City Council — May 28, 2026

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Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

It is Thursday, May 28th at 7:04 PM in the City Council chambers.

We are led tonight in prayer by Reverend Christopher Peschel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.

Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

Lord of all endeavors, give to our city's leaders courage to follow noble aspirations, strength to support worthy causes, and integrity to seek the truth in all their civic duties.

Be their inspiration and guide.

Lord, make them instruments of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let them sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that they may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive, in pardoning that we are pardoned, in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

We will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance tonight by Councilor at Large Brian Gomes.

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. President.

Thank you, Councilor.

I would like to note that this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.

City Council and committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Bedford's homepage under Quick Links, then Meetings.

Tonight I am joined by my colleagues, Councilor at Large Ian Abreu, Councilor of Ward 2, Scott Pemberton.

Councilor of Ward 5, Joe Lopes— Joseph Lopes.

Councilor at Large, Brian Gomes.

Councilor at Large, James Roy.

Councilor at Large, Naomi Carney.

Councilor at Large and First Vice President, Shane Burgo.

I will ask the clerk if there are any letters to be read into 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, May 28th, 2026, due to a family emergency.

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 to receive and place on file made by Councilor Lope, seconded by Councilor Roy.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

All right, moving on to hearings.

I will ask that, uh, the clerk read item number 1, please.

Mr. President, item 1 is a hearing from Enstar Electric Company doing business as Eversource Energy for the location of approximately 15 feet of conduit in Hawthorne Street to property line of 115 Hawthorne Street.

1A is the order.

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

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Jessica, good evening.

Good evening.

If we could have a brief overview, please.

Yes, not a problem.

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

Jessica Elder representing Eversource.

Thank you for having me again this evening.

This first petition tonight is for 115 Hawthorne.

It's work order number 2079, which is an Eversource work order number, 3683.

This work is being requested in order to provide upgraded electric service to customers' location at— at this customer location at 115.

The project involves installation of approximately 15 feet of conduit.

It's a 4-inch PVC conduit from existing manhole MH8000 over 1230 to the property line of 115 Hawthorne Street.

The work will also include, uh, just the installation of new service and connection associated with equipment necessary to serve the customer.

Construction is expected to be a minimal minimal in the duration of, you know, 1 or 2 days, not even.

It's pretty much weather, weather permitting if it's going to extend any more than that.

Eversource will ensure that all disturbed areas within the public way are restored in accordance to City of New Bedford and Eversource standards.

Any required police details will be utilized as necessary to maintain public safety and during construction activities.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councilor Lopes.

Thank you for the detailed information.

Understanding that it's only going to be a day or two, but it's still a lot of ambulances, it's a heavily traveled street.

Can we please make sure that there is a police detail on this?

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Pretty sure that anytime we do any work in the city, it's the hospital and it's— yes, absolutely.

Perfect.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilor Lopes.

Anyone else?

Okay, seeing that this is a public hearing, if anyone from the public would like to speak in favor, speak in favor, be recorded in favor, be recorded in favor.

Speak in opposition, speak in opposition, be recorded in opposition, be recorded in opposition.

Colleagues, your pleasure.

Make a motion to close the public hearing and adopt the order as presented.

Motion to close the public hearing and adopt the order made by Councilor Lopes, seconded by Councilor Gomes.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number 2, please.

Mr. President, item 2 is a hearing from Enstar Electric Company doing business as Eversource Energy for the location of approximately 15 feet of conduit in one handhole in Blackmer Street.

This work is necessary to provide upgraded service to Blackmer Street at the corner of County Street, and 2A is the order.

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

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Jessica, again, uh, so this next petition before you tonight is within the right-of-way of Blackmer Street Work order number 22406869.

This project is being requested in coordination with the New Bedford DPI in order to support electrical service associated with a lighting cabinet installation.

The proposed work involves the installation of approximately 15 feet of new 1 to 4 inch conduit along the side of the— along with the proposed handhold.

Sorry, 8,000 over 50 524A from existing manhole, which is 800524, within the public right-of-way.

Again, the work is primarily localized to the sidewalk and adjacent area right-of-way and is expected to be limited in scope and duration.

Eversource will ensure that all disturbed areas are restored in accordance to the City of New Bedford, again, and Eversource's standards.

And any necessary details will be requested.

Colleagues, any questions?

From the chair, if the body would allow.

Jessica, the work is primarily on, on Blackmere Street?

Primarily.

Okay, so nothing on County?

Uh, it's the, the, uh, it's actually going a little— it's primarily on Blackmere.

There's a small portion of it that's going on County.

I would just say, so it's right, like, right on the corner.

Okay, so Blackman's pretty quiet of a street.

What I would say is any work that— if, if County Street itself will be disturbed, then I would like a police detail.

But if it's just on the side street, it's literally right on the corner.

So probably just because County, it's tight over there, there's a lot of cars, uh, it's a highly trafficked area, I'd say probably err on the side of caution with the police detail.

Absolutely.

But if, if they are only going to work from the corner Yeah, then on Blackmere, then, then I'd say up to the foreman to make that decision, or those— whoever it would be.

But basically, on safety, if it's on county, I definitely would like a police detail.

Okay, thank you.

Anyone else?

Okay, this is a public hearing.

Uh, anyone from the public would like to speak in favor?

To speak in favor?

To be recorded in favor?

To be recorded in favor?

If anyone would like to speak in opposition to this project?

Speak in opposition, be recorded in opposition, be recorded in opposition.

Colleagues, your pleasure.

Motion to close the public hearing made by Councillor Abreu, seconded by Councillor Burgo.

Any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

The order is before us.

Motion to adopt the order made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Roy.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 3.

Mr. President, item 3 is a hearing from Enstar Electric Company doing business as Eversource Energy for the location of approximately 14 feet of conduit in Brock Avenue.

This work is necessary to provide upgraded service to Brock Avenue, and 3A is the order.

Place on file and open the public hearing.

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

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Jessica.

And so this next petition before you tonight is work within the right-of-way on Brock Avenue, uh, work order number 23593362.

This project is being requested in order to support electrical infrastructure improvements associated with, uh, the City of New Bedford.

This is City of New Bedford request.

The proposed work involves the installation of one new handhole identified as 8,644B, along with approximately 14 feet of 2 to 4 inch conduit within the public right-of-way.

The work is primarily within the sidewalk and gas— in the grass.

So you're not going to— it's just going to be right— yeah, it's pretty much not— it's not going to be in the street.

It's going to be from the manhole right in the sidewalk.

Um, so we expected it to be limited in scope and duration.

We don't expect it to take any more than a day.

Um, Eversource will of course ensure that all disturbed areas restored in accordance to New Bedford standards and Eversource's standards.

And if there is a detail necessary, we will request one.

Thank you.

Uh, just for clarification purposes before I, uh, ask my colleagues if they have questions, where on Brock Avenue Uh, it looks like it's right kind of— well, more toward— hold on one second.

I know it looks like from the pictures near Hazelwood Park.

It is, uh, kind of near Butler Street area.

Okay, thank you.

Right down there.

Okay, thank you.

Colleagues, any questions?

Okay, just from the chair, just to clarify again, you said this work will be almost entirely from the sidewalk, all of it in the sidewalk, between the sidewalk and the grass?

Correct.

So no street disturbance?

No street disturbance.

Nope.

So it's a wide enough street, I don't think there'd be a need for a police detail.

Okay.

Okay.

Uh, chair recognizes Councilor Gomez.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Is this installment, um, for the, um Electrical car charger.

For the car charger, I— oh geez, you know what, I don't have that information.

I can find out.

I'm not sure.

I didn't— through you, Mr. President.

The reason I'm asking is we had this issue in traffic last night, and the location and everything seems to be— and that's why I'm asking.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, I'm not— I don't— I didn't— you are working on the sidewalk, on the berm, on the grass.

At Butler and around the entrance of Hazelwood Park?

It looks like it, Mr. President.

I could stand to be corrected.

Thank you.

All right, Jessica, if you wouldn't mind, if you find extra information out, if you would send it along to the council office.

Okay, regarding that, what I'll do is I'll have Anthony pass that information.

Fantastic.

Thank you.

Yeah, there's nothing on my schedule.

Maybe I also should clarify what happened last night.

Uh, the city has entered into an agreement with a company who is putting in free car chargers throughout the city, and one of those locations is right just south of the entrance to Hazelwood Park, and there are several others throughout the city.

Okay, thank you, Councilor.

Great.

So this is a public hearing.

Anyone from the public would like to speak in favor, speak in favor.

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

If anyone from the public would like to speak in opposition, speak in opposition.

If anyone would like to be recorded in opposition, to be recorded in opposition.

Colleagues, motion to close the public hearing.

Motion to close the public hearing made by Councilor Burgos.

Excuse me.

Seconded by Councilor Choquette.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

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

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I will ask— thank you very much, Jessica.

And I did— it is the charging system.

It is the charging system.

It is the charging system.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Take care.

I will ask the clerk to read item number 4, please.

Mr. President, item 4 is a hearing from Served Well National Club LLC for the location of 2 underground umbrella footings at 24 Union Street.

And 4A is the order.

Excuse me.

Motion to receive and place on file and open the public hearing.

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

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Your name and address for the record.

Good evening, Mr. President.

John Markey Jr. on behalf of Serve Well National Club LLC.

Steve Silverstein and Judy Silverstein, probably 2 of the most successful business people and employers and providers of excellent food in New Bedford.

I'm grateful to be here for them.

What we have here, and many of you would be familiar with it, is the National Club, which had been vacant for probably 15 years, has been redeveloped.

One of the things that the Silversteins have decided is that seasonally to expand their ability to serve the public, it would be beneficial to have some outdoor sidewalk seating.

They pursued that in a number of different angles, getting a license with the city, applying for a sidewalk cafe license.

And in order to do that effectively on sunny days or like we just had rainy days, they wanted to place some umbrellas there.

Their engineers had presented a plan to DPI and worked through it with Jamie Ponte and the team at DPI to say, are these acceptable and appropriate places to place stands and bases for the umbrellas so that it would be safe.

Jamie reviewed it with them and sent his team out there, and everything was approved.

And basically what we're asking for is the permission to have the umbrella stands remain where they have been recommended by Jamie to place them and the engineers.

And, uh, it's fairly straightforward.

There's no street closings, there's no really meaningful sidewalk closings.

People could still pass around the outside of it.

But that's, that's the basic request.

The chair recognizes Councillor Roy.

Hi, Attorney Markey.

So these, um, umbrella stands, they're going to be embedded, installed into the sidewalk?

Is that what— yeah, yeah, to just so that they're steady or that they're stabilized, they would be removed a piece of the sidewalk, place them in there, and then they could be removed seasonally at the end of the season.

But that would give them a solid base.

That's basically the request.

Thank you, Councillor.

Anyone else for Attorney Markey?

Okay, seeing none, this is a public hearing, so if any member of the public wishes to speak in favor of this project— if any member would like to speak in favor— if any member of the public would like to speak, uh, to be recorded in favor— excuse me, recorded in favor— if any member of the public would like to speak in opposition speak in opposition.

Any member of the public would like to be recorded in opposition?

Colleagues, your pleasure.

Make a motion to close the public hearing and adopt the order as presented.

Motion to close the public hearing and adopt the order made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Choquette.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Thank you.

All right, we'll move on to our mayor's papers portion of the meeting.

I will ask the clerk to read item M1.

Mr. President, M1 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order that the Department of Public Infrastructure is requested to obtain appraisals of land located on Assessor's Map 59, lots 001, 012, and 200, purported address of 930 30 Pleasant Street for the purpose of acquiring permanent and temporary easements in a permanent fee area for the construction of the intersection improvements, utility upgrades, ADA compliance, traffic signals, and ancillary upgrades to re-establish the right-of-way of Hillman Street and connect the neighborhood to a new multimodal design in the Purchase Street, Hillman Street, and Pleasant Street area.

M1A is the order.

Second.

Motion to adopt the order made by Councillor Abreu, seconded by Councillor Roy.

Anyone on the question?

Chair recognizes Councillor Roy.

I think this will pass, but I just want to say for the record, I think this is pretty cool.

We've all driven down this street and we get to the bottom and we kind of had to take a hard right and a hard left.

Oh yeah, it's a full City Council meeting.

I apologize.

Thank you for reminding me, Mr. Mr. President and everybody else.

But yeah, I just wanted to— just wanted to say how cool it is that we're changing this, and I support adopting the order.

Thank you.

He supports it so much he stood right up when he said that.

That's exactly right.

Anyone else?

All right.

All those in favor adoption of the order say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Without objection, the chair would like to take items M2 and M3 together.

No objection.

I'll ask the clerk to read items M2 and M3.

Mr. President, M2 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an ordinance amending Chapter 19 of Personnel, Section 19-72 of the city code for a temporary delay in step increases for Unit C management positions across city governmental— in government in fiscal year 2027.

The suspension would be in effect for 1 year.

M2A is the ordinance.

And M3 is also communication from the mayor to the council Submitting an ordinance which would suspend for 1 year Section 19-7D of the City Code that establishes an annual COLA for Unit C management positions across city government for FY 2027.

M3A is the ordinance.

Motion to pass to a second reading.

Motion to— motion to pass the items, uh, to a second reading made by Councilor Burgo.

Second.

Seconded by Councilor Lopes.

Is there anyone on the question?

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item M4.

Mr. President, M4 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an ordinance amending Chapter 19, Personnel, Section 19-7C of the city code to create the position of Assistant Superintendent of Green Space at pay grade M11, the position fully paid out by the Water Enterprise M4A is the ordinance.

Motion referred to the Committee on Ordinance.

Second.

Motion to refer the items to the Committee on Ordinance made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

The chair will recognize Councilor Burgo.

Thank you.

Um, so I would probably rather just vote no and get this— get rid of it altogether, but I guess I want to give Commissioner Ponte benefit of the doubt, mainly because in the correspondence that's attached to this communication that was sent to us, he indicates in his letter, and therefore the mayor indicates in his letter, that the council approved this position, the assistant superintendent of green space, which is an M-11 position making about $77,000 a year, in the fiscal year '26 budget, which is last year's budget.

But combing through last year's budget and the budget before that and so on and so forth, all the way back to FY22's budget, there is no assistant superintendent of green space that appears.

And obviously, as we can tell, in order to have that functioning title or have that position, there needs to be an ordinance change.

So no council, uh, from here to fiscal year '22, as far back as I decided to go, before I stopped and realized, yeah, there is no assistant superintendent of green space.

There is a superintendent of green space, an M-13 position that began in fiscal year '23 and is current.

But in our current budgets of fiscal year '27 now appears a superintendent of green space and a new position of assistant superintendent of green space.

So I'm asking to refer it to committee just so we can hear from the commissioner about apparently the council approving this new position in last year's budget, even though it did not appear in our budget.

And I'd really like an explanation on the justification around 94 positions being eliminated while creating a new one.

It's just, again, we heard the other night from our amazing chief of staff, one of 2, by the way, telling us that we're down 100 positions from 2009.

But again, the narrative that's left out is their math that they use is they eliminate these positions while adding again these brand new positions of 77,000.

What I want to remind again in the communication that we received, the mayor mentions the reason why this position is so important is because of those layoffs from Parks and Recreation.

Now let's talk about one of the layoffs in Parks and Recreation that handles green spaces was an M4 position.

That M4 position happened to be with the city for quite some time, so they had reached a level about $63,000 versus the $77,000 position that's been created.

So just so we can keep in mind about the, the problems that we're facing as a city and the mayor pointing his fingers around, a lot of it has to do with some of the mismanagement we're seeing in government.

So we'll get this into ordinance and we'll have a conversation with our commissioner and maybe get some answers on why we're creating these high-paying new positions.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor.

Anyone else?

All right, on the question before us is on referral to the Committee on Ordinances.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Without objection, the chair would like to take items M5 through M23A.

Together.

Can we sever M5?

Sure, sure.

So why don't we take M5 right now and then we'll, we'll, we'll go to start on M6 after that.

So I'll ask the clerk to read item M5.

Mr. President, M5 is communication from Mayor Mitchell to the City Council submitting an order for the transfer of $43,000 from Public Infrastructure Personal Services to Mayor Personal Services, and M5A is the order.

Motion referred to the Committee on Finance.

Second.

Motion has been made to refer the item to the Committee on Finance.

That's been made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Now, without objection, I will ask the clerk to read items M6 through 23A.

If you want to just— yeah.

Mr. President, M6 is a communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $30,000 from Public Infrastructure Personal Services to City Clerk Personal Services.

M7 is for $25,000 from Public Infrastructure Personal Services to Resilience and Environmental Stewardship.

M8 is $20,000 from Public Infrastructure Personal Services to Community Services Personal Services.

M9 is $17,000 from Public Infrastructure Personal Services to Traffic Personal Services.

M10 is $16,000 from Public Infrastructure Personal Services to CFO Personal Services.

M11 is $15,600 from Public Infrastructure Personal Services to Purchasing Personal Services.

M12 is $4,510 from Public Infrastructure Personal Services to Auditor Personal Services.

M13 is $265,000 from EMS receipts to EMS personal services in the amount of $50,000, EMS purchase of services in the amount of $105,000, EMS supplies in the amount of $80,000, and EMS other charges and services in the amount of $30,000.

M14 is $225,000 from water personal services to water supplies in the amount of $125,000 and water capital outlays in the amount of $100,000.

M15 is $150,000 from wastewater purchase of services to wastewater supplies.

M16 is $50,000 from public infrastructure personal services to public infrastructure supplies.

Excuse me.

M17 is $38,000 from planning purchase of services to planning personal services.

M18 is $30,000 from cable access purchase of services in the amount of $10,000 and supplies in the amount of $20,000 to cable access capital outlays.

M19 is $6,850 from cable access supplies to cable access personal services.

M20 is $14,000 from labor relations purchase of services to labor relations personal services.

M21 is for $7,000 from city council purchase of services to city council personal services.

M22 is $4,200 from auditor's purchase of services in the amount of $1,850 and other charges and expenses in the amount of $2,350 to auditor personal services.

In M23, Mr. President, is $2,500 from fire other charges and expenses to fire purchase of services.

Motion to adopt M6 through M23A.

Motion to adopt the orders as M6 through M23A, made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask that without objection, I will ask the clerk to take items M24 through M46A, uh, together and read those together.

Without objection, I'll ask the clerk to read.

I'm sorry, Mr. President, M24 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order that in accordance with Mass General Law Chapter 44, Section 53E½, the revolving fund under the control of the city council known as the Council Special Permit Revolving Fund, whose revenues collected and amount limited to be spent is estimated at $5,000, is hereby authorized for FY 2027.

M25 is for the Senior Transportation Revolving Fund in the amount of $10,000.

M26 is the Senior Activities Revolving Fund in the amount of $800.

M27 is for Senior Travel Agency revolving fund at $240.

M28 is the EMT Training Academy revolving fund at $15,000.

M29 is the EMS Detail revolving fund at $10,000.

M30 is the Community Training revolving fund at $53,952.

And 31 is the Health Department Compliance Programs revolving fund at $60,000.

M32 is the demolition of buildings and structures revolving fund at $176,116.

M33 is the vacant building revolving fund at $82,000.

M34 is the library equipment revolving fund at $15,000.

M35 is the Fort Tabor revolving fund at $180,000.

M36 is the supportive recreation revolving fund at $65,000.

M37 is the golf course revolving fund at $28,000.

M38 is the dog park revolving fund at $3,000.

M39 is a ZBA revolving fund at $22,000.

M40 is a rifle revolving fund at $60,000.

M41 is the New Bedford rail yard and rail crossing revolving fund at $226,781.

M42 is the purchasing revolving fund at $50,000.

M43 is the New Bedford Energy Now revolving fund at $4,846.

M44 is the food service concession revolving fund at $250.

M45 is the tangible supply disposition revolving fund at $206,270.

And M46, Mr. President, is the tourism revolving fund at $5,000.

Motion to adopt, uh, M24 to M45.

46A.

Motion to adopt items M24 through M46A made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Pemberton.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item M47, please.

Mr. President, M47 is communication from the mayor to the city council submitting a copy of the final FY26 Office of Housing and Community Development action plan.

And the resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for federal financial assistance from the United States of America.

M47A is the FY26 action plan, and M47 is the resolution.

Motion to receive and place on file M47, M47A, M47B, adopt the action plan, and accept the resolution as presented.

Second.

Motion to adopt, uh, everything that Councilor Lopes said on, uh, made by Councilor Lopes.

Seconded by Councilor Albergo.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Without objection, can we take M48 to M57 together?

Can we sever M56?

Okay, so we will take items M48 through M57 severing M56 together.

I will ask the clerk to read those.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. President.

M48 is communication from the mayor to the city council submitting the reappointment of Brad Markey of New Bedford to the Airport Commission.

This term will expire in December of 2028.

M49 is the reappointment of Matthew D. Provencher to the Airport Commission.

M50 is the reappointment of Ramon Silva to the Airport Commission.

M51 is the reappointment of Martha Reed to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities.

M52 is the reappointment of Marcia Fernandez to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities.

M53 is the reappointment of Angela Clark to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities.

M54 is the reappointment of Kimberly Betancourt to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities.

M55 is the reappointment of Christopher Amaral to the Community Preservation Committee, and M57 is the reappointment of Daniel Patton to the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District.

Motion to receive and place on file M48 to M55 and M57 and follow the recommendation and reappoint as presented, and waive Rule 38 and waive Rule 40.

Okay, motion to receive and place on file items M48 through 55 and 57, waive Rules 38 and 40, and adopt, uh, and grant the reappointments made by Councilor Lopes, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

Okay, I will ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Councilor Burgos?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Councilor Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 9 to 0, Mr. President.

Those items pass 9 to 0.

Is any member from here, from the public?

Okay, I will ask the clerk to read item M56, please.

Mr. President, M56 is a communication from the mayor to the city council Submitting the reappointment of Ricard Resendiz of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the licensing board.

This term will expire in June of 2032.

Motion to refer to the, uh, Committee on Appointments and Briefings.

Motion's been made to refer the item to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Pemberton.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Without objection, I will ask the clerk to read items M58 through M60.

Mr. President, M58 is a communication from the mayor to the city council submitting the appointment of Lara Harrington of New Bedford to the Airport Commission.

Miss Harrington will be replacing Christina Sordis, who resigned in January of '25, and this term will expire in December of 2027.

M59 is submitting the appointment of Justin Olson of New Bedford, Massachusetts, to the Water Board.

Mr. Olson will be replacing the late Patrick E. Rogers, who resigned in January of 2025, and this term will expire in April of '27.

And M60 is the appointment of Craig R. Espinola of New Bedford to the Steamship Authority Board of Governors to fill the seat vacated by Maury Tierney.

Motion to receive and place on file M58, 59, and 60 and refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.

Motion to refer the items M58, M58 through M60 to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Pemberton.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 5, uh, new business.

I will ask the clerk to read item 5, please.

Mr. President, item 5 is a report from the Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing recommending to the council approval of the application for a new private livery license on of Annalise Valentin Burgos at 627 Allen Street, New Bedford, Mass., doing business as Guarana Transportation Incorporated at 211 Weld Street in New Bedford.

And 5A is the communication.

Motion to grant the livery license made by Councilor Bergo— uh, Abreu, excuse me.

Second.

Second by Councilor Bergo.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk, without objection, to read items 6 and 7 together.

They are waivers for the same, uh, gentleman.

Mr. President, item 6 is a report from the Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing recommending to the council approval of a petition for a waiver of residency on behalf of Paul N. Bryant of Round Rock, Texas, doing business as Fall River Pawn Brokers, located at 1351 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford, 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.

6A is the communication.

And item 7, as you said, Mr. President, is for the same gentleman also doing business as Fall River Pawn Brokers for the second location located at 268 Union Street.

Motion made by Councilor Abreu to grant the waivers on items 6 through 7A.

That was made by Councilor Abreu, seconded by Councilor Pemberton.

Anyone on the question?

Roll call vote is required.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Councilor Burgos?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Councilor Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 9-0, Mr. President.

Items pass 9-0.

I will ask the clerk to read item 8, please.

Mr. President, item 8 is a report from the Committee on Ordinances recommending to the council approval of the ordinance amending Chapter 9, Section 4100A, relative to municipal facility conversion.

8A is the ordinance.

Motion to pass to a second reading.

Motion to pass to a second reading made by Councilor Burgo.

Second.

Seconded by Councilor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 9.

Mr. President, item 9 is report from the Committee on Ordinances recommending to the council approval of the ordinance amending Chapter 10 by inserting a new section 10-86.1, Voluntary Electronic Email Delivery of Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills After Section 10-86, 9A, is the ordinance.

Motion to pass to a second reading.

Second.

Motion to pass to a second reading made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 10, please.

Mr. President, item 10 is a report from the Committee on Ordinance Ordinances, recommending that the council adopt the written motion from Councilors Burgo, Pereira, Abreu, Carney, Oliver, Lima, Baptiste, Gomes, Morad, and Giesta requesting that the Committee on Ordinances explore the enactment of an ordinance or city policy to establish parental paid leave to provide compensation for a period of time for city employees in the event of an additional— of an addition of a child to the employee's immediate family to allow for the proper care of and bonding with the child.

10A is the motion.

Motion to pass, uh, to a second reading.

Second.

Motion to pass to a second reading made by Councillor Burgos, seconded by Councillor Lopes.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 11, please.

Mr. President, item 11 is a report from the Committee on Ordinances recommending the city council adoption of an order as amended and an act as amended for the recall of elected officers in the city of New Bedford.

11A is the order and 11B is an act.

Motion to table.

Motion to table made by Councilor Burgo.

Second by Councilor Gomes.

Anyone on the question?

Roll call vote has been requested.

I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Rabrew?

Yes.

Councilor Bergo?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

No.

No.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Councilor Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

No.

No.

Passes, uh, 7 to 2.

Item passes 7 to 2.

The motion's tabled.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 12, please.

Mr. President, item 12 is a report From the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, recommending to the City Council approval of the appointment of Cristobal Jose Escobar of New Bedford, Massachusetts, to the Veterans Advisory Board, replacing Christopher Holtkamp, who has resigned.

This term will expire in December of '26.

12A is the communication from the mayor.

Motion to receive in place and file the communication for all the recommendations of Committee on Appointments and Briefings.

Second.

Motion to adopt made by Councilor Lopes, seconded by Councilor Burgos.

Anyone on question.

All those in favor say aye.

On the question.

On the question.

Chair recognizes Councilor Burgum.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the work that we all did to restore the balance, I guess, on the Veterans Advisory Board is the word I would use.

As I came to you all before and let you know, we didn't have enough members to even constitute a quorum on this board.

And I'm proud to say, uh, with this, uh, vote tonight— well, even really before this vote tonight— they are now at a full complement.

They have been meeting regularly.

And so I'm very proud of the work of this council to break away a little bit from the norm and make sure that this very important board, the Veterans Advisory Board, is able to get back to a functioning body.

So I just wanted to thank this this body for doing that work and to also honoring, uh, our veterans, and also to Mr. Escobar here for, uh, taking this, uh, opportunity to serve in our city in this capacity.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, motion to grant the appointment is before us.

Anyone else on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Uh, I— colleagues, items 13 through 15A are items out of committee for no further action.

If we could waive the readings and take no further action.

That's been made by Councilor Burgos.

Second.

Second by Councilor Lopes.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 16, please.

Mr. President, item 16 is written motion from Council President Pereira requesting the City Council waive Rule 27 in order to hold budget interview sessions on Monday, June 1st, 2026, and Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt has been made by Councilor Burgos.

Second.

Second by Councilor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

Roll call vote is required.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Councilor Burgos?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Chauquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 9-0.

Item passes 9-0.

I will ask the clerk to read item 17, please.

Mr. President, item 17 is a written motion from Councilors Lopes and Gomes requesting that representatives from Republic Waste Services, E.L. Harvey, and Waste Management attend a meeting of the New Bedford City Council's Committee on Appointments and Briefings to discuss their ongoing violations of the City of New Bedford ordinance governing waste collection and disposal operations within the city.

Motion to replace— motion to receive and place on file, follow the recommendation of, and refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.

And on the question, motion to refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, been made by Councilor Lopes, seconded by Councilor Bergo.

The chair will recognize Councilor Lopes.

Thank you.

So I'm going to start by calling out Republic Waste, and I want to thank Solicitor Jakes for being here.

Republic Waste, I have reached out to at least one dozen times, spoken to the gentleman that handles the Northeast, and he assures me that he's going to follow up with every driver that the city ordinance says you cannot pick up dumpsters before 7 AM.

Republic Waste must live in another community.

I mean, because at 5:30 in the morning Every week, 5:33, 5:44, 5:45, they are going in there picking up the same exact dumpster.

And after calling them repeatedly and being fined at least 3 times in the last month, they continue to do this.

E.L. Harvey Waste, not as bad but almost as bad.

They have a, a dumpster right behind on Brigham Street, and they pick it up 6 o'clock, 6:14, 5:47.

We live in a world where everybody has Ring doorbell cameras and they hear the dumpsters picking them up.

Neither one of these companies want to follow the rules of the city.

I actually would like the fine to increase to an amount that makes them actually want to follow the recommendations in the ordinance.

Or I would love to do it to change it.

I want to talk to Colonel Jarutowski that we require that they place a bond to place a dumpster in the city, because if they're not going to follow the ordinances in the city of New Bedford, they should more than be penalized for it.

They are disturbing the quality of life of every single person in a neighborhood when they pick it up at 5:33, smash it on the ground once twice to make sure it's empty, and then they hear beep beep beep until it finishes backing up.

It is a total lack of disrespect for the residents that live in the city of New Bedford.

And when I've talked to some of these business owners, they say it's not my problem what time they come.

It is your problem because you're willingly and knowingly retaining the services of these companies when they're violating the city ordinance.

So I'm looking forward to having them at appointments and briefings, and I look forward to having a conversation with Attorney Gertowski if we can not only increase the fine but require that they have a bond to place these dumpsters in the city.

And not just one universal bond, a bond for every single dumpster that's in the city.

Because if they're not going to listen to a councilor, Solicitor Jakes, or the building commissioner, they have no respect for the governing of the city.

Or the community as a whole.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Lopes.

Chair recognizes Councilor Chaukat.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Um, through you to the fine councilor from Plymouth Street, I have a question.

Is E.L. Harvey that company that started the biblical rat plague in Ward 1 and 3?

I think we all know that.

Okay.

Thank you.

Nothing further.

Yes, thank you very much.

Um, before I say a couple words, I'd like to be— if the makers of the motion don't mind if I get added to the motion.

Um, I've been dealing with Waste Management for several years now.

Um, I take pictures, I take videos of them dumping picking up the dumpsters, um, before 7 o'clock on a constant, and that's right on the corner of my street.

Commissioner Romanowicz has fined them.

Obviously, they don't mind paying these fines over and over and over again.

So I am with my colleague from Plymouth Street that we should look into increasing the fines and the bonds on the dumpsters on the dumpsters is a great idea because the quality of life in the city of those dumpsters banging— I'm down the street, I'm almost to the end of the street, and I can hear the dumpsters banging.

Now that the windows are going to be open because it's summertime, it's going to be worse.

Now my windows are closed and I'm hearing the banging and the beeping up, and that's at the corner street, probably 8 houses down.

So I agree with my councilors, and I'd like sign on to this motion, and we need to do something about it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

When any councilor would like to have their name added to this motion, I see Councilors Carney, Choquette, Abreu, add Pereira please, Pemberton.

Thank you.

Anyone else on the question?

All right, all those in favor of referral to the Committee on Appointments and briefing say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 18, please.

Mr. President, item 18 is written motion from Councilor Gomes requesting the City Council send a certified letter to the Officer of the Inspector General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requesting that they conduct a forensic audit of the financial situation in the city of New Bedford that resulted in reported surpluses turning into substantial deficits in the city's financial structure over a very short period of time.

Follow recommendation and waive Rule 40.

Second.

All right, waive Rule 40 and follow the recommendation of the motion.

It's been made by Councilor Gomes, seconded by Councilor Carney.

On the question, the chair would recognize Councilor Gomes.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Mr. President, I'm not here this evening to throw fire on fire that's already burning.

But I need to get some answers.

I have been mind-boggled.

And when I say that, I know I don't mean it like we don't know what's going on here, because we know what's going on here.

And this council has been blamed on several occasions for the deficit that the city is in because we were not listening.

We did not, or are here the calls.

You know, I heard the calls.

I heard you talk about the pension.

I heard you talk about insurance.

But I didn't hear anything else.

I didn't hear anything else.

I had a $13 million surplus in December, and all of a sudden we're $32 million in the hole.

This is not making sense to me.

This is not making sense to me.

When I stand up tonight and I address this issue, and I hope my colleagues will follow, listen, I'm not afraid of the Inspector General.

I know you're not afraid of the Inspector General.

There ain't a colleague that should be afraid in this room of the Inspector General.

We do not control— we control the money, but we do not control the money.

And I need to know, and the people of this city need to know, where this all happened and how it all happened.

Several weeks ago, I've told you, 3 weeks ago, we're proposing a $100 million police station.

We're doing this.

Matter of fact, we've had the finance personnel here and, you know, we've done some either appropriations or whatever.

And this council, there's somebody in this council always asks, how will this affect the budget?

Nope, we're okay, we're okay.

Okay, when did this happen?

You can keep trying to shy that away and brush that away and talk about the issue of we've got to work together to, you know, get this all done.

We'll try to do that on the next motion.

But, um, I need somebody, an independent person, to come in here.

Now they're going to tell you, why didn't you go to the Attorney General?

Not going to the Attorney General because it would have had to pass by 8 votes in this room and it would have been signed by the mayor.

If you think the mayor is going to sign that, that isn't happening.

Second of all, I don't get it.

And I'm still spinning my head that this was not caught before we got to the point it is.

Somebody is held accountable for this.

And if you want to sweep that under the rug, you go right ahead and you let that go and we'll try to do what we'll do, people will be laid off and the taxpayers will be hurt in this city.

I want to know.

And that's why I'm asking the Inspector General.

It's an independent.

They'll tell you that we had an audit also here.

Remember that, ladies and gentlemen?

Remember the audit report?

Remember what the audit report told you?

The company that we hire, we pay them and we give them the numbers, we give them what we give them, gave us a heck of a, you know, passing AAA, all, you know, we're just good financial— I want the money back.

And they should be fired because why didn't you pick it up?

Why didn't they pick that up 6 months ago?

$32 million did not just come overnight.

There's something wrong here and I'm trying to find it.

That's all I'm trying to do.

And I hope my colleagues will follow my recommendation and let this letter— we're sending these letters certified and there's a reason why I'm sending them certified.

Because if we don't hear back from people, whether you can help us or you can do something to alleviate some of this, we'll know what to do after that.

We'll know who to call out.

Appreciate the opportunity, Mr. President.

Thank you, Councilor.

The chair will recognize Councilor Chokat.

Thank you, Mr. President.

You know, I need a longer mic here, but sorry, or I need to grow shorter.

Um, I, I want to, um, you know, commend my colleague from Clara Street for putting this idea together.

Um, you know, so I've, I've heard some people in the public say, oh, well, you know, you're, you're too hard on the mayor.

Um, you know, you guys are responsible too.

We don't have— this is a part-time job, okay?

If I had 6 people working for me, if I had 2 chiefs of staff, I had administrative assistants, a chief operations officer, a constituent services chairman, and a public information officer, and it was my only job, I could get a hell of a lot more done than I get done in here, and I'm sure my colleagues would agree they'd be able to get a lot more done.

How are we supposed to know before the mayor?

We only know once the mayor's office says to us, hey, guess what, guys?

You know, we went from $13 million down to $32 million in the red.

And that was, what, like a month ago we found out about that.

So, you know, the whole deflecting the blame game and trying to soften what's happening with the mayor's office is a bunch of malarkey.

Okay, now I've said it many times, Mr. Mayor, and this is directed towards you: keep your hands off that fire station.

As long as you keep pushing and threatening the lives of 30,000 people in the North End, I am going to absolutely endorse and, and back Councilor Gomes's motion to have outside intervention come in here and find out what's going on.

I've told you many times, you can't balance a budget by injuring other people and meddling in public safety.

You don't want to listen, then we're going to get outside help to come in here.

That's all.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Choukat.

The chair recognizes Councillor Pemberton.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I just want to rise just to support the good councilor from Clara Street.

You know, this is my first year on the council, first time with a budget, and I just can't believe what I'm seeing and what I have to go through and try to make some cuts to make up for this money that's missing.

We deserve answers.

The citizens, the constituents need answers.

And I'm glad that the councilor from Clara Street put this on the agenda tonight, and I stand to rise to support him.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Councillor.

Anyone else?

Okay, so the motion before us is to waive rules— Rule 40, excuse me— and follow the recommendation of the motion.

I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councillor Abreu?

Yes.

Councillor Burgos?

Yes.

Councillor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Chouquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Gomes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 9 to 0, Mr. President.

Item, item passes 9 to 0.

I will ask the clerk to read item 19, please.

Mr. President, item 19 is a written motion from Councilor Gomes requesting that certified letters be sent to Governor Healey, Senator Montigny, Ways and Means Chair Rodriks, House Speaker Mariano, and Representatives Cabral, Hendricks, Markey, Willette, and Sylvia requesting a supplemental budget to help close the gap of the $32 million deficit the city of New Bedford is currently facing.

This one-time appropriation would prevent the closure of Fire Station Number 9 in the near future and protect the jobs of the men and women that protect the lives and property of our city.

It would also prevent laying off personnel provide vital services to the city.

This appropriation request is being presented on behalf of the city's taxpayers to provide notice to our state leadership of the funding obligations that are owed to the taxpayers of the city of New Bedford.

Motion to waive Rules 17 and 40 and follow the recommendation was made by Councilor— second— Gomes, seconded by Councilor Carney.

On the question, Chair recognizes Councilor Gomes.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Mr. President, some may say, like, what the heck are you trying to do here?

Why do you feel— how in the heck do you believe that you're going to get $32 million from the state to close this gap?

If we don't try, we don't know.

We just don't know.

Again, I am sending certified letters because I want to see who responds.

And if you can't help us, Just tell us you can't help us.

If you ignore me, I'm going to go public, because it's been done to this council on several occasions.

We've sent letters, just straight letters, and we never get a response back on many, many issues.

You know, we want to be players.

We want to be players.

We want to be players together for the people of this city.

I understand they're on the state level, but give me the same respect that I give you.

Respond to my communications.

Respond respond to the communications of the City Council.

Mr. President, a lot of people are about to get hurt here.

And that's a big part that's been in my head.

I think some of us have been carrying it on our shoulders because we're going to have people that are going to get laid off.

There's going to be city services that are going to be taken away, and those vital services and some of the smaller services.

And then on top of that, I'm going to tax the taxpayer.

Well, you talk to some of the elderly in this city, in some of these neighborhoods across the city that own these properties.

Even some of the working men, they don't know where they're going to get that tax dollar.

Where are you going to get that tax dollar?

Where are you going to get $1,000?

Where are you going to get $1,600 more in your tax dollars?

And we're proposing this like it's nothing, like we— it's— this is just how it is and there's no other backing out.

I'm not going to follow that I'm going to follow the path of making some people responsible for either action or get some action that can at least help the people.

If we can't get $32 million, if you can give me $15 million, you can give me $20 million, that closes the gap.

That puts us to work.

We've got to go to work and put this thing together to make sure that we protect our city, we protect them services.

Them 94 people that are getting laid off, I'm feeling them.

I don't know about you, Mr. President, but I'm feeling them.

I'm feeling for the taxpayers.

I'm feeling for the people who won't be able to afford this.

And, you know, there's going to be retaliation from this and it's going to come in when you see them for sale signs going up across the city because people cannot afford the taxes.

We've been through this before.

We've been through this.

You're telling me that this has been happening since 2008?

Well, when did you take office?

14 years ago.

What have you been doing?

What doors have you been knocking?

I know if I was the mayor and this situation was arising, I'd be in Boston every damn day and I'm going to be banging on doors.

And you can throw me out, you can throw me down the stairs, but I'll be back tomorrow.

And when I come back tomorrow, it's possibly I'm gonna come with my city council, and I'm gonna come with a lot of people that I represent.

It's almost a feeling that you're into.

When— what were you doing?

I told you, I've been telling you.

You ain't been telling me nothing.

You've been telling me that everything is nice and hunky-dory, and we're just moving along, and the city's moving along, and we can afford to do this, we can afford to do that.

Again, ladies and gentlemen, 3 weeks ago, a proposal for a police station.

You did not know then we were in trouble, and you're proposing something like that?

That's incompetence.

I don't care.

That's— somebody's deranged or don't know what the hell is going on here.

You haven't been to your friends?

Maura Healey, you're down here taking pictures and everything, whispering in her ear, my city is in trouble.

You weren't telling us nothing about that.

You were making an endorsement because it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

As I said the other night, I'm sure it's gotten back to the governor in some way, some form, and I don't care because there ain't nothing she can do to me.

Matter of fact, it's something I can do to her.

But I'm asking for her assistance right now.

And if she was a— if she could understand what is happening here, she would help this city in some way.

With her good friend, the mayor of the city, who has been tagging on her tails for as long as I can figure.

And I'm sorry that I'm speaking in the way I am tonight, but I don't need to hold anything back.

Because you know what?

Again, it's about our taxpayers.

It's about the city.

I'm not here only fighting for Station 9.

You can bring $500,000 and save Station 9 for 6 months.

That's not good enough for this councilor.

That's not good enough for the council Ward 1, and I believe other at-large councilors that represent that area.

It's not good enough.

You're going to cause more problems up there, increasing insurance on those people and everything.

No protection.

That's a wide area.

If you really know your city and you watch your city, you'll know what this engine means to that area.

This council and many that sit here in this council fought for Station 8 because we knew what it meant to that neighborhood.

We knew the density in that neighborhood it.

We knew what Engine 8 has done.

To be at that, one of the standouts up at Station 8, along with many of my colleagues that are sitting here, and I'm sure they might have met her, it broke my heart.

It broke my heart when that constituent came across the street and said to me, Councilor, please fight for this station.

I live 2 blocks over there.

This station saved my mother's life.

Wow.

If that wasn't a hit, and I don't know how many of my other colleagues talked to that lady, she ended up talking to New Bedford Light or whatever.

But it was, it's them kind of things that if you have any soul within you, it kind of moves you representing people.

I'm thinking about the airport.

I'm thinking about the schools.

I'm thinking about the plazas.

I'm thinking about all that's in there.

And they can tell you, Oh, don't worry about it.

Station A will come that way.

We'll bring Station 5.

Where do we leave, gentlemen?

Where do we leave that far north then?

Nobody for the industrial park if we had a simple chemical spill while they're assisting someone.

We've left the densest part of the city, Station A, nobody, because they're coming this way to assist us, maybe at Normandin, maybe at the Plaza, maybe an accident at Tacon Hill and Church Street.

That's what I'm fighting for tonight, and I'm fighting for those employees.

I don't want to see them services lost, them services that go to some of our young people.

Our young people, the most vital.

We want to keep them off the street, we want to keep those after-school programs.

We throw them to the streets, we don't know what's going to happen to them.

These assist also parents, single parents, mothers that work till 5 o'clock or so.

Or work a little later at night.

This is services that are helping them.

And God bless their mothers.

God bless their mothers still providing for them kids and standing up and doing the right thing.

And it can happen to dads also.

Mr. President, I know you have allowed me a lot of time, and you— I'm sure you hear the emotion in my voice.

The emotion is about my city, about our city, about our people.

And we need to save these jobs, and we need to put this city the way it was running.

I don't agree with putting all these departments together.

We're not going to service people.

I told you we did this 20 years ago.

The media took it upon themselves to, oh, we did this 20 years ago, like it was a brand new thing to do.

But they didn't tell you that it wasn't working back then.

That's why we went back to the way we did it.

And we have to go back.

And I understand, I understand about the cuts.

And look at that budget right now with a $32 million deficit.

What are you all feeling, ladies and gentlemen?

I know you've got to be feeling the same thing I'm feeling.

We're looking at that budget book, we're sitting there in our chairs at night, we're sitting up till 11 o'clock going, where do I cut?

If I cut, I'm hurting more.

I'm hurting more.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is an opportunity.

This is the only opportunity I know.

We can stand outside of fire stations, we can stand outside of City Hall, we can make our comments to be heard.

By the public and the people that we represent.

We need the state to step into this, and we need them to do the right thing at this time.

And we have some surplus money up in Boston that this could happen.

And I know we're not the only community, but think about the communities that are not in a deficit.

Think about it.

Have you heard them talk about it?

That's why even when this was all proposed to us, we're kind of hanging around the South Coast here, you know, Mattapoisett, whatever.

Let's stretch it out, man.

Let's go to Taunton.

Let's go to Fall River.

Let's stretch this out a little.

Yeah, there's some places that are in trouble.

They're in trouble for their own reasons.

Our reasons?

We weren't in trouble, and then all of a sudden we were.

And that's why I want the Inspector General to find out exactly where this deficit is, and I want the state delegation and our state people to help us out here, to help out the city of New Bedford so it can continue to function.

And if you can do that for us, We'll take— we'll absorb them nights over and over.

This council sitting here trying to figure out how we fix that as we move into the future.

Thank you for the opportunity.

I want to thank my colleagues.

Thank you, Councilor.

The chair will recognize Councilor Abreu.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

There's not much to say after that, but man, I felt the passion in the speech before me.

But here's the reality.

Chapter 70 and Government Aid, which goes by UGA, okay, that's the acronym, okay.

It was built, the formula was built in a different era, in a different time.

There were less cars on the road.

Infrastructure was different in these communities like New Bedford.

It's a different time and it's a different era.

And the reality of the situation is that the system is broken.

And what happens with some people and some of the bureaucrats on Beacon Hill They say, well, I filed a bill.

I filed a bill and I'm doing my part.

I filed a bill.

You know and I know, anyone who follows what happens on the Hill, there are thousands of bills filed every year and it goes into committee and it gets into the wastepaper bin or they blow hot air in committee.

The votes and the deliberations, unless you're there in that committee hearing, they're not publicly accessible.

You don't know how the votes are.

You don't know how it goes down.

That's what happens, okay?

That's what's going on up in Boston in many cases.

We can talk about, I'm filing a bill.

Well, it's easy to say that, but we're the ones here in New Bedford, we're the boots on the ground elected officials who are receiving the phone calls, the Facebook messages, the emails about, I can't afford it anymore, I can't afford to live in my home, I can't afford the property tax hikes.

What about Station 9?

I'm in, you know, I mean, what if we're in grave danger?

What is this going to do to my insurance rates for my home?

What is this going to do for my community?

What is this going to do for my neighborhood?

And then we are the ones who are on the ground level at these rallies, these neighborhood meetings, here in the chambers, and we're all tearing each other apart is what happens.

So we're taking all the brunt of this, and we'll take it and we'll deal with it because we love what we do.

But the reality is that it's a Boston issue and they need to help us.

And I know there have been bills filed, and I, I praise my good friend Senator Montigny, and I know many of us do here as well, for what he did in securing that earmark last week to at least give Station 9, we hope, a stay of execution until we can figure out some more additional cuts to keep that station fully functioning and opened for the remainder of the next upcoming fiscal year.

But again, that's the discretion of the mayor.

We can find the money, we'll find the money, but again, it'll be up to upstairs on what he decides to do with that.

I'm frustrated because, see, that kind of stuff— well, I filed a bill— that's like us saying, well, we do— I filed a motion, walk away.

We do the work here, for better or for worse, you know, and there's all different personalities in here and Some get along, some don't, and that's fine, but we're here to do a job, and we were put together by the people here in the city of New Bedford.

We were put together to do a job, and when push comes to shove, we'll do that job.

It just makes me laugh, you know.

I mean, I just hear some of the rhetoric out there.

Everyone's stupid.

We're stupid.

Uh, the retirement board is stupid.

Uh, um, the unions are stupid.

The PEC committee's stupid.

We're all dumb, you know.

I just— I'm just frustrated because We do our best to do our part here in the city of New Bedford, here in this council, and I'm proud of the work we do.

You know, it's funny, we cut— Mr. President, I believe it was $13 million last year when we set our budget.

Um, and we've set— when I was president, I think it was $11.5, and others it was $12, $13.

But what I'm getting at is we get banged by the administration and some others.

Well, we don't cut enough, and we're not being fiscally— or we're not being fiscally prudent, or watchful of, or being good corporate stewards or watchdogs of the checkbook, but yet when we do make these cuts, like the $13 million or the $12 million or the $11 million when I was the president a few years ago, or whatever the case is, then we get slammed.

Stupid cuts, arduous cuts, they're ridiculous cuts.

Well, you can't have it both ways.

You slam me on the cuts but then say we're not being prudent enough in what we're doing here.

Fiscal stewards of the checkbook.

So I'm having a hard time wrangling this and reconciling this in my head.

I don't know where this is going with this budget this year.

First time in my— in my life as a councilor— this is my 11th budget— where we're trying to figure this out.

The council before me is absolutely right.

Where do you cut?

There's no meat on the bones.

But we got to figure it out because we have a fire station to save and we have constituents who can't afford to live in their homes anymore.

That's the reality, and we're all feeling it.

We're all taxpayers here in this, in this room.

One way or the other, we get it.

We're regular people like you, and we're gonna, we're gonna do our job to the best of our abilities because that's what you elected us to do, and we're gonna get it done.

And I support this motion.

Let's get it up on the Hill.

But again, Chapter 70 and UGA is broken.

It's been broken for a long time.

It has not kept up with with the rate of inflation, and we're suffering the blows from that.

So I appreciate the extra time, Mr. President.

I'll yield at this time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor.

Chair recognizes Councilor Socat.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President.

A lot of emotion from my councilors here, my colleagues, and I want to thank them.

They're speaking the truth.

And, you know, every day I wake up, I wake up angry.

Really, um, at where this city is headed.

And I'm just, I'm just tired of being angry all the time at the mayor, you know.

I have no doubt that if we all work together in this room, we'll find the money to save that fire station.

But Mr. Mayor, you got to put that money into the station.

Woe is you if we do this and we find that money and you don't, you don't keep that station open.

It will be your Waterloo, and it'll be time to dust off your resume.

And yes, I said that.

I'm done being— I'm tired of being angry.

Okay?

It's disgusting.

It's absolutely disgusting.

I'm finished.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair Eknis.

Councilor Lopes.

Thank you, Council President.

So I will be extremely brief.

The administration hired a consultant to create 2 studies.

I know we all got them, we all read them.

First one, City of New Bedford Fire Department Impact of Eliminating Engine 9.

On page 14 This is not the City of New Bedford.

This is an independent company that the mayor hired.

Eliminating Station 9 and Engine 9 will most likely have a significant negative impact on New Bedford's ISO fire suppression rating.

This could also result in an increase in fire insurance premiums throughout the city, not just the North End, but the entire city.

In their conclusion, states that their recommendation is Station 9 must remain open with a fully staffed engine company in order to provide sufficient emergency response to the city.

We cannot recommend closing a station or eliminating an engine company.

That's not the council speaking, that's the mayor's independent consulting group that he asked for funding in the previous budget and the council approved.

That same company, on page 3 of their report, says over a 10-year period there was 3,547 structural fires in the city of New Bedford.

You divide that by the number of days in the year, that means there is greater than one structural fire in the city of New Bedford every single day.

Every 23 3 hours and change, there is a structural fire across the city.

You pull from one area to offset another, and then it refers to on a few pages later, the response time will go up to 610 seconds when the industry standard is 480 seconds.

We're going to increase the response time, and we all know how long— if the longer a fire has to burn, the least likely you're going to be able to save it.

And it becomes a douse and prevent.

It's not a save.

You're saving the rest of the neighborhood.

We live in a thickly settled community.

We all got our driver's license.

We all took the learner's permit.

It is a thickly residential community.

These are not our words.

These are the words of the consultants that the administration hired, that this body approved.

Now we can all put 2 and 2 together, or we can make assumptions.

It's a bargaining technique because the mayor has always wanted to reduce the number of people on an engine from 4 to 3.

Neither one of these reports that he requested, that he commissioned, that this body paid for states that that should happen.

If you read the reports, I know we all have, it literally states that they do not recommend reducing the size, the number of people on an engine, from 4 down to 3.

It's a safety for not just the firefighters, but it's a safety for the residents in the community and the houses.

Now, that is— the data backs out every other call for service that might be mutual aid, that might be a car accident.

It only looks at structural fires.

The data says it all.

You can say that we like to grandstand or whatever it is.

These are the reports that the mayor had commissioned, not the council.

Thank you, Councilor.

Thank you, Council President.

Anyone else on there first?

Councilor Gomes, on your second.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I know you allowed me extra time when I got up the first time, and I'll be very brief, but there's some people that I don't want to forget, and I don't want to forget to get a new Bedford Police Department.

This is a perfect example.

You see, that cut has been made.

Them boys and— excuse me, men and women were about to go off to the academy.

Have you heard from their mothers?

Has anybody heard from their parents or some of the family members that are very upset?

I see some heads shaking.

Yes, because I heard from them.

I had a mother stand in front.

My son was about to go and now he's not going.

He's somewhat heartbroken.

Yeah, I'm heartbroken 'Cause you know what?

We know that we need those bodies.

We need those bodies on the police department.

And we're not going to have them.

And I want to stand up for the MVPD because along with that and some of them services right down to grass cutting and yard waste, you know where you're going to find that?

Drive around.

I tell you, anytime you want to come for a ride with me on a Friday night, I'll show you some things, man, you'll be like, what the heck?

Whether it's on the airport, Road, whether it's an industrial park, wherever they can kind of throw stuff and get rid of stuff, that's what they're doing.

The MBPD deserves a contract.

There's still no contract.

Things are not making sense.

Add it all up, ladies and gentlemen.

We're here as fighters tonight.

I respect what I've heard tonight.

I thank my colleagues.

I thank my colleagues for the support tonight.

This isn't about us.

We've just been sent here to be the brokers.

We've been sent here to watch the pennies.

That's what we're trying to do.

We're trying to help our city this evening, and we're asking for the state to help us.

And anybody that wants to criticize us, let them do that.

Let them do that.

Ladies and gentlemen, feel good about what you do because we do our job most of the time.

And I think it's been said here tonight, we don't all get along No, but we know when it's time to focus.

We know when it's time that it's in the best interest of the people, not in your best interest or my interest.

We've been sent here in the best interest of the people.

Mr. President, again, I thank you for the time.

I thank my colleagues for listening to me tonight, and I hope that this goes through and we get some type of response from Boston in some way, somehow, that will assist us.

And we're looking to our delegation to do that.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Anyone else on that first?

Chair recognizes Councilor Choquette on the second.

Yeah, I just want to add, thank you, Mr. President.

We are gonna find out what happened.

I promise you that.

And people, we're gonna find out what happened here.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor.

Anyone else?

All right.

So just as a reminder, we're waiving Rules 17 and 40 and adopting the motion before us.

I will ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councillor Abreu?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Burgow?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Chauquet?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Gomes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Pereira?

Yep.

Yes.

Councillor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 9 to 0, Mr. President.

Item passes 9 to 0.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 20.

Mr. President, item 20 is a written motion from Councilor Lopes and Council President Pereira requesting that the city solicitor, in conjunction with the administration, draft a home rule petition for submission to the Massachusetts General Court authorizing the city of New Bedford to establish an early retirement incentive program for eligible municipal employees.

Said petition shall that employees who have attained the age of 50 years or older and who have completed 25 years or more of credible service with the city may be eligible to retire with a retirement allowance calculated at up to 75% of their eligible retirement benefit, subject to the approval of the Massachusetts Legislature and the governor.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Ordinances.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Ordinances.

Motion to refer to the committee on ordinances made by Councilor Roy, seconded by Councilor Lopes.

On the question— thank you, Council President Berga, because he's moving up to the chair.

So this isn't new.

The state has done this countless times in the past when there's been budget issues, budget deficits.

They normally look at 55 years of age, so I will amend it in committee committed to 55— I thought I wrote 55, I apologize— and 75% of your maximum pension contribution.

If we're looking at ways to save the taxpayers' dollars, the individuals, the men and women of any department in the city that have been here for 25 years or longer are at the highest end of their salary step.

And if we're going to bring on newer people, there's an automatic savings on that end.

The other piece, the employees that would be retiring are the employees that put the least into the pension system based on the formulas that has changed throughout the course of their 25 years.

Employees that we're hiring today put the maximum contribution allowed into their retirement system, which I believe is 12%.

Now, years ago when I was a teacher, we put in 7%, then went to 9%, 11%, and I believe it's 12% today.

So the employees that would be retiring are on the lowest end of the contribution scale, and the new employees that we would bring in on would be at the higher end of a contribution scale.

So in addition to not only adjusting the budget, we'd be bringing on newer individuals to do the same jobs at a lower step because those that retiring are already at the maximum step.

So I'd like to see this in committee and drafting a home rule that we would then send to the state for adoption.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councilor Pereira as first.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank my colleague from Ward 5 for co-sponsoring this item with me.

This is the steps this council we have taken in the previous motions, this motion, other motions to come, finding ways to figure out a solution to a lot of these problems.

He explained a little bit about the background of what this will do to help save the city some money.

What I would like to say is the practicality of this.

I will not waste this body's time if the administration, which does not have— which can just simply not sign a home rule petition if they don't want to.

So I do not want to waste this council's time, the Committee on Ordinances' time.

So I'm going to ask, Mr. President, that we receive within 10 days notice to the chairman of the audience, which also happens to be the president at this time, that the chairman of audience be notified by the city solicitor if this is something the administration wants to explore.

I am not wasting our time, our legislative council's time, our staff's time, or, uh, his time for that matter, if it's something the mayor is going to take and file in the circular, uh, filing cabinet known as the trash can.

So I would just like to get within 10 days of receipt of this motion the city solicitor notify the chairman if this is something the administration wants to pursue.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman— Mr. President.

Thank you.

Anyone else on that first point of information?

Sure.

I was wondering if the makers of the motion could provide some information like how much the city could save if this— we certainly could do that in committee.

Sure, all that information.

Yep.

Okay, great.

Oh, it is?

All right, great.

Well, I had it here.

Thanks.

Perfect.

Anyone else on, on the question of referral to the Committee on Ordinance?

Anyone on their second?

Seeing none, all those in favor of referring to the Committee on Ordinance?

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Mr. President, item 21 is written motion from Councilor Gomes requesting that the Department of Public Infrastructure sweep and clean the streets and that all potholes be filled in the interest of public safety prior to the Cape Verdean Recognition Day Parade on Sunday, July 5th, 2026.

The parade route is as follows: Rockdale Avenue and Union Street, proceeding down Union Street, right onto Acushnet Avenue, a right onto Grinnell Street, a right onto Purchase Street, and ending at the reviewing stand located at the Cape Verdean American Veterans Memorial Hall at 561 Purchase Street.

I'm sorry, motion to follow recommendation.

Motion to follow the recommendation to DPI.

Motion to follow the recommendation, refer the item to the commission, uh, the Department of Public Infrastructure, made by Councilor Gomes, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

Chair recognizes Councilor President.

Just a correction on the date.

The date is Saturday.

We did switch to Sunday.

Yeah, and Diane didn't tell me that when I was on the phone with her before she left for Cape Verde.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Councilor.

On the question, the chair recognizes Councilor Burgum.

I just— I didn't want to overstep on the maker of the motion.

Um, I just wanted to jump up to thank the maker of the motion.

He puts this forward every year, and I wanted to note that every year— and you'll— we'll get the email in about a couple of weeks or so that it's been returned by the mayor unsigned.

So that happens all the time, that a simple request like this, cleaning the parade route and making sure that the potholes are filled, the mayor will have no hand in it.

He will make sure that he returns this back to the council unsigned.

I know Councilor Gomes— excuse me, our colleague from Clara Street— he ignores it.

But I want to thank our Our colleague and also the workers at DPI, they do clean the parade route, but oftentimes the potholes do go unfilled, as the people know.

So I just wanted to make that note that this will be returned unsigned by this administration, but they will proudly march in that parade.

Thank you.

And yes, this year, for the general public should know, we don't compete with the Bristol parade that happens on July 4th this year.

It happens fall on Saturday, and we obviously use some of their marching bands.

So this year the parade does happen to happen— fall on Sunday, July 5th, and it will step off at 12 noon instead of 11 o'clock for those who will be marching in it.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 22.

Mr. President, item 22 is an ordinance.

Council President Pereira submitting an ordinance amending Chapter 19, Section 19-7 of the City Code of Ordinances relative to personnel.

Oh, motion to pass to a second reading.

Motion to pass to a second reading made by Councilor Burgo.

Withdrawn.

Second by Councilor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask for Clerk to read item 23.

Mr. President, item 23 is communication from Dennis Farris, the City Clerk, Clerk of the Council, to Ryan J. Pereira, City Council President, requesting an increase for 3 administrative and recording fees, vital record amendments, junk collector dealer fees, and business certificates, DBA licenses.

Is this just motion to receive and place on file, or would it be a referral to the Committee on Ordinances?

Motion to refer to the Committee on Ordinances.

Motion to refer the item to the Committee on Ordinances made by Councilor Burgo.

Second.

Seconded by Councilor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 24.

Mr. President, item 24 is communication of demolition from Anne Laurel, the preservation planner, to the City Council regarding a building demolition review of 24 Carter Street, Map 85, Lot 288, a circa 1926 wood frame structure, advising that the structure is not located within the National Historic Register District.

The structure is of no notable historic significance, either recorded or found with the existing condition of the structure.

The structure suffered a significant fire and requires reconstruction.

And in light of these findings, the preservation planner has determined that the wood frame structure located at 24 Carter Street is neither historically significant nor preferably preserved.

Structure.

Make a motion to receive and place on file, follow the recommendation of the Historic Commission, and grant the demolition permit.

Motion to grant the demolition permit made by Councilor Lopes, seconded by Councilor Gomes.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 25.

All Needs Transportation at 32 Liberia Lane in New Bedford.

This license will run from July 1st of this year to June 30th of '27.

Motion to refer to the Special Committee on Permits and Licensing 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 26.

Mr. President, item 26 is a communication from the Department of Environmental Protection, Waterways Regulation Program, providing public notice of the waterways application by the City of New Bedford to dredge and restore a salt marsh off of Belleville Avenue in the municipality of New Bedford within filled water and flow tidal waters of the Acushnet River.

The proposed project has been determined to be water dependent.

Motion received and placed on file, made by Councilor Lopes, seconded by Councilor Burgo.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask any tabled items.

Motion to take up and adopt consent.

Motion to take up and adopt the consent agenda made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Lopez.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn has been made by Councilor Abru, seconded by Councilor Burgos.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor of adjournment say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

We are adjourned to 8:30 6:36 PM.

Thank you, everybody.