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.
Two approaches to changing Haverhill’s more than 50-year-old charter are before city councilors tonight.
City Solicitor William D. Cox Jr. prepared ballot questions, requested earlier by councilors, for discussion. The first would ask voters to approve allowing voters to elect city councilors and school committee members by ward, while a second question asked whether a more comprehensive review of city government should be undertaken by forming a Charter Commission next year.
Mayor James J. Fiorentini originally proposed electing city councilors by ward during his election kickoff last year. In January, however, a forum, “Exploring the Possibility of Neighborhood Representation,” introduced related topics such as possible election of School Committee members by wards and limiting the mayor’s powers.
The Haverhill City Council meets remotely at 7 p.m.
In other public meetings this week:
Wednesday, May 20
Hillview Montessori Board of Trustees meets Wednesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Haverhill Appeals Board meets Wednesday, May 20, remotely, at 7 p.m., to hear, among other items, a proposal by Sohan and Meenu Saini to convert the former Montessori School, 55 Saltonstall Road, into a single-family home with an additional apartment above the garage, and a proposal by Christopher Zielinski and Joseph Ambrosino to construct eight apartments at 222 Washington St.
Thursday, May 21
Haverhill Public Library Board of Trustees meets Thursday, May 21, at 8:30 a.m., remotely. On the agenda are income and expenses reports and redesign of the library website.
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission meets Thursday, May 21, 11 a.m., remotely. Members plan the annual election of officers.