The Haverhill City Council approved the 2025 election calendar, designated the basement room at City Hall as the early‑voting location, and opted into in‑person early voting and vote‑by‑mail for all 2025 elections. The calendar lists a preliminary (primary) election on Sept. 9, 2025, and the general election on Nov. 5, 2025.

City Clerk Caitlin Wright presented the election calendar and related materials — including polling locations and poll worker lists — and the council approved the package by roll call (10 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent). The clerk also reported that the board of registrars had met and approved the items prior to the council meeting.

Economic Development and Planning Director William Pillsbury asked the council to refer several zoning amendments to the planning board for public hearings scheduled March 18, 2025. The council placed the following zoning items on file for 10 days and referred them to the planning board for hearing: a zoning corrections update (chapter 255), a waterfront zone C parcel inclusion (parcel 103‑3‑1A), a mixed‑use zoning amendment, and a new Section 7.9 to address battery energy storage systems. Each referral passed by roll call with unanimous recorded votes (10 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent).

The council also set a hearing on Jan. 28, 2025, for a petition concerning a joint pole location submitted by National Grid/Verizon for Curtis Street (WR number 310‑329‑38).

Other administrative actions approved by unanimous roll calls included: reappointing John Hasson, Candace Hoover and Lois Hartman to the Cultural Council through Dec. 31, 2027; granting tag days for Haverhill High School Drama Club (March 14–16); renewing a coin‑operation license for Market Basket (one machine listed); and approving payment of prior‑year bills totaling $5,265 (Kimball Farm Feeds $1,800; Boston Systems $1,600 and $10.55; Experian $810).

Traffic and parking ordinances were placed on file for 10 days for further consideration, including handicap parking designations for 14th/17th Avenue and 51 Greenleaf Street, and a no‑parking ordinance for the north side of Stone Street for its entire length (filed Dec. 11, 2024). Each ordinance placement on file also passed by recorded roll call votes of 10 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent.

Votes at a glance

• Approval of 2025 election calendar (opt‑in early voting and vote‑by‑mail; early voting room: City Hall basement): passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

• Zoning: chapter 255 corrections update; referred to planning board/hearing March 18, 2025: passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

• Zoning: waterfront zone C adjustment to include parcel 103‑3‑1A; referred to planning board/hearing March 18, 2025: passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

• Zoning: mixed‑use amendment; referred to planning board/hearing March 18, 2025: passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

• Zoning: add Section 7.9 — battery energy storage systems; referred to planning board/hearing March 18, 2025: passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

• Petition: joint pole location (National Grid/Verizon) for Curtis Street (WR 310‑329‑38); hearing set Jan. 28, 2025: passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

• Cultural Council reappointments — John Hasson, Candace Hoover, Lois Hartman (terms through Dec. 31, 2027): each passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

• Tag days (Haverhill High School Drama Club, March 14–16): passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

• Coin‑op license renewal (Market Basket, listed machine): passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

• Payment of prior‑year bills totaling $5,265 (vendors listed): passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

• Traffic/parking ordinances placed on file for 10 days (14th/17th Ave; 51 Greenleaf St; Stone Street no‑parking): each passed, 10‑0‑1 absent.

The council’s actions were primarily procedural and administrative: referrals to the planning board set public hearing dates but do not themselves change the zoning code. The battery energy storage systems item will create a new zoning section (7.9) that will be considered at the planning board hearing; the transcript records only the referral and not the ordinance language.

City Clerk Wright and Director Pillsbury provided the items and supporting materials; the board of registrars had already approved the election materials. The meeting record does not show substantive debate on the items; each motion was moved, seconded and approved by unanimous roll call. Hearings and referrals establish the next steps for public comment and planning board review.

The council adjourned after completing the evening’s business.