Haverhill Councilors Tuesday night delayed a planned a public hearing on creating zoning overlay districts for so-called Battery Energy Storage Systems, or BESS, until their Tuesday, Sept. 15, meeting.
The postponement came at the request of Vice President John A. Michitson who was absent. Michitson heads the Council’s Planning and Development Committee which is developing criteria for siting such battery farms.
At the initial discussion, the Council asked the city’s planning department to rank sites which are suitable for such an installation. Back in May, City Solicitor Lisa L. Mead drafted an ordinance that would allow a battery storage farm at the former Dutton Airport, off Route 110 near Northern Essex Community College. City Environmental Health Technician Robert E. Moore Jr. told councilors, while most of the 96-acre airport site is off limits because of the presence of the endangered Blanding’s turtle, the actual 15-acre airport land is flat and far enough away marsh areas to accommodate a battery storage facility. It is also near a transmission line and off Interstate 495.
Also postponed was the continuation of a public hearing on a request from Maryam Salehi Ala-Yamin for a special permit to the operation of a three-bedroom bed and breakfast at 421 E. Broadway. The hearing was rescheduled to Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the applicant’s request.
Casey Rice representing Rice & Brouillard, was granted a special permit to convert an underutilized one-and-a-half story commercial building at 125 River St. into a three-family residence.
Haverhill city councilors, as expected, also placed on file for the required 10 days a $26.2 million loan to finance a permanent fix to the city’s sewer pumping station and force main.
The failure of a 1970s-era 42-inch line sent millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the Merrimack River for several days earlier this summer while temporary bypasses were laid. The city’s approach will be to replace what was once a single line with two new 36-inch parallel force mains between the South Mill Street Pump Station and the Wastewater Treatment Plant on S. Porter Street, according to Haverhill Public Works Director Robert E. Ward.
Councilors approved submitting a home rule petition to the legislature that would allow John M. Roche to take the state Civil Service exam in an effort to join the Haverhill Fire Department although he is over the maximum age of 32. A graduate of Haverhill High School, Roche is currently a maintenance mechanic for the Haverhill Housing Authority.
The Council recognized two citizens with citations for their accomplishments. Lisa MacDougall was honored for being named the 2026 Exchangite of the Year by the Exchange Club of Haverhill. Nicky Tejada was honored for winning the North American Boxing Association’s Gold Super Lightweight Championship.