Want to know how the city spends its tax dollars, brings in revenue and pays its employees?
Mayor DJ Beauregard, Chief Administrative and Financial Officer (CAFO) Maggie Duprey and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Luis Santiago last month announced the launch of the City of Methuen’s Financial Transparency Dashboard. This innovative tool underscores the city’s commitment to financial openness and accountability, providing residents with an interactive and user-friendly platform to explore municipal finances.
“For the first time ever, Methuen taxpayers have the ability to track the city’s revenues and expenditures in real time and monitor how their tax dollars are being spent,” said Beauregard. “This dashboard empowers our residents with easy access to crucial financial information. The City of Methuen is dedicated to maintaining transparency and increasing government efficiency.”
The Financial Transparency Dashboard (Methuen.gov/transparency) offers a dynamic interface where users can explore data on expenditures, revenue sources and vendor payments.
Key features include:
• Comprehensive Financial Insights. View detailed breakdowns of municipal spending and revenue allocation.
• Historical Data for Comparison. Access financial data from previous fiscal years to track trends and progress.
To access public payroll data, click “Explore the Operating Budget, then click “General Fund,” then click through each department.
Track vendor payments by clicking the Checkbook tab.
The portal will be updated at the close of each business week.
Emergency updates
to Merrimack St.
Following last month’s pedestrian fatality on Merrimack Street, Mass DOT will be installing rectangular rapidly flashing lights at nine intersections there.
Mayor DJ Beauregard told City Council that the day after 23-year-old Erika Newvill’s death, he called for an emergency meeting with top Mass DOT officials and the state delegation. Pedestrian injuries and near-misses on this state road have been brought to city and state attention for many years.
“Mass DOT officials shared that they will be making significant – and I mean SIGNIFICANT – pedestrian safety upgrades to crosswalks along the corridor …” the mayor said.
These nine intersections will receive lights:
• Merrimack and Riverdale streets.
• Merrimack and Derry Road.
• Merrimack and Merriline Avenue and Frye Road.
• Merrimack and Sorrento Ave.
• Merrimack and Messina Ave.
• Merrimack and Walton Ave.
• Merrimack and Aracadia streets.
• Merrimack and Randolf Ave.
• Farley/Merrimack and Village Lane.
Work will be completed by the end of this year’s construction season, the mayor said.
The city is also working to improve lighting along the street, with DPW Director Patrick Bower and Police Chief Scott McNamara making the placement assessments. Bower will then work with city’s light vendor and lighting will be installed “immediately,” Beauregard said.
Do Not Knock
Registry is active
Last month, the Methuen Police Department invited residents to keep unwanted solicitors at bay via the city’s Do Not Knock Registry. Signing up online or in person prevents door-to-door sales visits for a year. It’s a way to stay in control of your privacy and enjoy a solicitation-free home.
Once your address is added to the registry, solicitors must avoid that home. “Any canvasser, peddler, itinerant vender or owner or employee of a door-to-door sales enterprise” who violates the registry faces a $300 fine per offense and one-year revocation of solicitor license.
Visit Methuen.gov/DoNotKnock or stop by the Methuen Police Department to fill out a form.
Restaurant
Week is back!
Save the … week! Mayor Beauregard announced that Methuen Restaurant Week starts May 12. There will be plenty of delicious deals to enjoy right here in the city! Stay tuned to the MethuenLife Facebook page for details.
Walta gave
31 years to board
Last month, the City Council recognized Laura Walta for 31 years of service to the Methuen Zoning Board of Appeals as she steps down from that role.
“I want to thank the people of the city of Methuen who have trusted me in this role, and who have looked to us for guidance and information. It has been my honor to serve over these years. I hope others will consider the honor of working for the city, being a part of the solution, being one of many that make our village work,” she said. “I do love this city.”
According to the city’s website, the board “hears applications for Variances from the Methuen Zoning Code (Ordinance), Special Permit requests where the Zoning Code designates the ZBA as the Special Permit Granting Authority, and appeals of decisions by the Building Commissioner. All requests are subject to the requirements enumerated in the Methuen Zoning Code.”
Board Chair Matt D’Agostino thanked the board for recognizing Walta.
“People don’t realize what goes into being a member of many of our boards. in order to make an informed decision, Laura always made sure that we visited the sites because everything looks good on paper. That’s a real dedication to what she did for the city of Methuen.”
City Hall
open late
Methuen City Hall offices are in the midst of a six-month pilot program of remaining open until 7:30pm on the evenings of City Council meetings. So if your days are busy but you need to pay a bill, order a birth certificate or pull a permit, head on over to the Searles Building! Remaining dates are April 7 and 21 and May 5.
Curbside clothes,
toy recycling underway
Methuen has expanded its commitment to sustainability by launching a curbside textile recycling program in partnership with the non-profit Planet Aid Inc. Residents can schedule home pickups for used clothing, footwear and other fabric items.
Mayor D.J. Beauregard announced that the program provides a convenient way for residents to recycle textiles while reducing waste. Residents can schedule a free pickup by visiting www.planetaid.org/lp-home-donation-pickup or the city website (methuen.gov) or by calling (508) 893-0644. Pickups will take place on the first and third Saturdays of each month, and residents must schedule at least two days in advance. Items should be placed curbside in plastic bags by 8am on the scheduled pickup day.
Acceptable Items for collection:
Clothing: Men’s, women’s and children’s apparel.
Outerwear: Coats and jackets.
Accessories: Shoes, sneakers, purses, hats, belts and ties.
Additional items: Backpacks, sleeping bags, bedding, towels, small toys, stuffed animals and DVDs (but no other electronics or appliances).
At the March 3 City Council meeting, Beauregard announced that the debut pickup netted over 300 pounds of items.
“This curbside textile recycling program is another important step in our mission to lower costs for taxpayers by reducing Methuen’s waste,” Beauregard previously stated. “By diverting more materials from landfills and into recycling and reuse programs, we’re making both an economic and environmental impact while providing our residents with a convenient new service.”
This program comes at no cost to the City of Methuen or its residents. In fact, it will generate revenue for Methuen. Under the agreement signed by Mayor Beauregard, Planet Aid will pay the city 9 cents per pound of collected textiles – turning waste reduction into a financial benefit for the community.
For more details, visit the Trash and Recycling page at www.methuen.gov.
’25 meeting, trash
schedules online
The 2025 City Council and School Committee meeting schedules, as well as the trash and recycling calendar, are all available at cityofmethuen.net. Many city meetings are live-streamed and can also be found On Demand at methuentv.org; meeting minutes are posted on the city website. Find additional info on City Council at Methuen.gov/council and info on School Committee at Methuen.k12.ma.us/school-community.
Receive text, e-mail
alerts from city
Did you know that you can receive texts and/or e-mails for city alerts (weather emergencies, office closures, etc.), notifications about city boards and committees, the winter parking ban, community events, City of Methuen employment opportunities, Rec Department events and more? Visit cityofmethuen.net and search for “Sign up for Alerts.”
Help with housing,
food and fuel aid, etc.
The Methuen Community Resource Center is open for walk-in visits for all Methuen residents who need assistance with things like SNAP, MassHealth, SSI, state fuel assistance, food insecurity, free Covid test kits, connecting individuals with housing, hoarding services, substance use treatment, free Narcan access, mental-health support and more. Open Monday to Thursday, 8am-4pm; Fridays, 8am-12:30pm; and Wednesdays until 7:30pm at 1 Broadway. Call (978) 983-8664 for info.
