City of New Bedford Meetings
Search and subscribe to city meeting topics that impact you
Newsletters
Subscribe
← Back to video
Appointments & Briefings Committee — March 17, 2026
−
Fit
+
IN
0:00
OUT
0:00
Length
0:00
▶ Play selection
Export clip
Keyboard:
I
set in,
O
set out,
←
/
→
nudge playhead 5s.
0:00
But do we have a— 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
In
Out
0:05
Oh, we do, we do.
In
Out
0:06
Oh, we— no, we have one.
In
Out
0:08
1, 2, 3.
In
Out
0:08
No, we have 6.
In
Out
0:10
No, there's 3 of them.
In
Out
0:13
Oh yeah, I know I was counting them wrong.
In
Out
0:15
Smile.
In
Out
0:17
Hey, Brad.
In
Out
0:19
Oh, so you know I sent you— sent you guys all the, uh, pending list Guys, I didn't make any of those motions.
In
Out
0:29
I know.
In
Out
0:31
Yeah, you didn't.
In
Out
0:32
We have some so old that I want to talk to Leo about consolidating our parallel products, get rid of some stuff.
In
Out
0:38
But Brian, I want to work on, you know, all the motions, parallel products we have like on the— Yes, I want to work on that.
In
Out
0:47
So you want to get rid of them?
In
Out
0:48
Yes.
In
Out
0:48
So I want to make sure we update it though.
In
Out
0:50
I don't want to get rid of them with no further action, but we're going to put new ones on the agenda.
In
Out
0:53
To update where we're going through now, the court case, and we're at this point.
In
Out
0:58
Okay.
In
Out
0:59
Some of the stuff is gone, but other stuff is still present.
In
Out
1:03
Okay.
In
Out
1:03
Gotcha.
In
Out
1:03
You're good to go.
In
Out
1:05
I'll go.
In
Out
1:06
I got the list.
In
Out
1:07
She comes on.
In
Out
1:11
Let me know when you're ready and she'll bang it in.
In
Out
1:16
Do you need a mic test?
In
Out
1:17
Testing, 1, 2, 3.
In
Out
1:19
Oh, test, baby, test.
In
Out
1:21
Everyone set?
In
Out
1:26
We all set?
In
Out
1:26
Okay, okay.
In
Out
1:29
Yeah, good evening everybody and welcome to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.
In
Out
1:36
It is March 17th, 2026, and it's 7:01 in the chambers.
In
Out
1:43
I would like to I said my colleagues in government.
In
Out
1:47
We have Councillor-at-Large Ian Abreu, Councillor Ward 2 Scott Pemberton, Councillor-at-Large Brian Gomes, Councillor from Ward 6 and President Ryan Pereira, Councillor-at-Large Shane Burgo, Councillor Ward 3 Sean Oliver, and Councillor-at-Large James Roy, and myself, Naomi Carney, Councillor-at-Large.
In
Out
2:09
Thank you very much all for coming.
In
Out
2:11
Note, this meeting is being live-streamed and recorded.
In
Out
2:15
City Council and committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Bedford's homepage under Quick Links, then Meetings.
In
Out
2:22
Thank you.
In
Out
2:23
Do we have anything to be read into the record?
In
Out
2:24
We do.
In
Out
2:25
We have 2 letters to read into the record.
In
Out
2:26
This one's from Councilor Lopes.
In
Out
2:29
Dear Chair Carney and honorable members of the committee, I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend tonight's committee meeting due to a work commitment.
In
Out
2:36
Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and the public aware of the reason for my absence.
In
Out
2:42
Second letter is, uh, from Councillor Choquette.
In
Out
2:45
I am writing to inform you that I am not able to attend tonight's committee meeting due to a previously scheduled business commitment.
In
Out
2:51
Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and the public aware of the reason for my absence.
In
Out
2:56
Motion to receive both items on file.
In
Out
2:59
Second.
In
Out
3:00
Motion made to receive and place on file by Councillor Oliver.
In
Out
3:04
Second by Councillor Burgo.
In
Out
3:06
All in favor say aye.
In
Out
3:07
Opposed?
In
Out
3:08
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:10
Item number 1 is citizens input time, not to exceed the first 30 minutes of each meeting.
In
Out
3:14
Each individual recognized is allowed to speak for a total of 3 minutes.
In
Out
3:19
1A is, uh, Mr. James DuPont.
In
Out
3:22
James DuPont.
In
Out
3:23
Mr. DuPont.
In
Out
3:27
Good evening, Mr. DuPont.
In
Out
3:29
Can we have your name and address for the record?
In
Out
3:33
James DuPont, 118 Elm Street East, Rainham, for the minutes.
In
Out
3:37
Thank you.
In
Out
3:37
Good evening, Madam Chair and members of the New Bedford City Council.
In
Out
3:41
I come with a message of grave and immediate importance to the property owners and voters of New Bedford, the members of the New Bedford City Council, the administration of the City of New Bedford.
In
Out
3:51
The issue is twofold.
In
Out
3:53
First, it concerns the decades-long underfunding by the Massachusetts State Legislature of the several categories of local aid, including but not limited to Chapter 70, which, as you know, is one of the biggest factors in setting the local property tax rate and hence how much the residents in businesses in New Bedford are asked by you to pay.
In
Out
4:12
After Prop 2½, the cities and towns were limited in how much they could raise the prior year's levy, and consequently many local services, mostly education, were annually reduced due to insufficient legislative appropriations to local aid in Chapter 70.
In
Out
4:27
This brings up the second point: where does so-called state revenue come from?
In
Out
4:32
In fact, and indeed, it comes from every resident and every business in every city and town, including New Bedford, Which, in turn, leads me to ask this question: Why isn't the money being taken out of cities and towns, then appropriated and returned to you, in order to reduce how much the city has to ask its property owners to pay?
In
Out
4:51
It's been my experience that our state legislature has never made full funding of aid to education or local aid a priority.
In
Out
4:58
Members of the majority party bemoan how tough things are this year on Beacon Hill, while the minority party members shrug their shoulders and say, there isn't anything I can do about it.
In
Out
5:08
Last year, Rainham's budget process resulted in a failure to pay its requested share of the regional school assessment.
In
Out
5:14
After a failed Prop 2.5 override, a large layoff of BR employees followed— 40 teachers.
In
Out
5:20
A resident I discussed this with said, it sounds like bad management.
In
Out
5:24
I responded that it wasn't bad management, but rather a shortfall caused by our state legislators not fully funding local aid and Chapter 70.
In
Out
5:32
His response: it sounds like our local officials mismanaged their relationships.
In
Out
5:37
With our state legislators.
In
Out
5:39
Madam Chair, the time has come for all local officials, including the members of the New Bedford City Council, to demand that their state legislators change their vote on local aid from the current, here's what's left, to, here's what New Bedford is legally entitled to under the general laws of the Commonwealth.
In
Out
5:55
As long as our state reps and state senators are lauded for getting half a loaf, then the local residents and businesses will be told to make up the difference.
In
Out
6:04
And you, You people in those seats, you, not the governor or the legislature, will bear the public's ire when taxes go up and services go down.
In
Out
6:14
As the guardians of the local tax dollar, it is time you, each of you, demand that the legislators who represent New Bedford vote to fully fund all categories of local aid so the council won't have to ask the local taxpayers to make up for another shortfall in state funding by raising local taxes or an override of Prop 2.5.
In
Out
6:31
If the state then has a shortfall, let them raise taxes.
In
Out
6:35
Or do massive layoffs instead of forcing the City Council to do it for them.
In
Out
6:39
Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the City Council.
In
Out
6:41
I'll leave a copy of my remarks with the secretary for the record.
In
Out
6:44
Thank you.
In
Out
6:44
Thank you so much.
In
Out
6:47
Second.
In
Out
6:48
Motion made by Councilor Gomes, second by Councilor Virgo.
In
Out
6:52
All in favor say aye.
In
Out
6:54
Aye.
In
Out
6:54
Opposed?
In
Out
6:55
The ayes have it.
In
Out
6:59
Thank you.
In
Out
7:04
Item number 2 is communication, Mayor Mitchell to the City Council, submitting the appointment of Cristobal Jose Escobar, New Bedford, Mass., to the Veterans Advisory Board, replacing Christopher Holkamp, who has resigned.
In
Out
7:16
This term will expire December 2026.
In
Out
7:20
It was referred here on December 11, 2025.
In
Out
7:22
February 17, 2026, it was, uh, tabled.
In
Out
7:25
Number 2 is before you and it remains on the table.
In
Out
7:29
Motion made by Councilor Abel to remove from the table.
In
Out
7:33
Second?
In
Out
7:34
Second by Councilor Burgo.
In
Out
7:36
All in favor say aye.
In
Out
7:37
Opposed?
In
Out
7:38
The ayes have it.
In
Out
7:38
Mr. Escobar.
In
Out
7:40
Mr. Escobar.
In
Out
7:46
Table.
In
Out
7:47
Well, Councilor— Madam Chair, through you to the, uh, the clerk, do we have any communication?
In
Out
7:51
This would have been a second time.
In
Out
7:53
Yeah, no, we wouldn't— no, we haven't received anything.
In
Out
7:57
Oh, okay.
In
Out
7:58
I was invited though.
In
Out
7:59
You were not.
In
Out
7:59
I know that.
In
Out
8:00
Thank you.
In
Out
8:03
So I would like to make a motion to refer out to the full city council.
In
Out
8:09
For— wait, we have some people coming in here now.
In
Out
8:14
No.
In
Out
8:15
Oh, that's from the— refer out to the full city council with a favorable recommendation.
In
Out
8:23
Motion made by Councilor Burgos to refer out to the full City Council for a favorable recommendation.
In
Out
8:31
Second by Councilor Combs.
In
Out
8:33
Anybody on the question?
In
Out
8:35
Councilor Burgos.
In
Out
8:36
Yes, so, um, on this item, again, uh, I've— this was referred back in December, uh, of 2026, and, uh, since this has been referred, we've had 2 other Veteran Advisory Board appointments, and I'm very thankful to this body for appointing those 2 appointments since then.
In
Out
8:59
I missed this one.
In
Out
9:01
It was obviously sent to committee as we normally would.
In
Out
9:06
As I've explained on the last 2 during council meetings, this is the typical process that we would do in any committee meeting.
In
Out
9:15
The Veterans Advisory Board is going through a very rare situation right now where they're struggling to build back up to meet a quorum.
In
Out
9:27
Also, they're in a rare situation where all the members are veterans, and a lot of times these veterans have different ailments, they have different limitations when it comes to, in this case, maybe attending an in-person city council meeting on the second floor.
In
Out
9:42
Floor.
In
Out
9:43
In this particular matter, I think what might have taken place— and I can double-check before our next council meeting— this gentleman might have believed that he was all set.
In
Out
9:54
So that's why in this case I would ask the body to indulge me in sending this out to the full city council for approval, check back in with this candidate to make sure he's aware of the situation, and ask that we approve this for the full City Council to get this board back up and running again.
In
Out
10:11
As I reiterated, this is a board that is lacking in a quorum to meet, and these are members that have served our country proudly and are trying to, to get back on board.
In
Out
10:21
Thank you.
In
Out
10:22
Thank you, Councilor Berto.
In
Out
10:24
Councilor Oliver.
In
Out
10:25
Thank you, Madam Chair.
In
Out
10:26
Um, although I do understand, uh, the sentiments of the colleague who spoke before me, um, and I think the body's been willing to work with, um, the needs of this board.
In
Out
10:41
Um, this board needs people who are going to show up.
In
Out
10:45
I know I'm going to sound, um, like I'm against this person sitting there, which I really am not, but it is— it takes communication whether they, you know, it or not, uh, whether you knew you're supposed to show up in February or now or whatever it may be.
In
Out
11:05
I do know that, as my colleague spoke before me, said there are some limitations, but one of those expectations is again to show up.
In
Out
11:12
So I would like the opportunity to speak with this gentleman to make sure that we are on the same page and not just continuing to fill these positions just because the board is struggling to fill them.
In
Out
11:27
So I would suggest to not send this out, and let's go through the process with this one because maybe something— maybe something's up and the person cannot actually commit to the board.
In
Out
11:41
So I hope that my colleagues will take that into consideration as well.
In
Out
11:48
A letter of invitation was sent out on March 4th to Mr. Escobar.
In
Out
11:52
Yes, so we were just double-checking to make sure that he was informed.
In
Out
11:56
Of this meeting, and, um, and he was informed of this meeting.
In
Out
12:00
Point of order.
In
Out
12:03
Okay, Councilor Roy, point of order.
In
Out
12:05
Yes, Councilor, did our colleague from Ward 3 make a motion there?
In
Out
12:10
Okay, no.
In
Out
12:11
So the motion on the floor is still to refer to the full City Council for approval.
In
Out
12:16
You can ask for roll call, or you can still ask for motion to table.
In
Out
12:22
Motion to table.
In
Out
12:22
Okay.
In
Out
12:23
So a motion made to table by Councilor Oliver, which does go after the— precedes the, uh, the prior motion, and seconded by Councilor April.
In
Out
12:33
All those in favor to table, say okay, say aye.
In
Out
12:38
No, roll call.
In
Out
12:39
Sorry, on tabling, um, Councilor April?
In
Out
12:44
Yes.
In
Out
12:44
Councilor April.
In
Out
12:45
Councilor Baptiste?
In
Out
12:46
Yes.
In
Out
12:47
Yes.
In
Out
12:47
Councilor Baptiste.
In
Out
12:47
Councilor Burgoyne?
In
Out
12:49
No.
In
Out
12:49
No.
In
Out
12:49
Councilor Carney?
In
Out
12:50
Councilor No, Councilor Bergo.
In
Out
12:51
Councilor Carney?
In
Out
12:52
Yes.
In
Out
12:53
Yes, Councilor Carney.
In
Out
12:54
Councilor Gomes?
In
Out
12:56
Yes.
In
Out
12:56
Yes, Councilor Gomes.
In
Out
12:57
Councilor Oliver?
In
Out
12:59
Yes.
In
Out
12:59
Yes, Councilor Oliver.
In
Out
13:00
Councilor Pemberton?
In
Out
13:01
Yes.
In
Out
13:01
Yes, Councilor Pemberton.
In
Out
13:02
Councilor Pereira?
In
Out
13:04
Yes.
In
Out
13:04
Yes, Councilor Roy.
In
Out
13:07
That passes 7-2.
In
Out
13:08
Um, motion passes.
In
Out
13:10
You missed one.
In
Out
13:10
Councilor Roy, why do I— I'm sorry, James, I'm gonna go sit near you.
In
Out
13:14
Okay.
In
Out
13:15
Yes, I mean, and we go way back too.
In
Out
13:18
I'm so sorry.
In
Out
13:19
Councilor Roy.
In
Out
13:19
Yes.
In
Out
13:20
Yes.
In
Out
13:20
Thank you.
In
Out
13:21
So that passes 8 to 1.
In
Out
13:23
That passes 8 to 1.
In
Out
13:25
And for the record, I'd like to show that Councilor Baptiste from Ward 4 is here, and he came in while we were doing the discussion.
In
Out
13:33
Thank you.
In
Out
13:44
Number 3 is, um, A petition, uh, Casey Swift and Justin Swift, East Freetown, Mass., doing business as Swift Sales, 127 West Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, Mass., requesting a waiver of residency in accordance with Section 15-38 of the city code to obtain a license to deal in junk, old metals, or any other secondhand articles, referred here on November 13, 2025.
In
Out
14:09
December 16, 2025, it remained in committee and February 17th, 2026, it was tabled.
In
Out
14:15
So number 3 is before you and it remains on the table.
In
Out
14:20
Okay.
In
Out
14:21
Their information before we remove from the table, are they present?
In
Out
14:24
They're not.
In
Out
14:26
Do we have— oh, let's see.
In
Out
14:31
The Swifts.
In
Out
14:31
Kaitlyn Swifts and Justin Swift in the room?
In
Out
14:34
No.
In
Out
14:34
This would be the 3rd time that it's heard.
In
Out
14:36
So just a motion to refer.
In
Out
14:38
Out to the full City Council for no further action.
In
Out
14:41
Just a parliamentary inquiry, uh, Madam Chair and Mr.
In
Out
14:43
Clerk, don't we have to remove from the table for us to refer it out?
In
Out
14:47
Yes.
In
Out
14:47
So, okay, so motion to remove from the table, right?
In
Out
14:50
So we're gonna— we're gonna motion to remove from the table.
In
Out
14:54
Okay, motion made to remove table by Councilor April, second by Councilor Pemberton.
In
Out
14:59
All in favor for moving to the table— removing from the table, say aye.
In
Out
15:03
Opposed?
In
Out
15:04
The ayes have it.
In
Out
15:06
Motion to refer to the full city council for no further action.
In
Out
15:09
Motion made by Councilor Fergal, second by Councilor Pemberton.
In
Out
15:13
Roll call on the question.
In
Out
15:14
Really quickly, just for the general public, um, I looked into this too.
In
Out
15:18
I just want the general public to be aware that a letter has been sent to their East Freetown address as well as their New Bedford address.
In
Out
15:25
There was an attempt also made by our clerk's office.
In
Out
15:29
They're nowhere to be found.
In
Out
15:30
They have They haven't made any inquiries back to us, uh, on each occasion.
In
Out
15:34
This is third time's the charm, I guess, in that regard.
In
Out
15:37
So, um, we have done our— the office, our council office has done their due diligence on this matter.
In
Out
15:44
Um, I, I'm not sure why.
In
Out
15:45
So that is why I have made the motion to refer out for no further action.
In
Out
15:49
Just so people are aware, we are trying to make the attempt and they're not showing up.
In
Out
15:53
Thank you, Councilmember.
In
Out
15:55
Anybody else on the question?
In
Out
15:57
Seeing none, all in favor say aye.
In
Out
16:03
I withdraw my roll call vote.
In
Out
16:07
Okay, all in favor say aye.
In
Out
16:10
Opposed?
In
Out
16:11
The ayes have it.
In
Out
16:13
Number 4, it's communication.
In
Out
16:15
City Clerk, Clerk of the City Council submitting an application for a new private livery license on behalf of Celestin Wilkind of 1 Warwick Street, New Bedford, Mass., doing business as Chris Transportation, 1 Warwick Street, New Bedford, Mass., license to expire June 30th, 2026.
In
Out
16:30
The matter was referred here on June 8th, 2026.
In
Out
16:33
On February 17th, 2026, it was tabled.
In
Out
16:36
Number 4 is before you and it remains on the table.
In
Out
16:39
Point of information, are, are the applicants here?
In
Out
16:42
I'm asking right now.
In
Out
16:46
I don't think they are.
In
Out
16:47
I— Celestin Wilkind.
In
Out
16:49
Celeste and Wilkins.
In
Out
16:51
They are not present.
In
Out
16:53
You want to just leave it on the table?
In
Out
16:56
Okay, we'll just leave it on the table.
In
Out
17:02
Okay.
In
Out
17:03
Number 5 is a written motion, Councillors Combs and Oliver, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with the MBTA South Coast Rail officials for the purpose of discussing the safety of the Purchase Street train corridor Uh, the installation safety fencing from Minuteman Car Wash South and the support wall on South— on Purchase Street from Penniman Street to the train station, and further requesting that the Purchase Street support wall will have the same facade as the train station.
In
Out
17:34
It was referred here on January 25th, 2024.
In
Out
17:39
On June 17th, 2025, it was tabled Um, number 5 is before you and remains on the table.
In
Out
17:46
Madam Chair, let it remain on the table.
In
Out
17:49
We don't have anybody here from MBTA.
In
Out
17:52
Nobody here?
In
Out
17:53
No.
In
Out
17:53
Okay.
In
Out
17:54
All right, all right, stays on the table.
In
Out
17:57
Okay.
In
Out
17:58
All right, so now number 6 is a written motion.
In
Out
18:03
Councilors Gomes, I'm assuming that you folks are here on St. Killian's.
In
Out
18:14
Yes.
In
Out
18:15
Okay.
In
Out
18:16
Oh, okay.
In
Out
18:17
Yes.
In
Out
18:18
Okay.
In
Out
18:20
Do you want to take them out?
In
Out
18:24
Yeah, we know.
In
Out
18:29
Number 6 is a written motion.
In
Out
18:31
Councilor Gomes requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Derek Santos, executive director for the New Bedford Economic Development Council, along with board members of the New Bedford Business Park, for the purpose of having a discussion on implementing language in the business park's governing rules to protect against any future trash and recycling businesses that handle hazardous waste materials from the being— from being located in the business park.
In
Out
18:57
Putting this safeguard in place would protect the business park from any hazardous waste, trash, or any other detrimental materials.
In
Out
19:03
It was referred here on December 11th, 2025.
In
Out
19:06
Number 6 is now before you.
In
Out
19:08
Motion received and placed on file.
In
Out
19:09
Second.
In
Out
19:10
Motion made by Councilor Gomes, second by Councilor Pemberton.
In
Out
19:13
All in favor say aye.
In
Out
19:14
Aye.
In
Out
19:15
Opposed?
In
Out
19:15
The ayes have it.
In
Out
19:16
That was— Derek is here.
In
Out
19:18
Huh?
In
Out
19:19
This is simple.
In
Out
19:20
We shouldn't be too long with this.
In
Out
19:22
No, because we have— I was— we have the other one right behind us, so— yeah, no, I'm just saying in general that with this— yes, this is a yes or no.
In
Out
19:31
Either you can or you can't.
In
Out
19:32
Where is Derek?
In
Out
19:33
Right there.
In
Out
19:34
Derek, you want to come up to the podium?
In
Out
19:37
Thank you, Derek, and thanks for coming.
In
Out
19:39
Good evening.
In
Out
19:40
Thanks for being here.
In
Out
19:41
Um, I think the motion is self-explanatory.
In
Out
19:45
Is there used to be wording within the, um, bylaws?
In
Out
19:52
Bylaws.
In
Out
19:52
Thank you very much.
In
Out
19:53
I was thinking something else.
In
Out
19:55
Bylaws of the, um, business park.
In
Out
19:58
And I'd like to make sure that that is in there.
In
Out
20:00
And that we never have to run into a situation like we have.
In
Out
20:04
Yep.
In
Out
20:04
The Industrial Foundation places deed restrictions on when it sells a piece of property.
In
Out
20:11
Those deed restrictions are in place for a period of 30 years.
In
Out
20:16
Those deed restrictions have changed a bit over time.
In
Out
20:20
When the park was first established and starting selling land in the early '60s, they were There were brief restrictions sometime around the '80s.
In
Out
20:31
They were expanded a bit, and then later on they were expanded even further.
In
Out
20:38
On the Industrial Foundation's website and in its printed guide are the most recent restrictions on any parcel that was sold by the Industrial Foundation.
In
Out
20:50
If a project If a, if a business in the park wants to do any project at all, the first thing that we do is Ramon looks up the deed restriction that was actually recorded, because that's what, that's what the Industrial Foundation can enforce from a deed restriction.
In
Out
21:07
And that's what we ensure compliance with.
In
Out
21:11
Anything— if a project requires any other permitting from the city, state, or whatever, if it's the, if it's the planning board, for example, they'll ask the Industrial Foundation usually to provide comment, and we'll usually provide that comment by saying the deed restrictions were complied with, here's what they are.
In
Out
21:29
And if there are other comments, the Industrial Foundation Executive Committee instructs us what to do and we communicate that.
In
Out
21:35
There are no more parcels for the Industrial Foundation to sell in the business park, so there are no more deed restrictions to put on any additional parcels.
In
Out
21:46
So you're telling me that this is a waste of time?
In
Out
21:48
Who's the lands for— you— let's— I don't mean to do this to you, Derek, but you've been in this building before and you stood before us and you told me that there was nothing for sale up in, in, in the business park, only to see signs up in the business park of, of different parcels for sale.
In
Out
22:03
There was one not too long ago, right after you take a right there, that came up for sale.
In
Out
22:08
There was further up, um, there's parcels for sale.
In
Out
22:11
There's parcels for sale on the other side of Dartmouth.
In
Out
22:13
Of fact, a new technology was just done just above, uh, I think the Dartmouth line.
In
Out
22:19
Correct.
In
Out
22:20
None of those parcels are being sold by the Industrial Foundation.
In
Out
22:24
Who are they being sold by?
In
Out
22:25
Private parties.
In
Out
22:26
I didn't, I didn't realize that private parties own properties within the business park.
In
Out
22:32
I thought the business park was owned basically by the business park.
In
Out
22:35
We had land available, companies would come in and take advantage— not take advantage, but take advantage of setting up their business there.
In
Out
22:44
I wasn't aware that— so when the business park started, it was all private land?
In
Out
22:52
The business park is really no different, Councillor, than imagine a residential subdivision, a road and private lots.
In
Out
22:58
The developer sells the lots.
In
Out
23:00
Once those lots are sold, whoever bought that lot, that's their house and their property.
In
Out
23:04
It's the exact same thing.
In
Out
23:05
Okay, so those, those lots were sold then?
In
Out
23:08
Yes.
In
Out
23:09
Back in the day?
In
Out
23:10
Yes.
In
Out
23:10
Okay, so my question— my, my motion here was simple: no more trash, no more things that are detrimental to the city of New Bedford.
In
Out
23:19
The business park originally, when it came here— I've been around for a little while— was for the 21st century of, uh, of, um, factories or, or manufacturers within the park, and that kind of, um, We did it right.
In
Out
23:33
I just want to guarantee that we, we do not put ourselves in a situation such as we put ourselves in with the Polaroid property and how that all took place.
In
Out
23:44
A lot of that, many of us were not aware of, of what was going on at the time in the business park, because maybe some of us would have stood up and said, wait a minute, what's going on?
In
Out
23:55
Let me finish.
In
Out
23:56
I want just a guaranteed somewhere in the bylaws or whatever that this will never happen again in the park.
In
Out
24:03
And I believe that this can be done.
In
Out
24:04
I believe that it was there before and then it was taken away and then whatever happened happened.
In
Out
24:10
Go ahead.
In
Out
24:12
The deed restriction for the Polaroid property— well, you asked the question.
In
Out
24:15
I'm just trying to answer it, right?
In
Out
24:17
Expired about 21 years ago.
In
Out
24:21
So there was no mechanism for the industrial foundation to enforce a deed restriction that had expired.
In
Out
24:30
There's no mechanism for that.
In
Out
24:32
So the way to, to, to guarantee what you're looking for, the Industrial Foundation has no role.
In
Out
24:37
There are no more parcels for it to sell.
In
Out
24:39
It can't put new deed restrictions on anything.
In
Out
24:41
But if someone left, if someone leaves in the next 10 years and they decide to sell that property, someone can come in with a crane and knock everything down and put a trash place there.
In
Out
24:52
That's what I'm trying to prevent.
In
Out
24:54
If someone— if someone sold a piece of property and the deed restrictions were in place, the deed restrictions as they are for every project would get enforced.
In
Out
25:05
Isn't there any bylaws by the park?
In
Out
25:08
So what's— what's the— what's the industrial park about previously and all that?
In
Out
25:14
What was that all about?
In
Out
25:15
The mechanism that the Industrial Foundation used well before we got there, starting in the 1950s, was to sell properties, to restrict the— not the use.
In
Out
25:27
Use is restricted by zoning.
In
Out
25:29
That's what you're talking about is use.
In
Out
25:31
Zoning is forever.
In
Out
25:32
And municipal zoning, both in the city of New Bedford and the town of Dartmouth, is what restricts use in terms of site design, landscaping, building materials.
In
Out
25:41
That's what you're going to see in the guidelines for the park.
In
Out
25:47
And for 30 years, right, those restrictions are in place.
In
Out
25:51
After 30 years, as each parcel gets sold at a different time, right, they're all on a— it doesn't all happen at once.
In
Out
25:56
It happens over, over a period of time.
In
Out
25:59
And if a parcel gets sold and somebody wants to do something that is outside of the deed restrictions, if they still exist, right, then Ramona and I review those plans.
In
Out
26:09
We let the executive committee of the Industrial Foundation know.
In
Out
26:14
And if it will say, you know, you— this is something that you cannot do.
In
Out
26:20
That has happened.
In
Out
26:21
That has happened.
In
Out
26:23
There were— what happened then with Polaroid if that deed had expired for almost 21 years or whatever?
In
Out
26:30
What happened with that, that that got to locate— Parallel got to do what they got to do there?
In
Out
26:35
There were no— I don't mean to go there because I didn't want to go there.
In
Out
26:38
All I wanted was a flat yes or no answer.
In
Out
26:40
Can we put something in place to make sure it never happens again?
In
Out
26:44
You want a yes or no question?
In
Out
26:46
There's no way— there's no way of protecting that park, that business park, in any way of this happening again or something coming to the park that could be detrimental to it?
In
Out
26:57
The Industrial Foundation does not own any of the parcels in the park.
In
Out
27:02
So therefore, no, it cannot enforce deed restrictions on parcels that it does not own.
In
Out
27:08
It can only enforce deed restrictions on parcels where those deeds— where those restrictions still have time left on them.
In
Out
27:16
So any parcel that was sold in the, you know, '50s, '60s, early '70s, those deed restrictions have, you know, expired.
In
Out
27:25
Any parcels that were sold more recently within 30 years, right, those deed restrictions still exist.
In
Out
27:31
On parcels where the deed restrictions still exist, Then the Industrial Foundation enforces those deed restrictions.
In
Out
27:37
Okay, you're educating me on the deeds and stuff like that.
In
Out
27:41
Yeah.
In
Out
27:42
But so what is your job there, Derek?
In
Out
27:45
How do we get— is your job to attract businesses to the, to the park?
In
Out
27:50
Am I correct?
In
Out
27:53
Are you mean the EDC?
In
Out
27:56
My job is I'm the executive director of the EDC.
In
Out
27:59
Okay.
In
Out
28:00
There are no parcels left to sell in the business park.
In
Out
28:05
There is parcels left to sell, but they're in private ownership.
In
Out
28:10
Yes.
In
Out
28:10
You've already explained that to me.
In
Out
28:11
Okay.
In
Out
28:12
But so say I own a piece of property up there.
In
Out
28:15
Yep.
In
Out
28:16
And I want to turn it into Smash Glass.
In
Out
28:18
I can just buy the property and do so?
In
Out
28:23
No.
In
Out
28:24
Okay.
In
Out
28:25
Give me an explanation why no.
In
Out
28:27
If I want to buy a piece of property in the business park and run a smash glass operation— that's an example.
In
Out
28:33
Yeah, to use your example, right?
In
Out
28:36
If that property has deed restrictions on it from the industrial foundation, right, it's unlikely that it would meet the criteria of not being obnoxious use, right?
In
Out
28:46
And you'd be stopped right there.
In
Out
28:48
If you bought a parcel where the deed restrictions had expired there would be no role for the Industrial Foundation.
In
Out
28:53
That role would be with the City of New Bedford between site plan review and the building department.
In
Out
28:58
So you would have no say in that?
In
Out
29:00
It would come to the city to deal with anything like that?
In
Out
29:04
Correct.
In
Out
29:05
Thank you very much.
In
Out
29:07
Nothing further.
In
Out
29:08
I don't need any other questions from him if my colleagues are happy with that.
In
Out
29:12
I apologize for having him in here.
In
Out
29:14
All I was doing was try to protect the park from this ever happening again.
In
Out
29:18
And I understand that this wording was in there somewhere a long time ago in the bylaws, but I guess them have been burnt and we go on, on what we have now.
In
Out
29:27
Yes, you are, you are right, Councilor Gomez, because Mr. Davis stood here several years back when this all started and, and told us that it was in the bylaws.
In
Out
29:37
So he didn't make it up.
In
Out
29:39
He, he, after he resigned, he came here when that whole parallel park was up and told us that.
In
Out
29:44
So that's right.
In
Out
29:45
And again, Madam Chairman, always looking to— is to protect the park from anything of the future that could be detrimental, as this project that came along has been, and the work and the money that has been spent by the taxpayers of the city in New Bedford.
In
Out
29:59
And the fight continues, um, with everyone against parallel products being there.
In
Out
30:04
That's all I was looking to do.
In
Out
30:05
Derek, thank you very much for being here.
In
Out
30:07
Have a great evening.
In
Out
30:07
Thank you, Councilor.
In
Out
30:08
Thank you, Councilor Gomes.
In
Out
30:09
Councillor Pereira.
In
Out
30:10
Thank you, Madam Chair.
In
Out
30:12
So Derek, you alluded to it a little bit.
In
Out
30:15
Um, obviously there are deed restrictions on parcels, uh, that were sold later on.
In
Out
30:19
They're still— those 30 years are still ongoing.
In
Out
30:22
So those, those are in place on certain parcels in the industrial park.
In
Out
30:26
Yes.
In
Out
30:27
However, all parcels in the industrial park and in the city have to follow our zoning laws.
In
Out
30:32
You are correct.
In
Out
30:33
So in our zoning laws where we have now made changes to ex— to not allow these certain facilities, uh, in, in all these zones, that'll take place in industrial park as well?
In
Out
30:46
You are correct.
In
Out
30:47
Okay, so we— so the council, by, uh, passing those certain ordinances in the table of use, have protected that all?
In
Out
30:54
You are correct.
In
Out
30:54
Okay, thank you, Madam Chair.
In
Out
30:56
Just to clarify, uh, you know, I understand, uh, when this, uh, happened, you know, the council was looking— and the council to my right knows better than anyone else, or just about as much as anyone else— that we were looking for any and every way to stop this from ever happening again.
In
Out
31:12
And, and, but, but we— the council did the master of all moves by banning it on our zoning, which covers the entire city.
In
Out
31:21
So that, that is protected now throughout the city, and that's thanks to, to, to leadership on this council.
In
Out
31:25
Thank you, Madam Chair.
In
Out
31:26
Thank you, Derek.
In
Out
31:27
Yes, thank you, Councilor Pereira, in clarifying the zoning for the people that are watching, because yes, now the zoning's in place.
In
Out
31:34
Thank you.
In
Out
31:35
Councilor Abril.
In
Out
31:36
Thank you, Madam Chair.
In
Out
31:37
Derek, very quick, um, when we were discussing a few minutes ago, or it was brought up about the bylaws for protection, uh, through the Industrial Foundation, I, I was looking at you and you kind of made a little face and you were shaking your head a little bit.
In
Out
31:50
And if, and if I misread you, I apologize, But was that— is that not correct?
In
Out
31:54
Like in the past, when it was alluded to Mr. Davis, and I just want to clarify that.
In
Out
32:00
Yes, Councilor.
In
Out
32:01
So terms get used in an interchanged way.
In
Out
32:06
The bylaws for the Industrial Foundation as an organization, like any nonprofit, have existed since its inception.
In
Out
32:13
They make no reference to design standards or uses of The properties in the park, they refer specifically, when you're talking about the bylaws, to how that organization is going to run itself, right?
In
Out
32:28
Number of members, officers, meeting times, that type of thing.
In
Out
32:31
They're very typical bylaws, I think from 1955.
In
Out
32:35
The regulations, which sometimes get referred to as the park's bylaws, right, the park regulations, and are posted as the park regulations.
In
Out
32:44
But even if you read the regulations, it says those, those are essentially regulations that are restrictions that are placed on the deed.
In
Out
32:52
I fully understand how anybody, a member of the public or anybody else, would interchange those, but they are, they are separate legal documents.
In
Out
33:00
Thank you, Derek.
In
Out
33:01
Thank you, Madam Chair.
In
Out
33:02
Thank you, Councilor April.
In
Out
33:03
Anybody else on your second council call?
In
Out
33:06
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman.
In
Out
33:07
Again, thank you for being here.
In
Out
33:10
I know what we were told back in the day, and that's what I was going on.
In
Out
33:14
Um, I, I understand about the zoning and all that stuff, but I, I've always thought that the original industrial fund, um, was a foundation of members that almost like a condo association that watched over the park, what came into the park, what didn't come into the park.
In
Out
33:34
Just want that to be understood.
In
Out
33:37
No, that's, that's, that's certainly true.
In
Out
33:38
That's certainly true.
In
Out
33:41
We work with park companies on almost a weekly basis.
In
Out
33:45
We work with them on enhanced security.
In
Out
33:47
We work with them on enhanced maintenance of the park.
In
Out
33:50
We're doing a spring to-do list.
In
Out
33:52
We do that every spring and every fall.
In
Out
33:56
We make sure that they're aware of any security updates in terms of notifying police either in New Bedford or Dartmouth if they're there's an incident in the park, whether that be on their site or as the weather gets warmer.
In
Out
34:07
Council, I'm sure you know, there are some folks out there who will drive their cars too fast in the business park from time to time.
In
Out
34:13
We give them the protocol on anything like that.
In
Out
34:16
If there's any business in the park that has a question, that has— is looking to do an expansion, Horatio's is a good example where we worked with those guys on their permitting.
In
Out
34:26
Ramon worked with them specifically on, on the incentive package to make that expansion actually happen.
In
Out
34:32
So we're constantly working with, um, working with companies in the park, and when they want to do something, referring them back because they don't know, back to their own deed restrictions on this is what's applicable, this is what's not.
In
Out
34:43
Almost always the city's zoning requirements and site plan review requirements are more restrictive than the— than what's in deed restrictions.
In
Out
34:52
Almost always.
In
Out
34:53
The foundation back in 1955 did not choose a model.
In
Out
34:57
We wish they did, where instead of selling land, they entered into ground leases, right, and had perpetual ownership of property.
In
Out
35:06
You understand what this council was thinking?
In
Out
35:08
I understand exactly what you want.
In
Out
35:10
No, you understand what I was thinking.
In
Out
35:13
Yeah, absolutely.
In
Out
35:13
I'm not as well-versed on that.
In
Out
35:16
No, no, no, no, no.
In
Out
35:17
And that is not an uncommon model.
In
Out
35:20
So it's— we fully understand when, when anybody would make that assumption.
In
Out
35:25
That's a completely valid assumption.
In
Out
35:27
The Industrial Foundation in New Bedford chose not to do that.
In
Out
35:31
They chose to essentially say, we're going to work to essentially build a city street, and then we're going to sell off property, right?
In
Out
35:38
And when the revenue from those properties is, is complete, essentially the foundation will sunset.
In
Out
35:45
The foundation will sunset and will go away probably in somewhere between 12 and 14 years, something like that, with their current, current model of finances.
In
Out
35:54
If things stretch out a little bit longer, it might be a little bit longer.
In
Out
35:57
If some expenses are more, it might be a little bit less.
In
Out
36:00
But that organization was designed to sunset and not be perpetual.
In
Out
36:03
If they had held on to the land and had ground leases or even built buildings and had tenants come in, They would have had much more control.
In
Out
36:13
They would have had perpetual income.
In
Out
36:16
But there was a strategic decision made that said that's not the model that we're going to follow.
In
Out
36:20
And at no point in their history, and not since we've been there, have they decided to change that model.
In
Out
36:25
By the time we got there, there were only 2 parcels left for the foundation to sell.
In
Out
36:29
We're Plummett Suppliers now, which Ramon recruited to that site.
In
Out
36:33
And what the parcel is called, Lot 11.
In
Out
36:36
Which DF Pray had, which now is a staging area for Eversource temporarily for their project in the North End.
In
Out
36:42
Ramon also recruited DF Pray to that.
In
Out
36:44
Once that's done, there'll be future development at that parcel, but they have no other parcels to sell.
In
Out
36:48
What's going on right next to the railroad track with that parcel of land that was up— it's up for sale?
In
Out
36:57
Are you talking about where the railroad tracks are?
In
Out
37:00
They've put some temporary campers there.
In
Out
37:02
But that whole land was, was, was cleared, cleared, and the signage is up.
In
Out
37:07
Yep.
In
Out
37:07
The foundation sold that parcel to DF Pray for, for development.
In
Out
37:12
Um, in the interim right now, Eversource had approached DF Pray if they could use that parcel for staging for a lot of the north end projects that Eversource is doing right now.
In
Out
37:20
That's what's happening now.
In
Out
37:22
Um, that's what that stone is and all that's about with the fencing in, because half of it is not then it's just— yep, correct.
In
Out
37:29
Or whatever.
In
Out
37:30
Correct.
In
Out
37:31
Uh, Field Engineering, who's done a lot of work in the park— Bob Field, um, had worked with DF Pray.
In
Out
37:35
We've— we had seen the plans for the, uh, uh, the schematic concept for development, and the Eversource piece is there temporarily.
In
Out
37:47
When those construction projects end for Eversource, they leave, and then DF Pray looks at, okay, how do we go back to the redevelopment plan?
In
Out
37:54
Okay, um, again, Derek, thank you for being here.
In
Out
37:57
Thank you for your explanation.
In
Out
37:59
Please understand that this councilor is somewhat very frustrated, and you know I am, and many of us are, with the project, with the parallel project up there.
In
Out
38:07
And again, all I was looking for from you, sir, was that protection that as the eyes and the ears of the park, that something like this never get past you or whatever without you sounding the alarm or whoever's in your place to sound the alarm to the city, or at least its representation, so immediate action could be taken and we're not getting caught up into the run that we got caught up into with parallel products, which was already there smashing glass and everything.
In
Out
38:34
And a constituent had to call and let me know that that was happening, and then it all broke loose.
In
Out
38:40
We're on the same page.
In
Out
38:41
Thank you.
In
Out
38:41
When we have the tools, we absolutely use them.
In
Out
38:44
Thank you, sir.
In
Out
38:45
Yes, sir.
In
Out
38:45
Ramón, thank you also for being here.
In
Out
38:47
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
In
Out
38:48
No further action.
In
Out
38:50
Thank you, Councilor Gomes.
In
Out
38:51
Anybody else have any questions for Derek?
In
Out
38:54
Sorry.
In
Out
38:55
See, that's okay.
In
Out
38:57
Seeing none, motion's been made for no further action, made by Councilor Gomes, seconded by Councilor Pergo.
In
Out
39:03
All in favor say aye.
In
Out
39:05
Opposed?
In
Out
39:06
The ayes have it.
In
Out
39:07
Thank you, Derek and Ramón, for coming.
In
Out
39:09
Item number 7 is a written motion.
In
Out
39:11
Councilor Gomes requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with the Archdiocese of Boston's Planning Office for Urban Affairs to discuss the project timeline and the proposed design for the former St. Killian's Church property on Ashley Boulevard.
In
Out
39:24
It was referred here on January 22nd, 2026.
In
Out
39:27
7A, motion to receive and place on file.
In
Out
39:29
Sorry, checked.
In
Out
39:30
Okay, so 7 and 7A, motion to receive and place on file.
In
Out
39:33
The written motion and the project timeline and design plan.
In
Out
39:36
Thanks, Leroy.
In
Out
39:38
Excuse me.
In
Out
39:40
Motion made by Councilor Roy, seconded by Councilor Burgo.
In
Out
39:43
All in favor say aye.
In
Out
39:44
Opposed?
In
Out
39:45
The ayes have it.
In
Out
39:46
Thank you for waiting for us, and, um, you're on now so you can state your name and address for the record, and then you can get into explaining about the project.
In
Out
39:56
Welcome back to the city of New Bedford again.
In
Out
39:58
Appreciate you being here.
In
Out
39:59
Thank you very much.
In
Out
40:00
Appreciate being invited.
In
Out
40:02
I'm Shayna Corman Houston, the director of real estate— the director of real estate at the Planning Office for Urban Affairs.
In
Out
40:11
Our office— our offices are at 10 Post Office Square in Boston.
In
Out
40:19
And I do have printed presentations.
In
Out
40:22
Thank you.
In
Out
40:25
Motion received and placed on file.
In
Out
40:26
Second.
In
Out
40:26
Must be made by Councilor Gomes.
In
Out
40:28
Second by Councilor Abril.
In
Out
40:29
We already received and placed that on file.
In
Out
40:31
That was 7A.
In
Out
40:32
Oh, I'm sorry.
In
Out
40:33
Oh yes, yeah, I think you did.
In
Out
40:37
You, you added both of them in your motion.
In
Out
40:46
Yeah, Jenna, save one for the chair.
In
Out
40:47
Is one on my desk?
In
Out
40:48
It's the same one.
In
Out
40:51
Sean, is mine on my desk?
In
Out
40:54
No.
In
Out
40:56
It is now.
In
Out
40:56
The council president is our IT guy.
In
Out
41:01
Um, Dennis, where's my— where's my nice color one?
In
Out
41:07
She wanted one on her desk.
In
Out
41:08
Oh, I was going to bring it up for you, but that's fine.
In
Out
41:10
That's mine.
In
Out
41:12
She does have one.
In
Out
41:14
I don't know why she asked.
In
Out
41:15
I don't know why I would need one.
In
Out
41:17
I do now because I'm giving it to her.
In
Out
41:20
Because you know how I feel about it.
In
Out
41:27
While we're waiting, we appreciate you being here and coming down again.
In
Out
41:32
We had met last year, and you know how I felt about this project.
In
Out
41:52
Again, thank you so much for coming.
In
Out
42:03
So good evening, counselors, and, and thank you for having us.
In
Out
42:07
Um, as I said, I'm Shayna Corman Houston, Director of Real Estate at the Planning Office for Urban Affairs.
In
Out
42:12
And I'm here with Joe Harrington, the Vice Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Fall River.
In
Out
42:19
We're here to discuss the proposed redevelopment of St. Killian's Church at 300 to 306 Ashley Boulevard.
In
Out
42:30
All right.
In
Out
42:32
So the planning office was formed in 1969 by the Archdiocese of Boston as an independent nonprofit with a mission of developing high-quality affordable housing.
In
Out
42:44
Over the past 55 years, we've developed more than 3,200 units throughout eastern Massachusetts with another 1,200 to 1,500 underway.
In
Out
42:54
We provide diverse housing solutions ranging from mixed income, senior, family, and supportive housing for vulnerable populations.
In
Out
43:03
As well as homeownership and mixed-use development.
In
Out
43:16
All right, so as you know, St. Killian's has been vacant for many years, and the Archdiocese was seeking a way to leverage its unused properties in a way that would strengthen the diocese's financial position position, as well as advance its social justice mission and benefit the neighborhood.
In
Out
43:36
So PUA has a deep— has deep experience in this sort of project, and so we connected to work on that.
In
Out
43:44
We initially envisioned a project with 15 workforce homeownership units and a 44-unit rental building with a mix of incomes focusing though on 30% and 60% AMI units.
In
Out
43:59
So low and very low income households and a design that was intended to respect the neighborhood.
In
Out
44:08
So we met with several of the councilors, including Councilor Gomes, as well as Josh Emerol from the Office of Housing and Community Development with those early plans, and we really appreciate the feedback feedback we got from you and from the mayor via Josh.
In
Out
44:29
There we go.
In
Out
44:30
All right.
In
Out
44:31
So the feedback that we heard was strong support for the homeownership component, a desire for more workforce housing, recommendations that parking be secured, which we will do, and an interest in preserving the church, which unfortunately we're not able to do, or if that were not possible, a more distinctive design.
In
Out
45:05
So we went back, we put pencil to paper, and this is what we've come up with that we're bringing to you today.
In
Out
45:18
What you see— what you see at the bottom of the page is a 4-story, 46-unit affordable and workforce rental building with 49 parking spaces and an outdoor patio.
In
Out
45:35
Up at the top of the page in the church— the former church parking lot is 15 for-sale townhomes with 16 parking spaces.
In
Out
45:53
All right, so here's a view of the townhomes.
In
Out
45:59
The homeownership townhomes, uh, at 3 stories, there believe a very appropriate scale for the neighborhood and with the pitched roof and the residential character.
In
Out
46:10
They're mostly 2-bedroom units, a couple of 3-bedrooms, and they're intended to be for households at 80% of area median income with sales prices that are appropriate for those households.
In
Out
46:24
And I've put up at the top what those incomes are approximately.
In
Out
46:29
What we expect those sales prices would be.
In
Out
46:38
So, and then across the street, this is our revised design of the apartment building where we attempted to pay homage to the church with the bays as towers with arched windows as well as the pitched roof.
In
Out
46:55
The building has grown just a little bit to 46 units.
In
Out
47:00
And we explored the possibility of further growth.
In
Out
47:03
To do that, we'd have to lose parking.
In
Out
47:05
Right now we're at just over 1 space per unit.
In
Out
47:09
As well— or the other option would be to go up another story, to go up to a 5th story, which would also put us below the 1-to-1 parking ratio.
In
Out
47:20
So those are 2 things that we would absolutely consider.
In
Out
47:26
But for the moment, this is what we're laying out.
In
Out
47:35
So these are just preliminary floor plans.
In
Out
47:42
We're looking at an onsite management office, laundry, a community room, and wherever possible, we include a gym in our properties.
In
Out
47:57
And here's the income mix.
In
Out
47:58
This is where you see the biggest change since we came and met with the counselors in the fall.
In
Out
48:07
The number of bedrooms, the unit mix of bedrooms of 1s, 2s, and 3s is not that different.
In
Out
48:16
But we've substantially increased the number of 80% AMI workforce units.
In
Out
48:23
This was based on you all's feedback and also in particular the mayor's feedback.
In
Out
48:29
And so we've pushed this as far as possible, in part by increasing the number of 30% AMI units, extremely low-income units, to balance it out due to the nature of the financing.
In
Out
48:46
So the result is that we've gone from 14% workforce units in the rental building up to 44%.
In
Out
48:56
And if you look at the project holistically, when you include the homeownership component, We've gone from 35% workforce units all the way up to 60%.
In
Out
49:16
So what happens next?
In
Out
49:18
We've just about wrapped up our due diligence work, and we're waiting on some input from the mayor on the updated scheme before going live with it.
In
Out
49:28
When we received the invitation.
In
Out
49:30
So I really appreciate the invitation.
In
Out
49:32
It pushed us to go live.
In
Out
49:36
So in the coming weeks and months, we'll be bringing it around to various departments, you all again, probably public stakeholders for feedback.
In
Out
49:50
And all of that is gearing up for The zoning process, which we hope to begin this spring after a conversation with the planning department about whether they have a preferred path.
In
Out
50:06
The goal is to have zoning in place and be able to apply for state funding by the end of the year.
In
Out
50:14
Now, to do that, we're going to need to ask for a funding commitment from the city.
In
Out
50:20
This is a total $38 million project when you combine the rental and homeownership together, and, and the state would expect some contribution from the city.
In
Out
50:32
And so when the time comes, we would want to have a conversation with you all about what seems fair and appropriate to you.
In
Out
50:41
My sense is that, that the homeownership component is going to move a little bit ahead of the rental component, about a year ahead.
In
Out
50:51
And so my goal is that that portion would be under construction by the end of 2027, with the rental about a year behind.
In
Out
51:02
So that said, thank you for your time, and, uh, if you have any questions— Thank you.
In
Out
51:09
Okay, Councilor Gomes, on your first.
In
Out
51:11
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
In
Out
51:12
When you— we've got a great presentation just as always.
In
Out
51:17
When we met with your whole staff back late last summer or whatever, most impressed by everything that I've seen.
In
Out
51:24
And you have my full support and I told you that and I'll stay on that.
In
Out
51:28
Just because of the need and the vibrance of this project, I think resonates with that— not resonates, but will rejuvenate make some of that area, that neighborhood— not only will it support the stores and things on Acushnet Avenue, it just— it'll do something to a piece of land that we loved as a church, but has a time comes when it has to go.
In
Out
51:55
Um, what do you— when you say you're looking for something from the city, monies from the city, and what do you mean?
In
Out
52:01
And it's a type of grant form or whatever?
In
Out
52:04
So the state— the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, which provides the bulk of the funding for our projects, requires that a municipality make some sort of financial commitment, a grant or a forgivable loan or interest-free deferred loan, something of that nature, to any project.
In
Out
52:37
And the amount is sort of up for discussion.
In
Out
52:45
They consider the municipality in question and other supports that the municipality might offer.
In
Out
52:52
Would they consider, you know, like say the city did the road work and the sidewalks, is that a contribution?
In
Out
53:03
That is certainly a contribution.
In
Out
53:05
I think they would likely want to see sort of paired with that at least a nominal financial contribution, but the— but seeing infrastructure work put in by the city would, would absolutely count as a— and also tax credit.
In
Out
53:28
That's— yeah, possible TIF.
In
Out
53:32
Absolutely.
In
Out
53:33
And, and I think having a conversation about what seems appropriate to the city and, and what it is that the city has to bring to bear is, is something that would be very important to us.
In
Out
53:47
I'll give it this time again.
In
Out
53:48
I'm in full support of your project.
In
Out
53:51
It's been great with your staff and everything.
In
Out
53:54
When we met, it was plain and simple.
In
Out
53:57
It was put out there and we knew that it was needed, and it was, uh, very enlightening, at least to this council.
In
Out
54:02
And I'll stand where I stood with you that day.
In
Out
54:05
Anything that you need, we've got to move things along, the permitting or whatever.
In
Out
54:09
Once this— you get the shovels in the ground want to be there to help you.
In
Out
54:13
Thank you.
In
Out
54:14
Thank you.
In
Out
54:14
Appreciate it.
In
Out
54:15
Thank you, Councilor Gomes.
In
Out
54:16
Councilor Pemberton.
In
Out
54:19
Hi, I just want to thank you again for, uh, being here.
In
Out
54:23
That was a good presentation.
In
Out
54:24
Uh, I actually, uh, represent that area, so it's, uh, it's actually a, uh, very, uh, delightful to see something that's going to happen there.
In
Out
54:34
Uh, I hate to see the church go, but, uh, You know, it was a beautiful church, but, uh, but it's much needed apartments.
In
Out
54:41
So, uh, and by looking at the designs, it's actually a beautiful design.
In
Out
54:45
Uh, so anything that I can do as well, uh, I'll support this.
In
Out
54:49
Uh, and I'll give you my number, my card after the end.
In
Out
54:52
But, uh, again, thank you again.
In
Out
54:56
Thank you, and very nice to meet you.
In
Out
54:59
How's that?
In
Out
55:02
Anybody else?
In
Out
55:04
Yeah, we're looking at each other.
In
Out
55:08
Thank you.
In
Out
55:10
Um, with, with the homeownership piece, I know this is still kind of in its infancy and there's still a lot of— um, is the idea to, um, uh, are you— is somebody going to be in charge of the property, or when you're selling them off each unit, uh, is that homeowner now in charge of property, or is there going to be a management company for that entire site?
In
Out
55:34
The— what I envision and what we've done previously is, is that there will be a homeowners association.
In
Out
55:43
People will pay fees.
In
Out
55:45
The management company for the rental building across the street will be in charge of snow removal and facilitating trash and things of that nature, but it will be a very limited role.
In
Out
56:00
There will not be interior shared hallways or anything of that nature, so the management needs should be limited.
In
Out
56:11
They'll make sure the landscaping is taken care of and the outside lights stay on, but inside the 4 walls is the responsibility of the owner.
In
Out
56:24
And the, the rental property across the street where the church sits now, does— once that project— once the project is up and running, if everything goes to plan, does the diocese have any more stake in the property or it's gone over to this new management team?
In
Out
56:43
So We've talked about 2 models.
In
Out
56:49
We've talked about an outright sale model and we've talked about a ground lease model.
In
Out
56:57
And I don't think we've come to final conclusion on that yet.
In
Out
57:02
But I think our vision was a partnership, an ongoing partnership in terms of the relationship.
In
Out
57:12
Regardless of the ownership structure.
In
Out
57:15
One of the things that we— one of the models that we talked about was possibly having Community Action for Better Housing, which is a ministry of the Diocese of Fall River, involved in the program management after the development is done.
In
Out
57:29
So the diocese looks at this as a long-term partnership.
In
Out
57:33
Yeah.
In
Out
57:36
I guess closest to where we are, here in the city of New Bedford, what's a project that my colleagues and the general public can look to that you guys have already done similar to this?
In
Out
57:47
That's a very good question.
In
Out
57:48
I should have brought— I should have brought a map or a list with me.
In
Out
57:52
Um, and could you— could you provide a, a list to our clerk?
In
Out
57:58
Oh yes, you can send it at a later date.
In
Out
58:00
Yes, I'll email it that way.
In
Out
58:01
That way we can all take a look at it and— yep.
In
Out
58:04
Absolutely, I'll email it.
In
Out
58:05
We have, um, we have one— we have a number underway in Marlborough and Brockton, um, and I'm gonna have to look at a map to see what we have that's closer than that.
In
Out
58:20
That's fine, but you do get— you guys have stuff in the pipeline relatively close to us that we could, you know— okay, so if you could get that information to our clerk so we could take a look look at it.
In
Out
58:30
And then again, I think you alluded to it, but I assume that there's gonna be some sort of public outreach as well, like a neighborhood meeting or things like that.
In
Out
58:42
Okay, awesome.
In
Out
58:43
All right, so definitely link up with the good councilor from Ward 2.
In
Out
58:46
He puts on some meetings throughout the ward so that way folks can come and hear, you know, what it is that you guys are looking to do.
In
Out
58:54
So thank you this This is all good information.
In
Out
58:56
I appreciate the time, Madam Chair.
In
Out
58:58
Thank you, Councilor Oliver.
In
Out
58:58
Councilor Burgum.
In
Out
59:01
Thank you.
In
Out
59:02
Thank you for coming tonight and presenting and giving us an update on this presentation.
In
Out
59:07
I was really excited when myself and my colleague was— were able to see these plans originally.
In
Out
59:20
Obviously, I'm disappointed that you're in the situation that you're in, having to increase the AMI situation from 14% to 44% for the 80%.
In
Out
59:30
But I know the situation that you're in due to our administration who does not care for affordable housing in that regard.
In
Out
59:41
I hope that you don't have the same issues in Attleboro or Brockton, the other projects that you have.
In
Out
59:47
Recently, I had gotten into a lot of hot water when I criticized this administration, because when people ask what are the barriers to affordable housing in this city, and I said it's this corner office.
In
Out
59:59
You are just one example of many in this city that come in trying to help the residents of New Bedford in this situation, and this administration— anyway, I'll get off my soapbox in regards to that, but my question is more so In regards to the timeline, if this administration, which they're known for dragging their feet when it comes to people trying to do business in this city, whether they're market rate or affordable, whatever the case, workforce, you name it, trying to get work done in this city takes a lifetime.
In
Out
1:00:33
And I know, I know it's not in this presentation, but in the original presentation when we met this, you know, last year, um, there was a time span, uh, obviously starting now in 20— well, now we're in 2026 and then 2027.
In
Out
1:00:47
I know closing and what have you, and it wasn't going to be a completion date till 2029, I believe, was the original expectation.
In
Out
1:00:56
Um, are we still on task to meet those kind of time frames of completion for this large project, or Is the logjam in this administration and their hindrance to build housing in New Bedford going to stall even harder for you?
In
Out
1:01:15
So we have 2 key milestones to achieve this year in order to stay on track.
In
Out
1:01:22
And one is zoning the property.
In
Out
1:01:24
If the property is not zoned by December, then, then there will be a delay.
In
Out
1:01:31
Delay.
In
Out
1:01:32
And the other is— have— is that by December we need to be able to show some resource commitment from the city.
In
Out
1:01:44
The reason for those 2 things is that the, the state funding round is going to be early this year.
In
Out
1:01:53
It's going to be in December.
In
Out
1:01:55
And those are 2 threshold items for them to even consider the application.
In
Out
1:02:03
So in order to stay on track, those are the 2 things we need to achieve.
In
Out
1:02:09
We— I heard from Josh Emeril this afternoon, and he's coordinating a meeting with the mayor for us.
In
Out
1:02:18
So that is good movement.
In
Out
1:02:22
And, and so I'm hopeful that, that we'll be able to move forward.
In
Out
1:02:27
Great, that's wonderful.
In
Out
1:02:28
I, I have full faith in Director Amaral.
In
Out
1:02:31
Um, stick by him and he'll lead you there.
In
Out
1:02:34
Um, the other one, I don't know, but, um, that's great.
In
Out
1:02:38
And I, I know that Director Amaral will definitely connect you to the resource.
In
Out
1:02:41
I know he's already shared with you during our previous meeting, uh, the possible resources grants that the city might be able to award, not maybe in the amount that you're looking for, but something, which is great.
In
Out
1:02:53
So I know I'll be following along.
In
Out
1:02:55
I'm sure my colleague that has mentioned from Ward 2 will be following along in regards to making sure it's zoned by December 26th.
In
Out
1:03:03
That sounds like the most immediate deadline, December of this year, making sure that that's the first of many goalposts.
In
Out
1:03:13
And please reach out to the council if we can be of any assistance in this project, because I think it will be very beneficial not only to that area but to the city as a whole.
In
Out
1:03:24
So thank you for coming again tonight.
In
Out
1:03:26
Thank you.
In
Out
1:03:29
Thank you, Councilor Burgoyne.
In
Out
1:03:30
Anybody else?
In
Out
1:03:34
Great.
In
Out
1:03:36
Um, Councilor, would we like to just— I don't know how the council feels about about the project.
In
Out
1:03:41
I, I hope they support the project, as you've heard from a few of us, or whatever.
In
Out
1:03:46
Excuse me.
In
Out
1:03:47
I'd like to leave this here so that we had something here just in case we are contacted by the diocese or yourself that we need to talk to the council, or we, we need assistance in something, that we able to bring this back up.
In
Out
1:04:03
I don't know how the council feels about that, but I— instead of, you know, filing a new motion.
In
Out
1:04:07
We have this here.
In
Out
1:04:08
As this project moves along, if it needs to be used, we will use it in the manner that we can to assist you.
In
Out
1:04:16
Yeah, absolutely.
In
Out
1:04:17
We can, we can keep this on the table.
In
Out
1:04:19
Yes, we can move to table it and keep it here.
In
Out
1:04:22
And before, before we go into the motion to table again, I want to thank you for being here tonight.
In
Out
1:04:28
It's been a pleasure to work with you.
In
Out
1:04:30
I, you know, it was funny because because I forgot that our city council president also was at the meeting along with former Councilor Maria Trieste, who now— the Councilor Pemberton is the newly elected councilor for that ward, so you will be dealing with him.
In
Out
1:04:48
But just want you to know that we're here to support this project.
In
Out
1:04:51
I am very excited, and just as excited when we met you on that day.
In
Out
1:04:56
I mean, just as excited today because I, I think it just brings something fresh to the city of New Bedford, and the, the structure of the whole project benefits a lot of different people.
In
Out
1:05:07
Homeownership, good rents, a place to put your head down.
In
Out
1:05:13
You, you seem to cover it all, and that's what was most impressive to this councilor when this project was put forth, and I appreciate you.
In
Out
1:05:21
I do believe, I do believe that, uh, you've got the full council support on this project.
In
Out
1:05:28
Um, this seems like a great project.
In
Out
1:05:30
I'm sad to see the church has to come down.
In
Out
1:05:33
I've been in that St. Killian's many times.
In
Out
1:05:35
It's beautiful.
In
Out
1:05:36
It's, it's going to be sad to see it come down like any other churches, but, but anyways, it's, it's for a good cause and it's on holy ground, so that means a good thing.
In
Out
1:05:46
So if, if just brief to the guys, to the is if this all comes to fruition and the church is taken down, would you please consider some type of pieces of the church?
In
Out
1:06:02
Right, like the bricks, something.
In
Out
1:06:04
There's many people in this community, and I'm sure you've heard, we've heard the stories, they got married there, the kids were baptized there, their mother came here.
In
Out
1:06:13
There's a lot of connection with that church.
In
Out
1:06:16
And if in some way, somehow, during the demolition that some pieces of rock or the building itself could be offered to those that would like it, I would appreciate that.
In
Out
1:06:29
Thank you.
In
Out
1:06:29
Yeah, or, or even if we had something prior to the demolition out in the parking lot in front of the church for the parishioners that used to attend there and a lot of the Catholic Diocese that's around here that would like to go and pay homage to that, that land before it comes down.
In
Out
1:06:47
That would be great if we could do that.
In
Out
1:06:48
Get the community together to do that would be great.
In
Out
1:06:51
I know a lot of people will show up.
In
Out
1:06:53
We have a good strong faith Catholic group in this area, so I think that would be great.
In
Out
1:06:56
And it will be an opportunity for the diocese to show off what they are attempting to do here in the city of New Bedford.
In
Out
1:07:02
Absolutely.
In
Out
1:07:04
Thank you.
In
Out
1:07:04
We do have more churches.
In
Out
1:07:05
Did you look at the rest of them?
In
Out
1:07:12
Okay, we have a motion that Councilor Roy made, a motion to table, seconded by Councilor Pemberton.
In
Out
1:07:19
All in favor of the table say aye.
In
Out
1:07:20
Aye.
In
Out
1:07:21
Motion to adjourn.
In
Out
1:07:22
The ayes have it.
In
Out
1:07:23
Motion to adjourn by Councilor Roy, seconded by Councilor Pemberton.
In
Out
1:07:26
All in favor say aye.
In
Out
1:07:27
Aye.
In
Out
1:07:28
Opposed?
In
Out
1:07:28
The ayes have it.
In
Out
1:07:29
We are adjourned at 8:07.
In
Out
1:07:32
Thank you all for coming.
In
Out