Mayor Fiorentini Appoints Brown, Garcia to Planning Board

Mayor Fiorentini Appoints Brown, Garcia to Planning Board

Haverhill residents Bobby Brown and Carmen Garcia are the newest members of the city’s Planning Board, Mayor James J. Fiorentini announced.

City Council confirmed the mayor’s appointments at its meeting Tuesday, April 5.

“We are very fortunate to have two qualified and competent residents step up to volunteer their time and energy to their city and to the important work of the Planning Board,” Mayor Fiorentini said. “I look forward to working with them both to keep Haverhill moving forward.”

Brown, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration and is secretary general for the Merrimack Valley Labor Council, replaces Karen Peugh. His term will expire Aug. 14, 2024.

“I appreciate the development and beautification of our city that has taken place,” Brown, also an executive board member of IAM Local 264 Boston, said in his Planning Board application. “It would be an honor to serve in a capacity that can ensure that the development of our city continues on a successful and beneficial path. Haverhill is on track for a very bright future, and it would be a privilege to help secure that future.”

Garcia, a bilingual workshop specialist at MassHire Career Center in Lawrence whose credentials include a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and Home Inspection Certification from Northern Essex Community College, is replacing Kenneth Cram. Her term will expire Oct. 23, 2022.

“The city’s boards and committees are always in need of individuals who understand change, especially in specific communities,” Garcia said in her application. “As a resident that is always seeking change, I like to provide my perspective whenever changes need to happen to ensure these changes coincide with current trends and the community’s needs.”

The Planning Board’s main job is to review and approve new subdivisions of land and roadways by ensuring they adhere to state law and local rules. The panel also reviews, holds public hearings on and makes recommendations to City Council on large housing developments and related projects.