Haverhill council approves $60,000 lien reduction for 560 Bethany Lane with strict cash deadline

The Haverhill Town Council voted 5-0 on May 14 to reduce a $107,000 code-enforcement lien on 560 Bethany Lane to $60,000 on the condition that the town receives the money in readily available funds by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and that the town be provided an amended closing statement showing the settlement proceeds.

At a lengthy discussion of the matter, Town Administrator Tracey Stevens said the property came into compliance on March 31, 2026 but that the original Special Magistrate order assessed $200 per day for 535 days — totaling $107,000 — because of the duration and severity of the violations and the staff and legal time involved. Stevens also said the town had been named in a related foreclosure proceeding and that the town has incurred legal costs tied to the case.

Property owner Garfield Stephenson told the council the violations have been addressed and said the delay in resolving them was caused by a squatter who delayed eviction. Realtor Holly Iannucci said the eviction process involved court errors and that the property is in foreclosure; she told the council a buyer is scheduled to close the following Monday. Iannucci disclosed a purchase price of $1,258,000 and identified the buyer as Miramar, Inc.

Town Attorney John Foster told the council that Haverhill does not have a formal lien-reduction process in its code and noted several factors councils typically consider — gravity of the violation, time to compliance, prior violations, ownership at the time the lien was imposed and whether the owner took prompt corrective action. Foster also said the town’s recorded lien is junior to the bank foreclosure and that the bank had asserted roughly $900,000 is owed on the mortgage in the foreclosure action.

Vice Mayor Lawrence Gordon moved to reduce the lien and amended the motion to set the amount at $60,000, require payment in readily available funds (not a check) by 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026, and to authorize the Mayor and Town Administrator to execute any pleadings, affidavits or satisfaction and release documents. Council Member Dennis Withington seconded the amended motion, which carried 5-0.

The council discussed — but did not quantify — possible increases to the town’s insurance premiums and the town’s out-of-pocket legal expenses tied to the foreclosure and enforcement proceedings. The council’s conditions make the lien reduction contingent on the payment and paperwork; Foster advised that failure to meet those conditions will automatically rescind the lien reduction.

The council’s action resolves the town’s internal decision on the lien; the transcript shows the foreclosure action by the bank remains pending and the town’s lien is junior to the bank’s claim.