonds are typically required to ensure developers meet city requirements. They will also discuss performance guarantees for Scotland Heights. The Board meets Wednesday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m., in the Theodore A. Pelosi Jr. City Council Chambers, room 202, Haverhill City Hall.

Thursday, Feb. 13

Haverhill Conservation Commission determines whether it has jurisdiction over plans by Paradigm Property for soil improvements at 20 Computer Drive and receives notices of intent from Apache Trucking Co. for a commercial trucking operation on Fondi Road and Bay State Pallet Co. for wetland resource area boundaries at 293 Neck Road. The Commission will also hear a violation notice issued to John Micue for 93 Carleton St. The Commission meets Thursday, Feb. 13, 7:15 p.m., room 301, Haverhill City Hall.

Friday, Feb. 14

Hillview Montessori Charter Public School Board of Trustees meets Friday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m., at the school, 75 Foundation Ave.

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