Haverhill City Council confirms appointments, files five ordinances, accepts $60,000 gift; approves underground conduit work; Target withdraws permit

Haverhill City Council on an in-person meeting approved several routine but consequential items: confirming appointments to the Commission on Disability Issues, placing five proposed city-code amendments on file for 10 days, accepting a $60,000 gift for the Haverhill Police Department fitness and training room, granting National Grid permission to install underground electrical conduits on Kenoza Avenue, and recording Target Corporation’s withdrawal of a planned special-permit application for temporary storage containers at 35 Computer Drive.

The actions were taken without extended debate and passed by roll-call votes. The council confirmed three appointments to the Commission on Disability Issues — Anne Doty, Joyce Thibodeaux and Dana Lovell — by unanimous vote. Councilors also voted unanimously to receive and place on file a reconstituted Vietnam Veterans Memorial ad hoc commission and to swear in the new members.

Mayor James E. Barrett presented a gift order for $60,000 from Cedars Mediterranean Food LLP to be used exclusively for remodeling and updating the fitness and training room at the Haverhill Police Department; the council approved acceptance (10 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent). The mayor said the police chief was present for the item.

In a series of votes taken individually, the council placed five ordinances on file for 10 days so they may return for further consideration: an ordinance regarding general provisions (chapter 1, article 1), an ordinance regarding boats and boating (chapter 116), an ordinance amending firearms provisions (chapter 145, section 19), an ordinance making entrance on ice of certain water bodies unlawful (chapter 193, section 12), and an ordinance amending playgrounds, parks and recreation areas (chapter 193, articles 4–7). Each ordinance filing passed by unanimous roll call.

On a petition (document 44) from Massachusetts Electric Company doing business as National Grid, the council opened a public hearing, heard from David Boucher, senior designer for National Grid, and then granted permission for the company to install approximately 70 feet of underground conduits serving 7–13 Kenoza Avenue, with about 29 feet of the work in the public way. Councilors voted 11–0 to grant the order.

Separately, the council recorded that Target Corporation withdrew a special-permit application to place about 35 temporary storage containers at 35 Computer Drive during a store remodel; the withdrawal was approved by voice roll call (11–0). The transcript included an emailed notice from Target’s representative at Kimley Horn indicating the company would instead use a different staging plan.

Most items were procedural and did not generate extended public comment or council debate; where presenters spoke, their remarks were recorded in the meeting transcript. The meeting concluded after the council heard committee reports and voted to adjourn.