May 21, 2007

Special Update:  Haverhill Receives $1 million in Brownfield's Funding

Greetings!

In between newsletters, I wanted to take a moment to give you an update on a great job done by some volunteers in our city. 

Four years ago, when I was running for Mayor, I saw a group of abandoned shoe factories on the periphery of our downtown.  One of the reasons they had been unused for so long was the fear that they might be polluted.
Other communities had used what are called "Brownfield's" funds to check those factory buildings for possible pollution.  Brownfield's funds are grants supplied by the Federal and State government to assess and clean up old factory buildings.

Unfortunately, at that time our was not pursuing Brownfield's funding as actively as we should have been. 

In December 2003, I asked some residents if they would volunteer their time to help our city secure brownfields funds. 
 
Over the next three and a half years, this task force has worked tirelessly on behalf of the city.  I am pleased to report to you today on the results of that task force.
A year ago, our Task Force announced a Brownfield's grant for Haverhill of $400,000. 

This week, we received word from the Federal government that we have received an additional $600,000 in Brownfield's funding.  As of today, our Brownfield's task force has brought in $1 million in grant  money for our city.

The Brownfield's money they obtained will pay for the cleanup costs of the city owned parking lot downtown where we would like to put a parking garage. 
 
The money they obtained will also allow us to assess other sites for possible pollution to see if they can be cleaned up and reclaimed. 
 
Brownfield's money is all part of our smart growth plans to fix up abandoned factory buildings, and restore them to the tax rolls with new stores.  Smart growth concentrates growth where we have the infrastructure, and preserves open space where we do not.  Brownfield's is a critical part of our smart growth plans. 

I am very proud of the great work of our Brownfield's Task Force.  I wanted to take a moment to congratulate them and thank them for their work.

I have attached a list of the members to this email, and, if you know any of these members, please join me in thanking them. 

Sincerely,

James J. Fiorentini,
Mayor of Haverhill

PS:  The next regular newsletter is out next week and concerns our budget. 
 

 
 
 
 
List of Committee members:
 
Atty. Ross Povenmire, Chair
City Councilor Bob Scatamacchia   
Steven Bucuzzo, Haverhill resident and Deputy town manager in Andover
Robert Masys, civil engineer who volunteered his time
Mary Zarba, city employee
Andy Herlihy, brownfields coordinator
Bud Baker, city purchasing agent
Veronica J. Champagne, Licensed site professional on brownfields who volunteered her time
Paul Arnold-- engineers hired by committee to asses the property
William Pillsbury, economic development director
 
Many thanks all!!
 
 

James J. Fiorentini | Paid for privately by: | James J. Fiorentini | 36 Macon Avenue | Haverhill | MA | 01830