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HD 4572

An Act to authorize the mayor of the city of Haverhill to submit special legislation to increase the membership of the board of health from three members to five members

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Andy Vargas

Haverhill would expand its Board of Health from 3 to 5 members, appointed by the mayor with City Council approval, with initial 3- and 2-year staggered terms, then 3-year terms.

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Bill Summary · HD 4572

Summary of House Docket No. 4572 (HD 4572)

A local bill to authorize the City of Haverhill to increase its Board of Health membership from three to five members, with specific appointment rules and terms.

Purpose and Intent

  • To authorize the City of Haverhill to expand its Board of Health from 3 members to 5 members.
  • The expansion would be achieved through special legislation, with appointments made by the mayor and subject to city council approval.
  • The bill seeks to provide structured, staggered terms for the newly expanded board to ensure continuity.

Key Provisions

1) Authority to increase membership
- Notwithstanding section 26 of chapter 111 of the General Laws, Haverhill may increase the Board of Health from 3 to 5 members.
- Board members are appointed by the mayor, with the approval of the city council.

2) Initial and staggered terms
- Each January, following the act’s effective date, the mayor shall appoint:
- One member for a 3-year term to commence from the first Monday of the following February.
- One member for a 2-year term to commence from the first Monday of the following February.
- Thereafter, board member terms will be 3 years, aligned with expired terms.

3) General clerical/editorial provisions
- The General Court may make clerical or editorial changes to the bill, but amendments must be approved by the mayor if they fall within the bill’s scope and public objectives.

4)Effective date
- The act would take effect upon its passage.

Affected Parties and Entities

  • City of Haverhill: Governing body and administration.
  • Mayor of Haverhill: Responsible for appointing board members.
  • City Council: Must approve mayoral appointments.
  • Board of Health (5 members, once increased): Responsible for public health governance and policy for the city.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • Background: The bill is a local (special) act designed to modify a city’s municipal board rather than state-wide governance.
  • Introduction and petition: The bill is introduced in the 2025-2026 General Court as House Docket No. 4572, filed April 15, 2025, by Rep. Andres X. Vargas (Haverhill).
  • Local approval: The bill’s petition indicates local approval has been received.
  • Status in user prompt: Introduced November 29, 2025; status field not explicitly provided, but the accompanying material shows local approval and standard local-legislation language.

Potential Impacts

  • Governance: A five-member Board of Health could broaden expertise and enable more comprehensive oversight of public health matters in Haverhill.
  • Continuity: The staggered initial terms help maintain institutional memory during the transition from three to five members.
  • Local control: Maintains appointment power in the mayor’s office with city council oversight, preserving municipal control over health governance.

This summary captures the bill’s primary purpose, substantive provisions, affected parties, and key procedural aspects.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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