Haverhill

Haverhill Begins Formal Process of Paying Ahead for $276 Million in Future Retirees’ Insurances

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Haverhill is banking up to $25 million a year to catch up on decades of deferrals in funding future employee retirement pensions, but has officially put nothing aside to pay retirees health insurance costs. City CFO and City Auditor Angel A. Perkins told city councilors this week the city expects to meet its pension obligations in 2032, but will then have to fast track catching up on what is called other post-employment benefits—or OPEB, for short. “When our pension liability becomes fully funded in 2032, it’s going to free up anywhere from $20 to $25 million annually in appropriations and we’d like to pivot a significant portion of that to begin funding the OPEB,” she explained. She explained the source of what is now an estimated $276 million obligation. “Employees retire.

Education

Whittier Tech School Board Member Richard Early of Haverhill Plans to Seek Reappointment

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One of Haverhill two representatives to the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee confirms he is seeking reappointment. Richard P. Early Jr., whose current three-year-term ends March 31, told WHAV Thursday he submitted paperwork to Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, chairperson, and School Committee Vice Chair Paul A. Magliocchetti. Early has served as one of Haverhill’s two representatives for nearly 24 years. As WHAV reported first Wednesday, the city is seeking applicants for both of its seats on the Whittier Tech School Committee. Besides Early, the seat held by former Haverhill School Committee member Scott W. Wood Jr. was declared vacant as part of a new policy adopted last week.

Haverhill

Haverhill Taking Applications for Youth Activities and Mental Health Fund Through April 12

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For the third year in a row, Haverhill is accepting applications for its Youth Activities and Mental Health Fund. Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, who helped launch the program in 2021 while serving as a city councilor, said $750,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act money is earmarked for the program with $250,000 dedicated exclusively to mental health-specific programs. Speaking before city councilors last month, Barrett said federal money comes with many more strings attached than local funds. “It is much more cumbersome.  Even [for] the school department, who got a lot of the money last round, I believe [ARPA Manager Kathleen Lambert] has been chasing people down because you have to have the documentation so we don’t get the ding in the end that we have to pay the federal government back because we didn’t do something right.”

As WHAV first reported, Barrett and councilors acknowledged federal money runs out this year and the city is looking to continue the program operating with grants and other money. The program was created in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the grant application, “The isolation and disconnections caused by the pandemic have led to learning losses, emotional distress and an increase in behavioral issues, substance abuse and clinical mental health episodes.”

The city seeks proposals to address the educational, social, physical well- being and mental health needs of Haverhill’s youth through educational options, socialization, enrichment and recreation activities, employment skills training and other youth development opportunities.

Haverhill

Councilors Approve Eight Haverhill Apartments After Weighing Parking and Trash Removal Concerns

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Haverhill city councilors last night greenlighted a plan to restore an historic downtown building with eight apartments on the upper two floors. Representing developer Rob Landry of Four Points Property Management, attorney Robert D. Harb said plans for the Adams Building, 38-42 Washington St., include two affordable apartments and is allowed by right. “The outside work will meet—and has met—historic district requirements. We’ve got the approval. Number two, all that work is inside an existing building and it will all meet code and will all meet all of the requirements of the city departments.

Haverhill

Haverhill Councilors to Try Again Hearing Proposal for 8 Apartments in Historic Downtown Building

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Haverhill city councilors tonight will try again to hear a special permit petition that seeks to bring two affordable as well as six market rate apartments to an historic downtown Washington Street building. Councilors planned to hear the proposal last month from Rob Landry of Four Points Property Management, but postponed consideration because Councilor Melissa J. Lewandowski was absent.  Attorney Robert D. Harb asked for the delay, saying the developer prefers the entire council be present for the vote, which requires eight of 11 members to say yes. If a special permit is granted, eight, one-bedroom apartments would replace office space above two storefronts at the Adams Building at 38-42 Washington St. The property—a three-story, Italianate-style building constructed after the Great Fire of 1882—was for many years the home of the Rosen family’s Modern Paint and Hardware store.

Crime

Reports Say Two Gunmen Set Target on 20-Year-Old at Haverhill Hotel; Victim May Have Returned Fire

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Gunfire outside a Haverhill hotel seriously injured a 20-year-old man and sent others, including at least two guests, scrambling, while the main gunman appears to remain at large and possibly wounded. Police reports on file at Haverhill District Court detailed the chaotic situation that unfolded Wednesday afternoon and led to the arrest of 24-year-old Dexon Justabe of Methuen. Justabe is now believed to have pointed a gun at a hotel guest and participated in a robbery, but was not identified as the principal shooter. Instead, a man—who drove Justabe to the hotel in a Kia Sorento registered to a Revere man—is believed to have fired the life-threatening shots at the 20-year-old from Lawrence. He then drove off in the victim’s 2019 Honda CRV and, according to residents’ home security videos, ditched it on New Hampshire Avenue and walked toward South Elm Street while appearing to “check his lower torso area for a wound.”

As WHAV reported earlier, Justabe was arrested and charged with armed carjacking, assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying loaded firearm without a license, possession of a large capacity feeding device, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and improper storge of a firearm.

Crime

Possible Haverhill Carjacking Victim, 20, in Critical Condition with Gunshot Wounds

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A 20-year-old Lawrence man is reported in critical condition after, Haverhill police say, he was shot multiple times yesterday afternoon during a “possible carjacking” in Haverhill. Haverhill police arrested 24-year-old Dexon Justabe of Methuen in connection with the incident, charging him with armed carjacking, assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying loaded firearm without a license, possession of a large capacity feeding device, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and improper storge of a firearm. According to a press release from Deputy Police Chief Stephen J. Doherty Jr., police said the shooting took place at Hampton Inn, 106 Bank Road, parallel to River Street, in Haverhill. Police said it received an initial report just after 4 p.m. of a possible carjacking where a man suffered a “gunshot wound to his stomach.” On arrival, officers found the Lawrence man suffering from “multiple apparent gunshot wounds” and he was taken to an area hospital

Haverhill and State Police are investigating. They ask that anyone who may have any information to call Detective Matthew Marshall at 978-373-1212, ext.

Crime

Family of Slain 21-Year-Old From Haverhill Seeks Online Donations to Help Pay for Funeral

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Donations are being accepted on behalf of the family of the 21-year-old Haverhill man who was shot and killed early Sunday morning in North Andover. Jaeby Ortiz Ruiz was allegedly shot and killed by 22-year-old Derick Moncion, also of Haverhill, according to Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray. Moncion, listed on a Haverhill police arrest log as a resident of Hilldale Avenue, was arrested on a warrant Monday night, around 8:30. “This has all came too soon and too fast. On (Sunday) we lost a real ghetto angel and one of the realest persons in our lives with his departure he left us all in a deep grieve and with an emptiness in our hearts,” wrote Ninoshka Ruiz on GoFundMe.