HAVERHILL — Once again, they'll be able to serve alcohol at the function hall of the city-owned Clement Farm.
Last night, the City Council unanimously approved a lease between the city and Wilbur Comeau American Legion Post 4, which has used the property as its headquarters for years.
The post will lease the property from the city for $1,300 a year. The initial agreement is for 10 years.
The veterans' organization was unable to continue serving alcohol at the function hall because of a state law that requires installation of a sprinkler system.
Under the new lease agreement, Post 4 is paying $52,000 for the sprinkler system, but will be allowed to deduct the cost from its lease payments.
"We have labored long and hard for this," said City Councilor William Macek, who called it "a very fair agreement."
Councilor William Ryan said Legion members "have gone to great lengths" to make the contract work.
"We're just happy that it happened and we're ready to move forward," said John Lenotte, commander of the post.
Post 4 is named for Wilbur Comeau, the first Haverhill man to be killed in action during World War I. The Legion has used the historic Clement Farm property since the 1930s. For many years, the city charged the post $1 a year.
Last January, the post was forced to close its bar because of the more stringent law on sprinklers. Now the post must apply for a new liquor license.
