Public Meetings This Week: Haverhill Committee to Weigh Youth Activities and Mental Health Ideas

By Caroline Louise Cole | July 7, 2025

The public has opportunities to shape policy this week as various Haverhill boards meet. In the interest of transparency in government, WHAV provides this list of upcoming meetings every week.

Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett’s task force overseeing the youth activities and mental health fund will meet in person and virtually this week to take the initial steps in awarding $750,000 to local groups and businesses promoting education, socialization, enrichment and recreation activities, employment skills training and other youth development opportunities.

The program, now in its fourth year, was developed following the COVID-19 pandemic to address youth isolation, depression, inactivity and learning loss. Of the $750,000, the city is again setting aside $250,000 specifically for direct mental health counseling and services for young people. The program is partly paid from fees collected from the city’s adult-use cannabis retailers.

Serving on the task force are At Large City Councilors Timothy J. Jordan and Colin F. LePage, Ward 4 City Councilor Melissa J. Lewandowski and four members of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Advisory Board—William LaPierre, Penelope Guerrero Perez, Sharon Sullivan and Anne Vlack. Community Development Division Director Andrew K. Herlihy also serves as a representative of the mayor’s office.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 9, at 5 p.m. in room 301 in Haverhill City Hall, 4 Summer St.