Citizens Center

Mayor’s HOPE Task Force to Discuss Drug-Free Communities Grant, More This Week

The mayor’s Haverhill Overdose Prevention and Education—HOPE—Task Force meets this week to discuss, among other things, necessary steps to qualify for a grant from the federal Drug-Free Communities Support Program. The Committee, headed by HOPE Program Director Charlie Manzi also plans to hear from Haverhill High School Athletic Director Thomas O’Brien on April school vacation resources. The meeting takes place Wednesday, March 27, at 4 p.m., at the Haverhill Citizen Center, 10 Welcome St., second floor, Haverhill.

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

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.

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

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, Other Merrimack Valley Communities to Use $50K State Grant to Protect River

Haverhill, Methuen and other member communities of the Merrimack Valley Stormwater Collaborative will use a $50,000 state grant to beef up monitoring of stormwater discharges and illegal releases into the Merrimack River. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection awarded the amount to the Merrimack Valley Stormwater Collaborative, comprised of the 15 communities of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, to help communities meet the requirements of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit and reduce pollution in stormwater discharges. “These grants are incredibly important to ensure collaboration between cities and towns to manage the harmful pollutants that can get mixed in with our stormwater,” said state Rep. Andy X. Vargas, adding, “As we address the long-term problem of CSOs and more, this grant will allow Haverhill and the rest of the Merrimack Valley to update inspection program software, so that we can continue to keep our city’s water clean and safe.”

Similar accolades came from Sen. Barry R. Finegold and Rep. Ryan M. Hamilton. Specifically, according to the state, “the grant will be used to transition and upgrade the region’s stormwater inspection program software. This program aids in stormwater asset management, illicit discharge detection and elimination and general stormwater system operation and maintenance.”

Communities are required to develop stormwater management programs that include public education and outreach, public participation, illicit discharge detection and elimination, management of construction site runoff, management of post-construction site runoff and good housekeeping measures to reduce pollution.

Road Race on Sunday at HHS to Benefit Michelle Benedetti Scholarships

A 5K or 10-Mile Road Race to benefit Michelle Benedetti scholarships at Haverhill and North Andover High Schools takes place Sunday. The 10-miler begins at 10, while the 5K starts at 10:30, Sunday, March 24, at Haverhill High School, 137 Monument St., Haverhill. A t-shirt and race medal will be given to registered runners and there will be prizes for the top three finishers in each age bracket. There will also be raffle, swag for sale and an after party at Maria’s Restaurant, 81 Essex St., Haverhill. Entry fees are $35 for the 5K and $45 for the 10-mile race and may be paid online at mishstrong.org.

Northern Essex Community College to Present ‘An Afternoon with Andre Dubus III’

New York Times Bestselling author and Haverhill native Andre Dubus III will be reading from his latest books, “Ghost Dogs: On Killers and Kin” and “Such Kindness,” during an upcoming talk at Northern Essex Community College. Dubus speaks Tuesday, April 9, 12:30 p.m., at Northern Essex Community College Haverhill campus, C Building, Lecture Hall A, 100 Elliot St., Haverhill. “An Afternoon with Andre Dubus III” is presented by Northern Essex Community College’s Writing Associate Degree program, Parnassus literary magazine and Liberal Arts Division.

MakeIT Haverhill Job Fair March 28 to Connect Job Seekers with Additional Employers

MakeIT Haverhill’s latest job fair showcases new offerings from such employers as Revise Energy, Anna Jaques Hospital, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, among many others. Revise Energy is looking for weatherization technicians, canvassers and HVAC service technicians. Anna Jaques has job openings across all departments, including housekeeping, food services and clinical positions and Greater Lawrence Family Health Center seeks call center and patient services representatives, pharmacy techs in training, medical assistants, nurses and community health workers. Other employers include Waystone Health & Human Services, Lawrence General Hospital, Penacook Place and Mary Immaculate, Opportunity Works, Whittier Health Network, Multicultural Home Care, Hilltop School and Amazon’s North Andover center. The free job fair, which allows job seekers to meet with local employers and learn about available openings, takes place Thursday, March 28, from 4-6 p.m., at 301 Washington St., Haverhill.

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

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.