City Council — April 9, 2026

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

It is Thursday, March, uh, April 9th, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

I'm calling together this session of the New Bedford City Council.

Tonight we are led in prayer by Pastor Jamie Winn of the Grace Harbor Church.

Pastor, let's pray.

Lord, you are good and mighty and you are holy, and we look to you now knowing that you are ultimately The one who gives wisdom and guidance.

God, we pray that you would lead these meetings by your Spirit.

We pray that these individuals in this room that you have gifted and, and put in positions of leadership would look to you, look to your love, look to your righteousness, look to your goodness as they seek to lead others.

I pray that your love would, would mold and shape decisions we make.

I pray that we'd be thoughtful toward, toward others.

I pray that you would unify us, unify these individuals as they, they look to lead.

And thank you for this time.

We thank you for your spirit.

We pray all this in the mighty name of God.

Amen.

Tonight we are led in Uh, the Pledge of Allegiance by Councillor-at-Large Naomi Carney.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Councillor.

I am joined in the chamber by my colleagues, Councilor at Large Ian Abreu, Councilor of Ward 2 Scott Pemberton, Councilor of Ward 1 Leo Choquette, Councilor of Ward 5 Joe Lopes, Councilor at Large Brian Gomes, Councilor at Large Naomi Carney, Councilor at Large and First Vice President Shane Burgo, Councilor of Ward 4 Derek Baptiste, and I am Councilor of Ward 6, City Council President Ryan Pereira.

At this time, I'll ask the clerk if there are any letters to be read in the record.

Mr. President, I have one from Councilor Oliver.

Dear Council President Pereira and members of the council, I am writing to inform you that I'll be unable to attend the city council meeting on Thursday, April 9th, due to a scheduling conflict.

Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and the public aware of the reason for my absence.

Sincerely, Sean Oliver, Councilor of Ward 3.

Motion received and placed on file.

A motion to receive and place on file made by Councilor LaBergo, seconded by Councilor Carney.

Any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the— moving on to the hearings portion of our meeting, I'll ask the clerk to read item number, uh, M— I'm sorry, 1A.

Yes, President.

1 is a hearing from Enstar Electric Company doing business as Eversource Energy for the location of one handhold and approximately 62 feet of conduit in Cushion Avenue.

This work is necessary to provide service to 1780 Cushion Avenue and 1A is the order.

Motion receiving place on file and open the public hearing.

Motion to receive and place on file, open the public hearing, made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Jessica, good evening.

Good evening, Mr. President, members of the City Council.

Uh, Jessica Elder representing Eversource.

Thank you for having me this evening.

This was Union Street.

Um, I'm sorry, Kushnanav.

We have 2 of them here.

Um, so the, uh, work order 24777207, uh, we are doing infrastructure improvements for 1780 at Kushnanav.

Um, the project includes installation of approximately 62 feet of conduit and the installation of one new handhole within the public right-of-way.

The work is expected to take 1 to 2 days.

It shouldn't take long, weather permitting.

Of course, traffic will be maintained throughout construction with police details as necessary.

All disturbed areas will be restored in accordance with city standards.

Thank you.

I would like to recognize that our colleague, Councilor-at-Large James Roy, has joined us.

We are on item number 1, uh, Councilor.

Any questions for Jessica?

Okay, seeing none.

If anyone from the pub— this is a public hearing regarding the work on Acushnet Avenue.

If anyone would like to speak in favor of this item, to speak in favor.

If anyone would like to be recorded in favor be recorded in favor.

If anyone would like to speak in opposition— if anyone would like to speak in opposition— if anyone would like to be recorded in opposition— if anyone would like to be recorded in opposition— okay, seeing none, your pleasure.

Motion to close the public hearing.

Motion to close the public hearing made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Lopes.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Second.

Motion to adopt the order made by Councilor Abreu, seconded by Councilor Burgo.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 2.

Mr. President, item 2 is a hearing from Enstar Electric Company doing business as Eversource Energy for the location of approximately 240 feet of conduit to enlarge 2 manholes and re-roof a manhole in Union Street.

This work is necessary to provide service to 193 Union Street.

2A is the order.

Motion received and placed on file.

And open the public hearing.

A motion to open the public hearing made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Lopes.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Now we're on Union Street.

Uh, so again, work order number 22886511, uh, infrastructure improvement along Union Street, which is between, uh, Purchase and Pleasant Street.

The project includes installation of approximately 244 feet of conduit and the enlargement and reconstruction of 3 existing manholes.

That's 8000 over 216, 8000 over 215, and 214 within the public right-of-way.

The work is to accommodate additional conduit and cables, which is why we're We're working enlarging these, these manholes.

The work is expected to take no more than 2 to 4 days, obviously weather permitting.

Traffic will be maintained as usual throughout the construction with police details as required, and any and all disturbed areas will be restored to their original conditions or better.

Thank you, colleagues.

Any questions?

Okay, seeing none.

Councilor Gomes, do you have your hand?

I'm sorry.

No.

Okay.

All right, this is a public hearing.

Would anyone from the public regarding a project on Union Street like to speak in favor?

To speak in favor of the project.

Would anyone like to be recorded in favor?

Be recorded in favor.

Would anyone like to speak in opposition?

Speak in opposition.

Be recorded in opposition.

Be recorded in opposition.

Okay, seeing none, motion to close the public hearing.

A motion to close the public hearing was made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Lopes.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Motion to adopt the order.

Motion to adopt the order made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Colleagues, without objection, we will take hearings 3, 4, and 5 together as they are all the same project.

Okay, without objection, I will ask the clerk to read items 3, 4, and 5.

Uh, just if the clerk would read one and then just the 3 other roads.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Item 3 is a hearing from Cornerstone Energy Services on behalf of Enstar Electric Company, doing business as Eversource Energy, for the location of underground electric transmission lines on Ashley Boulevard.

This work is necessary to improve system reliability.

3A is the order.

Item 4 is for the location of underground electric transmission lines on Nash Road, and item 5 is for transmission lines on Belleville Avenue.

Motion to receive and place on file and open the public hearing for items 3 through 5A.

Motion to receive and place on file and open the public hearings for items 3 through 5A, made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Lopes.

Anyone on the question?

Chair recognizes Councillor Pemberton.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I, I just want to, uh, Thank you for coming, first of all.

Oh, Councilor Pemberton, sorry, this would just be on opening the public hearing.

So we'll open the public hearings, he'll present, and then— or do you have any questions prior to that?

Okay, thank you.

Okay, yeah, thank you, Councilor.

In a minute I will recognize you.

All right, anyone on the question of opening the public hearings?

Okay, all those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Um, thank you.

Good evening.

If you could state your name and the company you work for, for the record.

Okay, excuse me.

Hi, my name is John Perrin with Cornerstone Energy Services, and we prepared the petition for Eversource for the, uh, the new underground transmission line.

It's 4.1 miles, runs through several roads.

We have— the project has already had approved 9 of the roads.

There's 3 more to go, which is items 3, 4, and 5 on the agenda today.

If you could give a brief overview about what the work would entail.

Okay, so the— go ahead, come on up, Anthony.

Yeah, you're better at this than I am.

Um, the work involves installing underground electric transmission line.

It's a 115 kV line, goes, um, um, it'll be installed, uh, within the streets, uh, vaults every around 2,000 feet.

Um, and, uh, you know, it'll be restored, backfilled, everything.

To existing condition or better.

I don't know if you want to augment that at all.

Yeah, thanks.

Council President, councilors, how you doing tonight?

Uh, Anthony Valu, community relations, uh, for Eversource.

And just to recap a little of the history here, so we— if you remember, uh, I know there's some new councilors as well, but we came in front of the council back in November of 2022 to present the total project.

Uh, we got the previous grant allocations last July.

And to summarize, uh, New Bedford has basically 3 transmission lines.

These are 2 of them.

They run from under the Acushnet River, from Acushnet down Ashley Boulevard County.

They terminate at Pine Street substation.

They were built in '49 and '51.

We just have a project to replace those 2 lines, uh, completely to brand new modern technology.

So we just need the last 3 grant allocations for that project.

That's why we're here tonight, but happy to take any questions.

Great, thank you very much.

Um, Chair recognizes Councilor Pemberton.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Anthony, for being here.

Uh, so this work for all those streets will be getting done at the same, same time, or are you doing streets by street, or— Yeah, nope, that's a great question.

So, uh, we originally had it broken down into 2 phases, um, but we've been meeting with the DPI, uh, we negotiated with this, with the Mayor's Office as well.

We've now broken down that down into 5 zones.

So we're basically doing one zone at a time.

We're starting in the south right now.

We're on— we did 2 vaults on MacArthur Drive.

We took a little bit of a pause.

We're currently doing 2 vaults on South 2nd Street, and then we're going to work our way north from there.

So it's kind of north to south.

We might be— there could be a jump of zones every once in a while.

But we're trying to do all the vault work first, finish with the duck banks.

Not all at once, but in a zone setting, so it's not all under construction at one time.

Okay, good, good.

Yeah, and we're just going to make sure we have details there and the correct details if we need to.

Yep.

Right.

So another thing I want to add to is that we had a very comprehensive MOU— it's a memorandum of understanding— and in that, I think the mayor had mentioned it in his State of the City address as well, it's, uh, we proposed well over $20 million of restoration curb to curb on the whole, right?

Route, brand new sidewalks, handicap ramps, a fully rebuilt traffic intersection, details, trees, uh, you name it.

It's— we, we signed it, the administration signed it.

It's a great agreement, and we're just happy to— we just want to get started to do the work.

Very good.

Yeah.

All right, thank you.

At that, I yield, Mr. President.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Pemberton.

Colleagues, any other questions?

Chair recognizes Councilor Burgos.

When is this work going to begin and when do you anticipate it ending?

We started already.

We started actually last fall.

We put 2 vaults in on MacArthur Drive across from where our existing substation is on Pine Street.

There was— we took a— we had to pause because we had to continue some negotiations on the MOU with the administration.

Once we got that finalized this winter, we started again on South 2nd Street right by Harborview senior high-rise over there.

So we've started the portions that we got the grant allocation for last July.

We started where we have those, and then we're just going to continue.

We should be done by what, 2028?

Well, I guess just in regards to this particular section of Belleville Ave and where Belleville Road will be.

Yeah, when do you guys think would be next year?

Next year.

Okay, just because, um, my concern is about the businesses in that area, if this will be disruptive to that particular roadway?

What plans do we have to make sure that they still have access, or I guess patrons still have access to that area?

Because I know we've had some issues that you've been able to help resolve with some other businesses near the other portion of Belleville Road, near End Zone.

And so that's my only concern, is the continuation as we go down further down these roads that we're being mindful of the businesses that will need to continue to operate?

Yeah, that's a great question.

So per the DPU, we have to have a very extensive sort of like public outreach program for this.

We have an interactive map that people can follow, and we have a fantastic project engagement team.

She's in the back tonight.

They literally knock doors.

They go business to business.

Everybody gets a letter.

They work with them on trying to mitigate issues, making sure that their businesses remain open.

If there's parking that we need to coordinate around, we can— we're going to do that.

Making sure that the crews, if they are in front of a business, they're in there, in and out as quickly as possible.

And as much notification in advance as we can provide, we make sure that those businesses get that.

And if there is a serious disruption, then we can talk with those businesses one-on-one on other forms of mitigation.

Okay.

And I want to make it clear to Cornerstone Energies, I guess, that they are not to park in any of these private parking areas because that was also a concern from other business at the time that we were getting complaints about, that it's very clear that those are private property versus what's public property.

And so, right, it's clearly defined as well.

So Cornerstone only files the grant submission package.

The contractor on this job is a company called Hogland, and they're well aware of everything that you had just outlined.

Wonderful, thank you.

Chair recognizes Councilor Carney.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Hi, Anthony.

Um, is this the same project that Um, that involves the, the Riverside Lofts area?

Correct.

Okay, so, um, so that has been determined that there was no Sunday work, right?

And you are working on Saturdays right now?

Correct.

And what is the impact?

Have we gotten any feedback from the tenants out there?

I know somebody— I spoke to one of the tenants in there, a little not happy with some of the work that's been going on.

So, um, the impact of them, because I know we had the meetings down there and there's no Sundays, but y'all working till Saturdays.

So what time?

Uh, what time do you usually work till?

2 o'clock.

Okay, I think it's 8 to 2, and we haven't had, uh, very— we deal a lot with the management of Riverbank, right?

We haven't had too many complaints, I don't think, from individual residents, right?

And, uh, when are we going to be out of there?

In the spring of 2028.

That's a long time.

Spring of '27, we should be completely done.

Completely done for disturbing that, because there's a lot of elderly there, and, you know, the parking, and we we discuss all that stuff.

So, right, I just hope that we're still mindful of the tenants there.

Absolutely.

And because they are mostly elderly there, right?

Okay, thank you for that.

You got it.

And, um, we also— we resealed there that— I know there's that other parking lot that we had, right?

We resealed it.

We put, uh, some lights up there in the parking lot.

There was never lights in there before.

So, okay, we try to do some things to try to help them out.

Super, thank you.

You got it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Counselor Lopes, did you want the floor?

No.

Okay.

Anyone else, colleagues?

If the body would allow from the chair, I do have concerns, Anthony, regarding the work at the end of Ashley Boulevard.

Sure.

With the 195 viaduct project, the traffic over there can be pretty gnarly.

What are some plans, especially in between Sawyer Street and Cogswell, that's that one-way section?

That's going to get— could get pretty, pretty backed up.

Uh, uh, uh, I, I travel that area quite often.

What are some mitigation plans?

What are our— what are your thoughts on that?

Um, I might look to the bench here for one of them.

That's fine.

PMs, if they— you guys got any?

Yeah, sure.

Come on, Donald.

Come on, we don't bite.

He— we, we have, um, to briefly answer that, and maybe Donald can chip chip into.

We have extensive— we meet biweekly with the DPI, weekly with MassDOT.

Okay.

We also have an extensive traffic management plan, 2 MassDOT specs that have to be approved before any construction starts with the DPI.

So I think that's pretty robust.

I don't know if you want to add anything.

No, I just— we're— and my name is Dylan Gower.

Just go to the microphone.

Hi, good afternoon or good evening everyone.

My name is Donald Gallagher.

I'm a project manager for Eversource Major Projects Transmission Department.

So where we turn off Ashley Boulevard on our Phase 2 portion of this project, one of our deals with traffic management is to maintain one lane of traffic at all time no matter what kind of construction we have ongoing at that area.

OK. We turn off Ashley Boulevard onto Nash Road and that's the end of Ashley Boulevard run for us.

So at that portion where we turn, we have like a kind of a specialty traffic management look into.

We completed a fully comprehensive traffic study previously a couple of years ago.

We've ran that down the DPI and we coordinate with D.W. White and MassDOT every week.

When are you going to be in Wall Square?

Oh, 2027.

What's, what's that?

Sorry, uh, I think the area, the area you're talking about, we won't be there till 2027.

Okay.

Yeah, the, the, I, I know the MassDOT project for 195 is like a 5-year project, so we probably will be there.

There'll still be ongoing traffic patterns might change by that time with MassDOT's work moving along, um, and the work over there.

But that's— there's a— you guys are meeting with the right people, and, and I have confidence that we'll have a good plan in place.

All right, thank you.

One additional item I want to mention too is that in the MOU, I think I sent all of you a copy, we also, um, we coordinated with DPI and we paid a company, a third-party engineering company, to take some of the burden of reviewing all these engineering plans, the traffic management plans.

It was quite a bit of money, so we tried to do that to lift some of the burden on city employees.

Fantastic, thank you.

Colleagues, any other questions at this time?

Okay.

So from the general public, this is a project on Ashley Boulevard, Nash Road, and Belleville Avenue.

If anyone from the public wishes to speak in favor of this project— speaking— sure, come to the podium please, sir.

So the chair will allow you to ask a question at this time, sir, if you want to go to the podium.

Just, we need your name and your address.

My name is Bob Burgess, and I have property at 232, 234 Ashley Boulevard, business property.

Yes, on the corner of Coffin Avenue.

And I'm just curious, um, when is, when is the project going to start?

In my area on Ashley Boulevard.

And I'm just wondering, you know, how long it's going to take.

And, um, you know, you mentioned about the traffic, single lane.

Yep.

Ashley Boulevard, as you said, you know, it's a, it's a rough area, a lot of traffic.

And I was just wondering how much it's going to interfere with the business.

But basically, when will it start and, uh, how, how long will it take in the area between, let's say, Dean and Coffin Avenue?

Is that— can that be answered?

Okay, uh, we'll have some of the gentlemen behind you get that information to you, sir.

Okay, Mr. Burgess?

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

All right, any, uh, Anthony, at an appropriate time, can you just meet with the resident?

Okay, perfect.

Thank you very much.

All right, okay, anyone else from the public wish to speak in favor?

Yeah, okay.

Speak in favor.

Be recorded in favor.

Be recorded in favor of the project.

Would anyone like to speak in opposition of the project?

Speak in opposition.

Would anyone like to be recorded in opposition?

Be recorded in opposition.

All right, seeing none, um, Chair would like a motion to close the public hearing.

Motion, motion to close the public hearings on items 3 through 5A by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Burgo.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Colleagues, a pleasure.

Motion to adopt the order for 3, 4, 5.

Motion to adopt orders 3, 4, and 5 made by Councillor Pemberton.

Seconded by Councilor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Moving on to mayor's papers, I will ask the clerk to read item M1.

Mr. President, item M1 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order that the city accept Mass General Law Chapter 71, Section 71F to enable a school department to establish a non-resident tuition revolving fund.

M1A is the order.

Motion to receive and place on file, adopt the order, and accept Mass General Law Chapter 71, Section 71F.

Motion to— motion made by Councilor Roy to adopt the— accept Mass General Laws Chapter 71, Section 71F, and adopt the order.

Seconded by Councilor Burgo.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Item M2, please.

Mr. President, M2 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order authorizing the payment of an outstanding invoice from prior fiscal year totaling $4,182.01 to be charged to the account of treasurer collector purchase of services.

M2A is the order.

And if the clerk wouldn't mind reading M3 as well, please.

Certainly.

M3, Mr. President, is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order authorizing the payment of an outstanding invoice from a prior fiscal year totaling $450 To also be charged to the account of the Department of Facilities and Fleet, purchase of services.

M3A is the order.

Motion to adopt orders on M2 and M3 made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Roy.

All those— anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item M4.

Mr. President, M4.

As communication from the mayor to the council submitting an ordinance amending Chapter 9 zoning establishing form-based code districts.

M4A is the ordinance.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Ordinances.

Second.

And planning.

And planning.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Ordinances and the Planning Department made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Madam— Mr. Mr. President, without objection, can we take items M5 through N10A together, waive the readings, waive the readings and grant the reappointments, and waive Rule 40?

And 38.

M30.

Yep.

Okay, so a motion's been made by Councilor Lopes to take items M5 through M10 together.

Waive Rules 38 and 40 and reappoint the appointments.

Seconded by Councilor Gomes.

Anyone on the question?

Okay, roll call vote please.

Oh, excuse me, I'm sorry, I'll have the clerk read them.

Well, he made a motion to waive the reading too.

Oh, he did?

Yeah.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Okay, I didn't see this.

Is there any objection to waiving the reading from the body?

You can at least give the reappointments and the names.

Okay, so then, yeah, general public, please.

We're just going to read them at this point.

I read them first.

Yeah.

Mr. President, M5 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting the reappointment of Glenn Chandler of New Bedford to the library trustees.

This term will expire in April of 2029.

M6 is for Anne R. O'Leary to the library board of trustees with the same expiration date.

M7 is for Rosemary Saber to the library trustees with the same expiration.

M8 is the reappointment of Brian Ayotte to the Community Preservation Committee, which will expire in April of '29.

M9 is for Diana Henry to the Historical Commission, expiring in February of 2029.

And M10 is a communication from the mayor submitting the reappointment of Adriana Baptista of New Bedford as a constable.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Councilor.

All right, uh, at this time, on the waiving of Rules 38 and 40, reappointing.

I will ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Bruggo?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Chilpette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

10 to 0.

Item passes 10 to 0.

Is there anyone in here That just was reappointed?

I know some of you.

I don't see— I didn't see anybody.

Okay, I don't see anybody.

Okay, very good.

Moving on to new business, I'll ask the clerk to take, uh, read item number 6, please.

Mr. President, I'm sorry, item 6 is a loan order appropriating $13,787,624 for the purpose of paying the cost of replacement of the roof and accessibility, accessibility upgrades to the Alfred J. Gomes Elementary School located at 286 South 2nd Street.

Motion to be, uh, received and placed on file and adopt the loan order.

Motion to adopt the loan order made by Councilor Baptiste, seconded by Councilor Albergo.

Anyone on the question of adoption?

Roll call vote.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Bruggo?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Chouquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Councilor Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 10 to 0, Mr. President.

Item passes 10 to 0.

I'll ask the clerk to read item number 7, please.

Mr. President, item 7 is a report from the Committee on Finance recommending the council approve approval of the COLA base increase from $14,000 to $16,000 effective July 1st, 2026, as detailed in a communication dated November 26th, 2025, which was submitted by Eric Cohen, the executive director of the New Bedford Retirement Board.

7A is a communication from former Councilor Mourad.

Your pleasure, colleagues.

Motion to receive and place on file the report out of the Committee on Finance and approve the COLA base increase.

Second.

Motion to approve the COLA base increase made by Councillor Burgos, seconded by Councillor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

Chair would request a roll call vote.

Councillor Abreu?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Burgos?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Chilcott?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Gomes?

Yes.

Yes.

Excuse me.

Councilor Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 10 to 0, Mr. President.

Item passes 10 to 0.

I'll ask the clerk to read item number 8.

Mr. President, item 8 is a report from the Committee on Finance recommending to the council adoption of an order for the Community Preservation Act FY26 funding recommendations for 20 projects totaling $2,220,000.

$27,341.

In 8A is the order.

Motion to adopt the order made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question?

Roll call vote.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Burgos?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Councilor Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Roy?

Yeah.

Yes.

Item passes 10 to 0.

I will ask the clerk to read item 9.

Mr. President, item 9 is written motion from Councillors Abreu, Lopes, and Choquette that the City of New Bedford, through its Tourism and Marketing Office and all relevant departments and organizations, actively engage in regional planning and promotional efforts associated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as 5 group stage matches will be held at Gillette Stadium between June 13th and July 9th of 2026.

And further, that the city recognized the significant opportunity presented by anticipated overflow hotel demand and increased regional visitation by positioning New Bedford as a welcoming and accessible destination for out-of-town and international visitors attending these matches.

And further, that the Tourism and Marketing Office work in coordination with state and regional tourism partners, local hotels, restaurants, and business organizations to develop and implement a targeted marketing strategy showcasing New Bedford's accommodations, dining, arts, culture, and waterfront amenities.

And further, that the city explore opportunities to support visitor access through transportation coordination, informational materials, and potential visitor packages.

Further, that a representative of the Tourism and Marketing Office be requested to appear before the Committee on Economic Development to provide an update on planned initiatives and partnerships related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Recommendation— motion to follow the recommendation of the motion and refer to the Committee on Economic Development, Tourism Director, representative of the Mayor's Office, Southeastern Mass Convention Visitors Bureau Executive Director Christine— Christiane Tyrell, Michael O'Sullivan of the One South Coast Chamber.

Made by Councilor Burgo, second by— made by Councilor Abrams, second by Councilor Burgo.

On the question, Chair recognizes Councilor Abrams.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Sometimes good ideas come by what other municipalities are doing, and I've been following, because my day job working for the Chamber of Commerce up in Brockton, I I've been seeing what the administration of Brockton's been doing, what their Office of Economic Development's been immersed in, and they have been for months now dovetailed in with the folks from FIFA, Gillette Stadium, the Kraft Group, working with partners in the hotel industry, the restaurants, the private industry, and of course the chamber to promote Brockton, the Metro South, and the South Shore area as a good destination for hotels, for staycations, daycations, uh, what's going on in between the matches is listed in the motion here.

The FIFA World Cup will be happening for about a month right here, right on the edge of Bristol County, right here, right on the South Coast.

Now I can tell you that Brockton, Providence, Boston, Taunton, and Fall River, from what I'm told, are all at capacity for hotel occupancy for these 4.5 to 5 weeks during the World Cup, even just before.

So it begs the question, with these hotels being at capacity, what are we doing?

What's New Bedford doing to promote this World Cup and how we can attract this— these international visitors and these national visitors and tourists to New Bedford for those several weeks?

We have hotels, we have 3 of them.

We have beautiful restaurants.

We have our waterfront.

We have some amazing amenities here in New Bedford.

I want to know, what are we doing for that month to attract visitors and tourists here to our city?

This will be a tremendous economic boom for this region for this month.

I've spoken with folks in print, social media, and in newspaper advertising, and in media in general, and to their knowledge, and in my questions I've asked them, we don't have a plan.

Or at least if we do, they They don't know about it.

You figured they would know about it.

They would be the conduit to promote said plans to the populace about what's going on.

So through you, Mr. Chairman— Mr. President, to the chairman of the committee, of which I'm also the vice chair of, I ask that we have an expeditious hearing on this soon so we can get these players to the table from the private sector, the Southeastern Mass Visitors Bureau, the chamber president, as well as our own tourism office to see what is it that we're doing for these 4 weeks.

We have such a tremendous following of soccer here in New Bedford based on the wonderful melting pot of ethnic backgrounds we have in New Bedford— Portuguese, Brazilian, Cape Verdean, this goes on and on and on.

We— there's a lot of excitement going on around the World Cup.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so we need to be out in front of it.

We need to have a plan.

We need to get folks down here.

Basking in what New Bedford has to offer.

And I hope we have a plan, and if we don't, we need to get one soon.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I'll yield at this time.

Thank you, Councilor Abreu.

Anyone else on that— on the question?

Okay, seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Item number 10 is before us.

Mr. President, item 10 is communication from the clerk to the Council, submitting an application for a new private livery license on behalf of Maria DePina of 28 Windsor Circle in Brockton, Mass., and Maria L. Pires of 60 Foster Street in Brockton, doing business as Sister Express Transport, which will be located at 109 Robeson Street in New Bedford.

The term of the license is to run from July 1st of this year to June 30th of next year.

Refer to Committee on Licensing and Permits.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Licensing and Permits made by Councilor Abruzzo, seconded by by Councilor Burgo.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Mr.

Chair, without objections, can we take items 11 through 18A together?

They're all renewals.

Yeah, okay.

Without objection, we'll take items 11 through 18, uh, together.

We'll ask the clerk to read the first one in its entirety and just the names and addresses on the rest.

Mr. President, item 11 is communication from the clerk to the council submitting an application for the renewal of a private livery license on behalf of Terry Andre Luis of 38 Trinity Street, New Bedford, doing business as Mel Transportation at 109 Robeson Street, New Bedford.

Item 12 is on behalf of Suzette Rosa de Pina, doing business as Tia Suzette Transportation at 38 Trinity Street.

Uh, number 13 is Sean Simonello of 29 Shannon Way in Dartmouth doing business as Yes We Van LLC at 651 Orchard.

Item 14 is David Bizarro doing business as Bizarro Transportation at 85 Osborne Street in New Bedford.

Item 15 is Anthony DeRosa of 56 Westwood Drive in North Dartmouth doing business as Bluebird Transportation LLC at 458 Dartmouth Street Bedford.

Item 16 is Floyd Piñera, doing business as Ford Transportation, at 7 Upton Street, New Bedford.

Item 17 is Juan Felipe, uh, de Saramos, doing business as JSR Transportation LLC at 312 Davis Street, Apartment 1 in New Bedford.

And number 18, Mr. President, is Albert Williams, doing business as Elite Transportation, 1 Deerfield Lane for Haven, Mass.

Colleagues, grant the licenses, or motion to renew the licenses?

Motion to grant the renewals made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor of renewing the licenses say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Motion to take up and adopt consent.

Motion to take up and adopt consent made by Councilor Burgo.

Second by Councilor Roy.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn made by Councilor Burgo.

Second by Councilor Pemberton.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you everyone.

We are adjourned at 7:39 PM.