Click image for Haverhill City Council agenda.
Haverhill has reached a new agreement with the owner of an East Broadway property to take the entire 7.4-acre site for $1.8 million, rather than a portion of the property for a well.
City officials originally proposed paying half as much for a portion of the property for a radial collector riverbank well, but a required two-thirds of city councilors could not agree. Councilors are expected Tuesday to place on file for a required 10 days a request to borrow another $900,000. Public Works Director Robert E. Ward explained the arrangements in a letter.
“The proposed approach represents a negotiated or ‘friendly’ taking, whereby the city would exercise its eminent domain authority with the cooperation and agreement of the property owner. Under this approach, the city and property owner have agreed to a mutually agreed-upon Taking Agreement that establishes the compensation, terms and conditions of the acquisition, thereby avoiding contested eminent domain proceedings while still achieving the city’s water supply objectives,” he wrote.
Owner Joyce E. Hill resisted the partial taking, prompting councilors to ask Ward to continue negotiating in order to avoid a possibly costly legal battle.
Ward is proposing to use $900,000 from the city’s Water Enterprise Fund and borrow the remaining $900,000. He said by paying off the loan over 20 years, rate payers would see an additional four cents per hundred cubic feet on their water bills.
The city has been eyeing the land on the Merrimack for more than 10 years to dig a unique radial collector riverbank well. Tests have shown the property has the specific geologic qualities for the well which would draw water from the aquafer under the river. The city’s pursuit of the additional water supply has taken on new urgency as the city and much of the northeast has experienced drought conditions for more than two years.
Councilors are expected to postpone a special permit request from Jony Perez. The permit would allow conversion of a now-vacant, former dental office building at 121 Merrimack St. into a first-floor day care center with 12 apartments on the second and third floors.
Planning Director Jackie Byerley sent council a letter suggesting postponing further discussion and vote until the Haverhill Planning Board acts on a related request on its Wednesday, July 8, agenda.
Council Vice President John A. Michitson plans to introduce Katie Cook, president of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, to discuss a scheduled Artificial Intelligence Summit on Thursday, June 18, at Pinnacle at Harbor Place.
In anticipation of major construction at the Haverhill Public Library, Haverhill City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright plans to ask the Council for the okay the move early voting for Ward 3, Precinct 2 from the library’s Johnson Auditorium to City Hall for both the state’s September primary and November general election.
Barrett also plans to recognize Tuesday, May 19 as Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Day in the city at the request of Julianne Piraino.
The Haverhill City Council meets Tuesday night at 7 p.m., remotely and in-person at the Theodore A. Pelosi Jr. Council Chambers, room 202, Haverhill City Hall, 4 Summer St. As a public service, 97.9 WHAV plans to carry the meeting live.