--- title: January 2024 Update description: Updates from Newburyport Ward 4 City Councilor on recent activities and meetings as well as upcoming dates of note. image: https://benharman.org/hubfs/ales-krivec-ZMZHcvIVgbg-unsplash.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://benharman.org/news/january-2024-update#main-content) ![Email Banner](https://benharman.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Email%20Banner.png?width=350&height=197&name=Email%20Banner.png) - [Home](https://benharman.org/) - [About](https://benharman.org/about) - [News](https://benharman.org/news) - [Sign up](https://benharman.org/contact) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://benharman.org/) - [About](https://benharman.org/about) - [News](https://benharman.org/news) - [Sign up](https://benharman.org/contact) [DONATE](https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ben-harman-nbpt) Jan 17, 2024 8:39:38 AM # January 2024 Update [Ben Harman](https://benharman.org/news/author/ben-harman) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://benharman.org/news/january-2024-update) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://benharman.org/news/january-2024-update) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://benharman.org/news/january-2024-update) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://benharman.org/news/january-2024-update) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://benharman.org/news/january-2024-update) ### It's been a busy couple of months... I'm only two weeks into the job, but things have been moving quickly since election day and I'm excited to share a few updates with you! Here's what I've been up to on behalf of Ward 4 and Newburyport the past couple of months: - City Council meeting on November 13th - Newburyport Housing Forum on November 16th - New Councilor Training hosted by the Massachusetts Municipal Association on December 9th - Last City Council meeting of the last term on December 11th - Planning Board and Conservation Commission meetings regarding Lower Atkinson project in late December - City Council Inauguration on January 2nd 🗽 - Various meetings with current and former city officials from late December - early January - City Council meeting on January 8th  - Budget & Finance Committee and Human Rights Commission meetings on January 11th  - Whittier information session hosted by Mayor Reardon on January 9th - Whittier Tech facility tour on January 13th  ![ales-krivec-ZMZHcvIVgbg-unsplash](https://benharman.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ales-krivec-ZMZHcvIVgbg-unsplash.jpg?width=264&height=197&name=ales-krivec-ZMZHcvIVgbg-unsplash.jpg) That's a pretty long list but I would summarize as: getting up to speed on current business and gathering historical context so I can be as effective as possible in representing you on the Council. I have a lot left to learn but I'm excited to continue doing the work and getting smarter on the issues and processes.  Please note I received my [committee assignments](https://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/council-oks-new-subcommittee-configurations/article_01ee73f2-af2d-11ee-84af-6b5293130c04.html) and am very pleased to be serving on the Budget & Finance and Community Services committees. I also have my official city email address which is [bharman@cityofnewburyport.com](mailto:bharman@cityofnewburyport.com) - don't hesitate to reach out.  Upcoming dates (check the [city website](https://www.cityofnewburyport.com/calendar-by-event-type/1523/month) for the latest):  - Newburyport Recreation and Youth Services [community meeting](https://www.cityofnewburyport.com/home/events/345551) on January 18th - [Community Services Committee meeting](https://www.cityofnewburyport.com/community-services/events/346021)on January 22nd - [Whittier Tech vote](https://www.cityofnewburyport.com/city-clerk/pages/election-news) on January 23rd - Newburyport Human Rights Commission & Congregation Ahavas Achim present [Holocaust Remembrance Day](https://www.facebook.com/events/1404301676843628/) on January 25th (see below) - [City Council meeting](https://www.cityofnewburyport.com/city-council/events/345881) on January 29th Look out for a message with details on office hours which I will schedule in the coming weeks/months so you can meet with me in-person if you'd like to. I'm off to the Massachusetts Municipal Association's [Annual Meeting](https://www.mma.org/annual-meeting/) this weekend for more training and networking.  That's all for now!   ## Related posts [![](https://benharman.org/hs-fs/hubfs/jessica-fadel-C7l6Q0LbADw-unsplash.jpg?height=200&name=jessica-fadel-C7l6Q0LbADw-unsplash.jpg)](https://benharman.org/news/looking-back-looking-ahead) ## [Looking Back, Looking Ahead](https://benharman.org/news/looking-back-looking-ahead) [Ben Harman](https://benharman.org/news/author/ben-harman) Oct 9, 2023 2:32:05 PM As we gear up for the final push to the general election on Tuesday, November 7th I wanted to take... [Read more](https://benharman.org/news/looking-back-looking-ahead) [![](https://benharman.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sean-oulashin-KMn4VEeEPR8-unsplash.jpg?height=200&name=sean-oulashin-KMn4VEeEPR8-unsplash.jpg)](https://benharman.org/news/happy-summer) ## [Happy Summer!](https://benharman.org/news/happy-summer) [Ben Harman](https://benharman.org/news/author/ben-harman) Jun 21, 2024 1:51:20 PM Yesterday was the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year. Speaking of which, it has been... [Read more](https://benharman.org/news/happy-summer) [![](https://benharman.org/hs-fs/hubfs/glenn-carstens-peters-npxXWgQ33ZQ-unsplash.jpg?height=200&name=glenn-carstens-peters-npxXWgQ33ZQ-unsplash.jpg)](https://benharman.org/news/endorsement-letters) ## [Endorsement Letters](https://benharman.org/news/endorsement-letters) [Ben Harman](https://benharman.org/news/author/ben-harman) Nov 1, 2023 8:15:42 PM I am so grateful to the folks who have taken time to share why they are voting for me in this... [Read more](https://benharman.org/news/endorsement-letters) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/harman4nbpt/) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/harman.nbpt.citycouncil) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjharman/) --- Committee to Elect Ben Harman, Newburyport, MA ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=733686301921987&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Ben Harman", "url" : "https://benharman.org/news/author/ben-harman" }, "dateModified" : "2024-01-18T14:00:35.053Z", "datePublished" : "2024-01-17T13:39:38.000Z", "headline" : "January 2024 Update", "image" : [ "https://benharman.org/hubfs/ales-krivec-ZMZHcvIVgbg-unsplash.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://benharman.org/news/january-2024-update", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "//static.hsappstatic.net/cms-onboarding-ui/ex/default-logo.svg" }, "name" : "Committee to Elect Ben Harman" } } ```