Joyce Campagnone

Last month, city councilors unanimously approved a resolution to dedicate City Hall’s second-floor conference room in honor of Central District Councilor Joyce Campagnone. Campagnone, 79, is a longtime elected official who has served on both the council and School Committee, and is wrapping up her final term in office.
The resolution was put forth by Vice Chair Neily Soto.
Councilor Patricia Valley asked about the cost associated with the project.
“I’m going to raise the dollars,” Soto replied. “If there’s no money in our budget, I will raise the dollars.”
She said it would involve a plaque as well as “a picture or painting” of Campagnone, and estimated it will be “under $500,” though she admits she hasn’t spoken with an artist yet.
Council Chair Ron Marsan spoke directly to Campagnone, saying, “You’re well-respected in the city. People appreciate what you’ve done for our city and I’m sure we all, as a city, thank you for all your service on the School Committee and all you’ve done as a member of the City Council.”
Campagnone, whose final term ends in December, appeared choked up and wiped away a tear following the vote.

Appointments
On Nov. 17, the City Council approved these appointments.
*CATV – Community Advisory Board: Thomas Giarrosso.
*Commission on Disability: Wanda Santos.
*Cultural Council: Alejandro Baez.
*Zoning Board of Appeals: Mansour Chaya, Esquire (alternate).

On Nov. 5, the City Council unanimously approved each of these appointments.
*Cultural Council: Olivia Chung, Taana Latu and Lely Melendez-Medina.
*Community Development Board: Shadi Kassis (reappointment).
*Conservation Commission: Gary Lozowski and Rachel Lecher.
*Council on Aging: Scott Dukeshire.
*Commission on Disability: Anne Gachohu (reappointment).
*Board of Health Commission: Abbey Myers.

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.

Meeting, trash
schedules online
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 Methuen.gov and search for “Sign up for Alerts.”

Drop sharps, needles
at MPD kiosk
Methuen Health and Human Services now accepts sharps/needles from residents at the Police Department dispatch entrance kiosk, 90 Hampshire St. Free quart-size sharps containers are available at the kiosk, if needed or place items in a heavy-duty plastic container (such as a laundry detergent bottle) with a tight lid.
To dispose of acupuncture needles, knives/sharp-related weapons, surgical equipment and prescription pills, visit CVS at 76 Swan St., or Walmart at The Loop. Questions: Patrick McCarty, (978) 983-8664.

Transparency
Dashboard is online
Want to know how the city spends its tax dollars, brings in revenue and pays its employees?
The City of Methuen’s Financial Transparency Dashboard is now online. 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 Mayor DJ 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.

Do Not Knock
Registry is active
The Methuen Police Department invites 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.

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).
“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.