The Lamp Post

Sep. 22—A colorful fall welcome

If you drive by the Mill Street Island located just below Gale Park, you will see freshly planted mums that will provide vibrant colors in that neighborhood thanks once again to City Councilor Tom Sullivan, who is also a longtime member of the Haverhill's Brightside Adopt-A-Site program. Sullivan and a group of volunteers planted 54 mums on Sept. 17.

Garibaldi Club election?

Former EZ-Way Cleaners owner Peter Carbone is said to be mulling a run for president of the Garibaldi Club, located on downtown Washington Street. Matt Scamparino is the current president and the election takes place the first week of December.

Who's living there?

What's happening in front of the former Joseph's Bakery on Winter Street? It appears someone is living there as the front steps and landing are filled with cans of food and other items. The Lamplighter has done some investigating and learned that the only person authorized to move squatters is the landlord. The police and Board of Health have no authority other than to ask people to leave. Apparently, this is not the only person living in one of the city's empty storefronts.

Clothing bins a concern

The Board of Health recently passed an ordinance to control clothing drop-off boxes. Many people leave items other than clothing outside these boxes, which creates a mess. Clothing bags left outside the bins when they are full get torn open by people searching for clothes to use themselves. The city put an ordinance in place beginning mid-October to ensure citizen complaints can be legally addressed. Both the landlord and the owner of the bin will be contacted when something is amiss. This might prompt bin owners to install surveillance cameras.

When taking land out of special tax status

The City Council recently voted to clarify its procedures when a landowner wants to take their forestland, farmland or recreational property out of special tax status and convert it to other uses. In such cases, the city, often in partnership with Greenbelt, would be able to purchase the land to prevent development, like the city and Greenbelt did for property on Corliss Hill Road. The new procedure is intended to provide all stakeholders with an opportunity to review relevant materials, provide for public participation in the process and for the mayor and City Council to make an informed decision on behalf of the city.