Haverhill

Proposed Solar Field Near Lovers Lane on Hold Through October

By |

Haverhill city councilors this week opted to continue discussions on a proposed solar field near Lovers Lane amid concerns over the scope and scale of the plan, which could impact more than 23 acres of green space near the New Hampshire border. Attorney Robert D. Harb, representing applicant Christopher Anderson of Hannigan Engineering said the project proposes using approximately 23 acres of a greater than 120-acre site to build a large-scale solar field. “This is going to be a good source of renewable energy, not carbon-based fuels. We’re going to be tied into the grid,” he said. He clarified abutting residents will not receive a discount on their bill.

Haverhill

Haverhill City Council Petitions State to Expand Board of Health to Five Members

By |

The City Council on Tuesday approved a Home Rule Petition to expand the city’s Board of Health to five members. Councilors unanimously approved the petition, the first step in adding additional seats to the board at the request of Mayor Melinda E. Barrett. “It kind of showed itself, a three-person board is a little tricky if people are out sick or the doctor that is on the panel was working and away. It became difficult,” she said. As only WHAV reported, a letter from City Solicitor Lisa L. Mead said state law limits the city to a three-person board.

Education

Haverhill Schools Look to Replace Services as Beth Israel Lahey Health Plans to End Clinic

By |

Haverhill school administrators are scrambling to determine what services families may need as they learned Beth Israel Lahey Health Community Behavioral Health Center will soon close its outpatient clinic here. Director of Guidance Counseling and Student Support Services Jami Dion recently told the School Committee she learned of the closing after having a conversation with Lahey on Sept. 23. “This information is new and I’m sure that plans will evolve and change over the coming weeks and months and I can provide updates as I get them,” she said. Dion said she will have biweekly meetings with Lahey between September and “the next few months.”

Though the outpatient clinic is slated to close at the end of the month, she said, it will not impact all services the center provides.

Education

Haverhill Public Schools MCAS Scores Appear to Reflect Continued Chronic Absenteeism

By |

Haverhill educators last Thursday pored through Haverhill’s Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System—or MCAS—results which showed in many cases the city roughly tracking the state in downward scores. The learning loss that came about as a result of the pandemic and its shift towards remote schooling that began more than four years ago is still showing up in standardized test results, state officials said last week, as they released the latest batch of MCAS scores. “The road back from the pandemic is not short,” Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler said during a press briefing on the test results. The Department of Secondary and Elementary Education compares Haverhill to communities such as Worcester, Pittsfield, Leominster, Methuen and Fitchburg. For English Language Arts achievement among grades three through eight, among comparable districts Haverhill falls dead center at 26% of students meeting or exceeding expectations, according to data presented to the School Committee.

Education

Haverhill Public Schools to Acquire Former Social Security Office; Feds Offer it Free

By |

Haverhill Public Schools will soon acquire the city’s former Social Security office free from the federal government and use it for special education programs.

As WHAV reported in March, the Social Security Administration quietly moved its 367 Main St. office to 62 Brown St., leaving the former office vacant. Mayor Melinda E. Barrett told councilors Tuesday night how the transfer came about. “As is the process, the federal government offers the building to educational or public safety departments in the community…The school department took a look at it and decided that they could use that for a number of different testing and office space for different things.”

The building is accessible, has parking and it’s on a bus route. “It fits a lot of the niches that they are looking for,” the mayor said.

Haverhill

Haverhill Councilors Call for Keeping iHub, New Management to Replace UMass Lowell

By |

Haverhill’s elected officials are calling for the continuation of the downtown business incubator, operated by UMass Lowell, with new management. Councilor John A. Michitson said Tuesday the Innovation Hub, now scheduled to close at the end of the year, is critical for Haverhill’s future. “UMass Lowell and the iHub cannot leave. UMass Lowell’s commitment to helping Haverhill with workforce development, innovation and economic development isn’t completed. In fact, we need it more than ever,” he said.

Haverhill

Proposed Haverhill Multi-Family Development, Freeman Street Connection Brings Opposition

By |

Late update: Developer Michael Cassell this morning withdrew his special permit request to construct two triplexes for a total of six units. His lawyer, Michael J. Migliori, told WHAV Cassell will now build two duplexes, for a total of four units, which is allowed by right. “It became clear that it didn’t have enough votes on the Council, especially with the supermajority you need these days. We’re dealing with a Council of 10 and I need eight votes. From the feedback I got, that wasn’t going to happen,” he said.

Haverhill

Liquor License Violations Bring Forced Closings, Probation for New Lantern Cafe in Haverhill

By |

Correction:  The License Commission voted unanimously to mandate the bar to completely close Friday through Sunday, Sept. 6 through 8, and Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 12 through 15, and imposed eight months’ probation. A heated show cause hearing recently resulted in limited hours of operation for downtown Haverhill’s New Lantern Cafe amid several alleged liquor license violations. According to Haverhill Police Department Patrolman Bryan Bailey, two people were involved in an altercation inside the bar, with an additional person involved outside of the bar.