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The New Bedford City Council met on July 16th, 2026, with Council President Ryan J. Pereira presiding. The meeting began with the reading of letters from Councillors Joseph P. Lopes and Scott Pemberton, who were absent. A public hearing was held for an Eversource Energy conduit project on Howard Avenue; despite the company representative's absence, the council heard testimony from a city engineer about the project's urgency for a pumping station upgrade and unanimously approved the order. The council formally received a veto from Mayor Jon Mitchell regarding a recently passed paid family leave ordinance. Councillor Shane A. Burgo spoke at length in favor of the ordinance, reading testimonials from city employees and submitting a written response to the veto. The council will vote on whether to override the veto at its next meeting. Several budget transfers were introduced, with most being referred to the Finance Committee for review. The council unanimously approved a significant $220,400,000 loan order for the city's long-term CSO Control and Integrated Capital Improvement Plan and passed an ordinance amending utility rate charges in an 8-1 vote. A major topic of discussion was the future of the Whaling City Festival following a recent disturbance. Councillors Brian K. Gomes, Ian Abreu, Derek Baptiste, and Naomi R. A. Carney spoke passionately in support of the festival, arguing against proposed changes to its hours or location and discussing security needs, parental responsibility, and the event's cultural importance. The matter was referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods. Another debated item was the acceptance of a state easement for the new pedestrian bridge over Route 18. After being discharged from committee in an 8-1 vote, the council approved the easement 7-2, with supporters emphasizing the need to proceed with the bridge's dedication to the Andre Lopes family, despite ongoing concerns about long-term maintenance costs.
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Council
City Officials
Public Safety
Public / Other
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
0:14Today is Thursday, July 16th, at 7:06 PM for the regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
0:21Before our normal, uh, dealing of business On the advice of Attorney Gerotowski, I'm going to remind the general public that while the meeting is ongoing, I ask for no disruptions from the public.
0:36We at this time are looking to just continue with the business of the day, and at this point, uh, respectfully ask for decorum in the chambers and no disruptions from the public.
0:47Okay.
0:52I just explained, sir, that there was no— no— We're going to take a brief recess.
1:10Thank you.
1:12At this time, I will ask for a moment of silence.
1:15We do not have a member of the clergy here.
1:18But I will ask for a moment of silence.
1:28Thank you.
1:29All right.
1:30I don't know who's doing it.
1:34We are led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Councilor-at-Large James Roy.
1:38I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands.
1:45Stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
1:52Thank you, Mr. President.
1:53Thank you, Counselor.
1:56You're welcome, Counselor.
1:58Thank you, Mr. President.
2:01I would like to note that this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.
2:05City Council and committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Bedford's homepage under Quick Links, then Meetings.
2:11I will ask— excuse me.
2:13We are joined in the chamber this evening by my colleagues, Councilor at Large Ian Abreu, Councilor of Ward 1 Leo Choquette, Councilor at Large Brian Gomes, Councilor at Large James Roy, Councilor at Large Naomi Carney, Councilor of Ward 3 Sean Oliver, Councilor at Large Shane Burgo, and myself, Council President Ryan Pereira.
2:34At this time, I will ask the clerk if there are any letters to be read into the record.
2:37Mr. President, I have 2.
2:38The first is from Councilor Lopes.
2:40Dear Council President Pereira and honorable members of the council, I am writing to inform you that I'll be unable to attend the city council meeting on Thursday, July 16th, due to a work-related commitment.
2:50Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and the public aware of the reason for my absence.
2:54Sincerely, Joseph P. Lopes, Councilor of Ward 5.
2:58The second is from Councilor Pemberton.
3:00Dear Council President Pereira and honorable members of the council, I am writing to inform inform you that I am unable to attend the City Council meeting on Thursday, July 16th, due to a prior business commitment.
3:10Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and the public aware of the reason for my absence.
3:14Sincerely, Scott Pemberton, Councilor of Ward 2.
3:18Motion received and placed on file.
3:20Motion to receive and place on file made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Leroy.
3:24Anyone on the question?
3:25All those in favor say aye.
3:27Opposed, the ayes have it.
3:30I will ask the clerk to read item number 1.
3:32Mr. President, item 1 is a hearing from Enstar Electric Company, doing business as Eversource Energy, for the location of approximately 40 feet of conduit at Howard Avenue.
3:41This work is necessary to provide service to 99 River Road.
3:441A is the order.
3:46Motion to receive and place on file and open the public hearing.
3:49Motion to open the public hearing made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Roy.
3:53Anyone on the question?
3:55All those in favor say aye.
3:56Opposed, the ayes have it.
3:58Colleagues, we received communication from Jessica Elder of Eversource that she is unable to make it this evening, so we are going to continue this to our next meeting on August 20th at 7 PM.
4:25Mr. President, well, Sean was gonna speak on the issue or whatever.
4:33I don't know, I— we've never been in this situation where they don't show up.
4:37Well, it is a public hearing.
4:39I will allow testimony from Sean's side at this time, but I'm gonna just get some more information from Attorney Gavratowski and then brief the council.
4:45So Sean, if you want to present.
4:47Some testimony?
4:49Yes, you can.
4:49It is a public hearing.
4:52David.
4:59Sean, go ahead.
5:03Good evening, everybody.
5:0599 River Road is the location of the Howard Avenue pumping station.
5:10This petition is associated with a new electrical service that is required required as part of DPI's complete upgrade and replacement of that station.
5:21If you drive down Howard Avenue and River Road right now, there is a lot of construction activity going down— happening down there.
5:28And replacement of the station is part of that work.
5:31We are required under our 2019 administrative order with the EPA to replace the station, which we are actively doing.
5:39And ultimately it will help reduce combined sewer overflow discharges to the New Bedford Inner Harbor.
5:46So with that, I am requesting, uh, asking the permission of the council for approval of this petition to install the new electrical service to the new pumping station.
6:00Councilor, thank you very much, Mr. President.
6:02Sean, is, um, the work is presently going on down there, am I correct?
6:07It is correct, yes.
6:09And how far along are they already?
6:14They've been doing a lot of the underground piping work on River Road, so they haven't started on the pumping station yet.
6:21They've only done some site work.
6:23They need to do this first because they have to remove some overhead wires that cut across the site.
6:29And in order to get the cranes in there and the equipment to build it, we've got to get the wires down.
6:32And in order to do that, we have to do this replacement first.
6:36This runs just north of Wood Street, correct?
6:41Just south of Wood Street.
6:43South of Wood Street.
6:44They've been in all that area there, and I wasn't sure.
6:46There's plates down and everything, the work that's being done.
6:49Correct.
6:50Okay.
6:50All right.
6:51Thank you.
6:52Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
6:53Thank you, Mr. President.
6:54I'm sorry.
6:54Thank you, Councilor.
6:55I apologize if I didn't see you before.
6:56Thank you, Mr. President.
6:58Hi, how are you?
6:59I'm great.
6:59How are you?
6:59Great.
7:00So I was driving down Howard Ave today, and I was surprised because I couldn't go over the bridge over the river.
7:05How do you know if the work is connected?
7:08Oh, I was not aware of that.
7:09I'm sorry.
7:10You're sorry for the bridge closure?
7:12I was just wondering if you knew the work was connected and if you could let the public know, like, hey, yeah, it's connected and the bridge will be closed until— I woke into that.
7:21I was not aware that the bridge was closed.
7:23I know that they are working at the intersection of Wood Street and River Road, but if that is associated with our project, then I will definitely look into that.
7:33Thank you.
7:34Thank you, Mr.— Thank you, Councilor.
7:36Anyone else for Sean?
7:39Okay, this is a public hearing.
7:41I'm going to ask if any— Councilor Gomes, do you have a question?
7:44Yeah, I had a question.
7:45I just want to know how important this is that we get this through this evening.
7:50As you know, Mr. President, you— I'm sure you've been up in the area, and my other colleagues— there's major work going on in this area.
7:56It's Councillor Roy has just stated, they even might have shut down the bridge today for some other work that's going on.
8:02If there is a need for us to move this along, I would— through you to Sean, I want to know that.
8:09Sean?
8:10Uh, 100%, yes, we would definitely like to push this along because if we have to wait another month, then that's just going to push the contractor schedule out another month from being able to get in there and start working on the site itself.
8:21Thank you, Mr. President.
8:22Just wanted to get that clarification for myself and the colleagues.
8:25And Uh, Councilor, um, I did have a conversation with Attorney Gerotowski up here at the dais.
8:31Um, he did inform me it is a public hearing, so a resource does not technically need to be here to present for us to take action.
8:38However, it is normal that they are here to present.
8:41If this is an exception the body is willing to make, that we can entertain that.
8:44I will still go through the public hearing process, and then it'll be up to this body to either close the public hearing or continue the public Thank you, Mr. President.
8:52Okay, thank you, Councilor.
8:54All right, um, any other questions for Sean's side?
9:01Okay, thank you, Sean.
9:02Thank you, Chair.
9:06The— at this, um, at this time, it is a public hearing.
9:09I will ask if there are any members of the public who wishes to speak in favor of this project.
9:17Speak in favor.
9:18Does any member of the public wish to be recorded in favor?
9:21Be recorded in favor.
9:24Would any member of the public wish to speak in opposition?
9:27Speak in opposition.
9:30Would any member of the public wish to be recorded in opposition?
9:34To be recorded in opposition.
9:37Okay, seeing no more comment from the audience, from the public, your pleasure, colleagues.
9:43Motion to close the public hearing.
9:45And approve the order.
9:46Can it go both at the same time?
9:48Um, yeah, we could do both at the same time.
9:50All right, right.
9:52Okay, motion to close the public hearing and adopt the order made by Councilor Roy, seconded by Councilor Gomes.
9:57Anyone on the question?
9:59All those in favor say aye.
10:01Aye.
10:01Opposed?
10:02The ayes have it.
10:03I'll ask the clerk to read item number 1.
10:06Mr. President, M1 is communication from the mayor to the city council submitting a veto of the ordinance amending Chapter 19 of the city code relative to paid family leave.
10:15The veto was received in the City Council office on July 10th, 2026.
10:19M1A is the ordinance.
10:21Motion to receive and spread on the record.
10:24Motion to receive and spread on the record made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Abreu.
10:32Anyone on the question?
10:33Chair recognizes Councilor Burgos.
10:36Thank you, Mr. President, and those who seconded.
10:41Tonight before us is the mayor's veto of our paid family leave ordinance.
10:45Procedurally, all we are doing this evening is receiving and placing it on file and spreading it upon the record.
10:50At our next meeting, this council will have the opportunity to decide whether to sustain the mayor's veto or override it.
10:58Mr. President, at the appropriate time, I would also like to receive and place on file my written response to the mayor's veto into the record.
11:05While I won't read the entire statement this evening.
11:08I believe it is important that it become part of the official record because it addresses point by point why I believe the mayor's objections are unsupported and why this ordinance remains good public policy.
11:19This ordinance did not appear overnight.
11:22We have been working on this legislation since 2023.
11:27It has been discussed through multiple different personnel directors.
11:31We sought feedback from the administration We revised language.
11:35We addressed concerns.
11:38When meaningful progress stalled, this council directed our legislative counsel to draft the ordinance because we believed our employees deserved action, not endless delays.
11:50Yet, after nearly 3 years of work, the mayor's veto offers hypothetical scenarios and speculative concerns.
12:00But very little evidence that this ordinance is unworkable.
12:04What has been missing throughout this discussion has been the voices of the employees this ordinance was actually written to help.
12:11So I want to share, after issuing my statement today, a couple of the city employees that commented.
12:18One mother wrote, currently using all of my sick vacation and PTO time while on parental leave.
12:25It took me 4 years to accrue enough time to have any paid leave when my daughter was born.
12:31It's a systemic problem for the whole country, but really unfortunate when the state offers paid leave programs that are rejected by an employer.
12:40Think about that.
12:414 years of saving every hour of earned leave just so she could afford to stay home with her newborn child.
12:48Another employee, a father, shared this.
12:52Just had to use 8 weeks of sick time for the birth of my twins, who spent 2 weeks in the hospital.
13:00These are not hypothetical situations.
13:04These aren't projections.
13:06These are the lived experiences of the men and women who come to work every day to serve the residents of New Bedford.
13:13These employees shouldn't have to choose between being present for one of the most important important moments of their lives and protecting the paycheck their family depends on.
13:22They shouldn't have to spend years stockpiling vacation and sick leave simply to welcome a child into the world, only to return to work with nothing left if they or their family face another emergency.
13:35That is the problem this ordinance seeks to solve.
13:39What kind of employer do we want the City of New Bedford to be?
13:42Do we want to continue asking our employees to sacrifice for the city while offering little support in return?
13:50Or do we want to demonstrate that we value the people who keep this city running every single day?
13:57Our employees show up for this city.
13:59They plow our streets, answer emergency calls, inspect our buildings, maintain our parks, process permits, protect public health, and provide countless services our residents rely on every day.
14:13Tonight we begin the process of standing up for them.
14:16Tonight is not the override vote, but it is the first step toward telling every city employee that this council recognizes their sacrifices, it values their families, and believes they should never have to choose between caring for a newborn child and earning a paycheck.
14:33I look forward to the discussion at our next meeting, and I remain hopeful that this council will come together to override this veto and reaffirm that New Bedford is a city that stands with the employees and families who make our community stronger.
14:47Thank you.
14:48Thank you, Councilor.
14:50Anyone else?
14:53Motion has been made to receive and spread on the record.
14:56It has been duly seconded.
14:58Uh, anyone on the— uh, sorry, all those in favor say aye.
15:03Opposed?
15:04The ayes have it.
15:05We'll ask the clerk to read item M2.
15:07Mr. President, M2 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $37,154 from mayor purchase of services to mayor other charges and expenses.
15:17M2A is the order.
15:19Motion to refer to the Committee on Finance.
15:21Motion's been made to refer to finance.
15:23Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Roy.
15:25Anyone on the question?
15:26All those in favor say aye.
15:27Aye.
15:28Opposed, the ayes have it.
15:29I'll ask the clerk to read item number 3, M3.
15:31Mr. President, without objection, could we read M3, M4, M5, and M6 all together?
15:38Motion is sever M6.
15:40Oh, so M3 through M5A.
15:47I will ask the clerk to read M3 through M5A.
15:49Mr. President, M3 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $2,000 from assessors purchased of Services to Assessors, Other Charges and Expenses.
15:58M4 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $650 from Labor Relations Purchase of Services to Labor Relations Other Charges and Expenses.
16:09And M5 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $157,791 from School General Expense to School Transportation.
16:18M5A is the order.
16:20Motion to adopt.
16:21Motion to refer to the Committee on Finance.
16:25Motion to refer to Finance.
16:27Motion to refer to Finance made by Councillor Burgos, seconded by Councillor April, I think.
16:33Anyone on the question on referral?
16:37All those in favor say aye.
16:38Aye.
16:39Opposed?
16:39The ayes have it.
16:41We'll ask the clerk to read under M6.
16:43Mr. President, M6 is a communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $395,000 from Zaitarian Theatre Support applies to Zaitarian Theater purchase of services.
16:52M6A is the order.
16:56Motion to refer to Finance.
16:58Motion to refer to Finance made by Councilor Burgo.
17:01Second by Councilor Oliver.
17:02Anyone on the question?
17:04All those in favor say aye.
17:05Aye.
17:06Opposed, the ayes have it.
17:07I'll ask the clerk to read item M7.
17:08Mr. President, M7 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting the appointment of Gerald L. Ribeiro of New Bedford as a constable M7A is his application.
17:19Motion referred to the Special Committee on Permits.
17:23Did I get that right?
17:24Motion to refer to the Special Committee on Licensing.
17:26Sorry, Permits and Licensing, made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Abreu.
17:31Anyone on the question?
17:32All those in favor say aye.
17:34Opposed, the ayes have it.
17:35I'll ask the clerk to read item 2.
17:37Mr. President, item 2 is a loan order appropriated $220,400,000 for the purpose of financing the cost of projects outlined in the city's long-term CSO Control and Integrated Capital Improvement Plan.
17:49Motion to adopt.
17:51Motion to adopt made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor, um, Abreu.
17:56Excuse me, roll call vote.
17:59Councilor Abreu?
18:01Yes.
18:01Councilor Baptiste?
18:02Yes.
18:02Yes.
18:03Councilor Burgo?
18:04Yes.
18:04Yes.
18:05Councilor Carney?
18:05Yes.
18:06Yes.
18:06Councilor Choquette?
18:07Yes.
18:08Yes.
18:08Councilor Gomes?
18:09Yes.
18:10Yes.
18:10Councilor Oliver?
18:11Yes.
18:11Yes.
18:12Councilor Pereira?
18:12Yes.
18:13Yes.
18:13Councilor Roy?
18:14Yes.
18:15Yes.
18:15Passes 9-0.
18:16Item passes 9-0.
18:19I will ask the clerk to read item number 3, please.
18:21Mr. President, item 3 is an ordinance amending Chapter 16 of the Municipal Utilities and Services, Section 16-94, rate charges.
18:30Pass to be ordained.
18:32Moved to pass to be ordained, made by Councilor Bergo, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.
18:37Uh, anyone on the question?
18:39I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.
18:41Councilor Abramowicz?
18:42Yes.
18:42Councilor Baptiste?
18:43Yes.
18:44Yes.
18:44Councilor Bergo?
18:45Yes.
18:45Yes.
18:46Councilor Carney?
18:46No.
18:47No.
18:47Councilor Choquette?
18:49Yes.
18:49Councilor Gomes?
18:52Yes.
18:52Councilor Oliver?
18:54Yes.
18:54Yes.
18:54Councilor Pereira?
18:55Yes.
18:56Yes.
18:56Councilor Roy?
18:57Yeah.
18:58Yes.
18:58Passes 8 to 1, Mr. President.
19:00Item Sorry, item passes 8 to 1.
19:04I'll ask the clerk to read item number 4, please.
19:06Mr. President, item— do you want to do these together?
19:084, 5, 6, and then I can start on the announcements if you want.
19:11Yeah.
19:11Yes, that's fine.
19:13You want to announce it or no?
19:17Oh, sorry.
19:19Without objection, the chair will take items 4 through 6A together.
19:23Mr. President, item 4 is a report from the Committee on Appointments and Briefings recommending the City Council approval of the reappointment of Ricard Resendiz of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the Licensing Board.
19:33Item 5 is a report from the Committee on Appointments and Briefings recommending the City Council approval of the appointment of Lara Harrington of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the Airport Commission.
19:41And Item 6 is a report from the Committee on Appointments and Briefings recommending to the Council approval of the appointment of Craig Espinola to the Steamship Authority Board of Governors.
19:50Your pleasure, colleagues.
19:52Motion to receive the file and grant the appointments.
19:55Motion to waive Rule 40.
19:56Motion to grant the appointment by Councilor Oliver and waive Rule 40, made by Councilor Oliver, seconded by Councilor Burgo.
20:03Anyone on the question?
20:05I will ask the clerk to call the roll on waiving Rule 40 and granting the appointments.
20:10Councilor Abreu?
20:11Yes.
20:11Councilor Baptiste?
20:13Yes.
20:13Councilor Burgo?
20:14Yes.
20:14Yes.
20:15Councilor Carney?
20:15Yes.
20:16Yes.
20:17Councilor Chilcott?
20:18Yes.
20:18Yes.
20:18Councilor Gomes.
20:19Yes.
20:20Yes.
20:20Councilor Oliver.
20:21Yes.
20:22Yes.
20:22Councilor Pereira.
20:23Yes.
20:23Yes.
20:24Councilor Roy.
20:25Yes.
20:25Yes.
20:27Item passes 9 to 0.
20:29I will ask the clerk to swear in our members.
20:32Uh, I see Ricard Resendiz here.
20:35If he wants to go first, he's up first.
20:52I, Ricardo Resendiz, solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially perform my duties as a member of the licensing board in accordance with the laws and the Constitution of the United States.
21:09Of the United States, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the charter and ordinances of the city of New Bedford, and the charter and ordinances of the city of New Bedford, so help me God.
21:18So help me God.
21:31Cheers.
21:34Up next, Laura Harrington is here.
21:43I, state your full name.
21:45I, Laura Harrington.
21:46Do solemnly swear.
21:47Do solemnly swear.
21:48That I will faithfully and impartially.
21:49That I will faithfully and impartially.
21:51Perform my duties.
21:52Perform my duties.
21:53As a member of the Airport Commission.
21:55As a member of the Airport Commission.
21:56In accordance with the laws.
21:58In accordance with the laws.
21:59And the Constitution of the United States.
22:00United States and the Constitution of the United States, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Charter and Ordinances, and the Charter and Ordinances of the City of New Bedford.
22:09So help me God.
22:11Thank you.
22:29The chair would just like to, uh, congratulate Craig Gaspinola.
22:32He is not here, but wish him good luck on behalf of the body.
22:35Uh, he will be sworn in at a later time in the clerk's office.
22:38I'll ask the clerk to read item number 7, please.
22:40Mr. President, item 7 is a report from the Committee on Finance recommending the City Council approval of the CPA annual budget for FY27 for committee administrative expenses and community preservation projects in FY27.
22:527A is the communication.
22:55Motion to receive and place on file and adopt.
23:00Motion to adopt the budget made by Councilor Burgo.
23:03Second.
23:03Seconded by Councilor Carney.
23:04Anyone on the question?
23:06All those in favor say aye.
23:07Aye.
23:08Opposed?
23:09The ayes have it.
23:10We'll ask the clerk to read item number 8, please.
23:13Mr. President, item 8 is a report from the Committee on Ordinances recommending the City Council Approval, approval of an ordinance amending Chapter 9 zoning establishing form-based, uh, code districts.
23:248A is the ordinance.
23:26Pass to a second reading.
23:27Second.
23:29Um, to just clarify, so we'll have a motion to pass to a second reading in the new version that was received by the clerk's office, okay, which included the changes the committee requested.
23:39Just to make the general public aware, this report includes the new version that took a few days to get to this body.
23:46So it is before us, has been passed to a second— passed to a second reading made by Councilor Liburgo.
23:51It was seconded by Councilor Carney, I believe.
23:53Anyone on the question?
23:55All those in favor of passing to a second reading say aye.
23:57Aye.
23:58Opposed?
23:58The ayes have it.
23:59We'll ask the clerk to read item number 9, please.
24:02Mr. President, item 9 is report from the Committee on Ordinances recommending to the council adoption of an order increasing the administrative and fees for vital record amendments from $40 to $50, and for business certificates, DBA licenses, from $40 to $50.
24:169A is the order.
24:18Motion to receive and place on file and adopt the order.
24:21Second.
24:21Motion to adopt the order made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Carney.
24:24Anyone on the question?
24:26All those in favor say aye.
24:27Aye.
24:28Opposed?
24:28The ayes have it.
24:29I will ask the clerk to read item number 10.
24:31Mr. President, item 10 is report from the Committee on City Property recommending the City Council approve of a proposal submitted by South Coast Investments Incorporated for the development of Fire Station Number 3, located at 834 Kempton Street, and approval of the proposal submitted by Gavush Development for the development of Fire Station Number 11, located at 754 Brock Avenue.
24:5010A is the order, 10B and 10C are the proposals.
24:54Motion to refer to the Committee on City Property.
24:56Motion to refer to this Committee on City Property made by Councilor Lobergo.
25:00Second by Councilor Roy.
25:02All those in favor say aye.
25:04Opposed, the ayes have it.
25:06Mr. President, yes, uh, waive the reading of items 11 through 25A and take no further action.
25:13Motion to waive the readings on 11 through 25A and take no further action, made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.
25:20Anyone on the question?
25:21All those in favor say aye.
25:23Opposed, the ayes have it.
25:29I will ask the clerk to read item number 26, please.
25:32Mr. President, item 26 is a written motion from Councilors Abreu and Lopes requesting that Chief Financial Officer Bob Ekstrom and representatives of the Mitchell administration provide the City Council with a detailed accounting of the city's planned allocation and use of the $713,441.91 received through the Commonwealth's Winter Recovery Assistance Program awarded to New Bedford based on its 269.4 4.8 miles of locally owned roadway.
25:59And further, that the administration indicate whether these funds will be utilized to offset FY26 snow and ice expenditures, reduce any existing snow and ice deficit, replenish previously appropriated municipal funds, support the amortization efforts authorized under Chapter 101 of the Acts of 2026, or be allocated for another authorized purpose, and provide the anticipated fiscal impact on the city's FY27 budget Excuse me, and tax rate.
26:262 ways of communication.
26:2726A.
26:29Second.
26:30Motion to follow the recommendation made by Councilor Abreu.
26:32Second by Councilor Burgo.
26:33The chair recognizes Councilor Abreu.
26:35Thanks a bunch, Mr. President.
26:36So again, I rise to support this motion.
26:39I want to thank Councilor Lopes, this year's finance chairman, for co-sponsoring, and I hope that my colleagues will join me in securing the passage of this motion to go to the Finance Committee for a discussion.
26:49I mean, we're talking about $713,441.91, uh, that the Commonwealth during the Winter Recovery Assistance Program known as WRAP, they have allocated to the city of New Bedford.
27:03We all know, and remember, we asked this question of the administration a few months ago to both our CFO and the mayor's chief of staff.
27:10They weren't even aware that we'd be receiving this tranche of money.
27:13I had to let them know through the Mass Municipal Association, and this was coming down the pike.
27:18So I'm glad we're getting this money.
27:20As we remember, this past winter presented extraordinary challenges for this community.
27:26We experienced historic snowfall, prolonged winter events, schools were shut down, and it put a significant demand on our DPI, our DFFM, our public school employees, and those who had to try to navigate these streets and go to work for that week plus during the storm and the blizzard of 2026, which brought in some places 41 to 44 inches of snow based off of the drifts.
27:52So the Commonwealth, to their credit— I'll stand up here sometimes, we talk about Beacon Hill and bureaucrats, but I'll also be fair.
27:59I'll give credit where it's due.
28:00The Commonwealth recognized those challenges.
28:03And if our delegation had a role in that, thank you to them as well.
28:06They recognized those challenges.
28:08Awarded New Bedford more than $713,000 based on, as I said in the motion, we own over 270 miles of roadway.
28:17So this money could provide some nice financial relief to us, some of the expenses that were already laid out, and we'll see where this goes.
28:24I mean, I think the purpose of this motion is pretty, pretty straightforward.
28:29Um, so let's find out what our plan is for this, uh, rather large tranche of money.
28:35I mean, will these monies that we're going to receive— will this reduce or eliminate any snow ice deficit, or will it replenish municipal funds?
28:43Where's it going to go?
28:44What are we going to do with it?
28:45So it's worth the discussion, it's worth the dialogue, and I would appreciate and respectfully ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this very important item to refer to the Finance Committee.
28:55Thank you, Mr. President.
28:56Thank you, Councilor.
28:57Anyone else?
28:59Motion has been made and seconded to refer to the Committee on Finance, Mitchell Administration, and Chief Financial Officer Ekstrom.
29:05All those in favor say aye.
29:07Opposed, the ayes have it.
29:08I will ask the clerk to read item 27.
29:10Mr. President, item 27 is a written motion from Councilor Lopes requesting that the City of New Bedford Election Commission and the Mitchell administration provide the Committee on Appointments and Briefings with an update regarding the city's compliance with the requirements of Mass General Law Chapter 51, Section 6, pertaining to the preparation and maintenance of the annual census and street lists.
29:32Motion to refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings the Election Commission and the Mitchell administration.
29:37Motion to refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings Elections Commission and Mitchell administration made by Councilor Burgow.
29:43Second by Councilor Oliver.
29:44All those in favor say aye.
29:46Opposed, the ayes have it.
29:48I'll ask the clerk to read item 28, please.
29:50Mr. President, item 28 is a written motion from Councilor Burgow requesting that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration consideration of the following matters: of a communication, an order, and easement submitted by the mayor that the city accept a grant of easement from the Mass Department of Transportation for the new pedestrian bridge over Route 18.
30:0828A is the communication, 28B is the order, and 28C is the easement.
30:13Motion to discharge from committee.
30:16Motion to discharge the committee, made by Councilor Lobergo.
30:19Second.
30:19Seconded by Councilor Baptiste.
30:21On the question of discharging, Chair recognizes Councilor Lobergo.
30:24Thank you, Mr. President.
30:27So I'm asking to have this discharged in this way mainly because this has been in committee for quite some time.
30:35We know for some of the reasons, very understandable reasons, but in this case it's been there for quite some time.
30:41I'll speak more so on why we should approve it once it's properly before us, but in this case time is of the essence.
30:48I would, I guess, selfishly like to have this discharged because I'd like it approved in July so we can have the bridge dedicated during, as we know, Cabo Verdean Heritage Month, which this council approved during last year.
31:02So I would ask my colleagues to support this discharge so it can be properly before us, and then during the motion to adopt, I can discuss the reasons at that time.
31:12Thank you.
31:13Thank you, Councilor.
31:16Any— uh, Councilor Oliver, sorry.
31:20Thank you, Mr. President.
31:21Um, this— I, I stand in support of discharging it, and I understand the reasons why my colleagues spoke before me about the dedication of the bridge.
31:32Um, this is in committee because we had some concerns with the easement and who was going to pay for maintenance and whatnot.
31:40And I'll speak more to that when it comes time to, to vote on that properly.
31:48So I recognize why this— why the motion is in front of us to discharge it.
31:55I support that.
31:56I don't support the overall adoption of the bridge because we still have some overall concerns about the maintenance.
32:03And every— there's not a day that I drive by that bridge that a new light is burnt out or something is going on.
32:10And I just think that we are caught holding the bag here.
32:14And I still would like to have discussions with the state delegation as far as what they can do, if anything, to continue to help us with that bridge.
32:24The bridge is great, it's beautiful, it's pretty, but now we're left holding the bag.
32:28But I do understand the importance of rededicating that bridge, especially in the month of July.
32:33So thank you.
32:35Thank you.
32:37Anyone else on discharging?
32:40Okay, I will ask the clerk to call the roll of discharging the committee.
32:44Councilor Rabroux, on discharging the committee?
32:49Yes.
32:50Yes.
32:50Councilor Baptiste?
32:50Yes.
32:51Yes.
32:51Councilor Burgos?
32:52Yes.
32:53Yes.
32:53Councilor Carney?
32:55No.
32:55Councilor Chouquette?
32:56Yes.
32:57Yes.
32:57Councilor Gomes?
32:59Yes.
32:59Councilor Oliver?
33:00Yes.
33:01Yes.
33:01Councilor Pereira?
33:02Yes.
33:03Yes.
33:03Councilor Roy?
33:05Yes.
33:06Yes.
33:06Passes 8 to 1, Mr. President.
33:08Item passes 8 to 1.
33:10Motion to adopt.
33:11Motion to adopt the order and grant the easement made by Councilor Burgo.
33:15Seconded by Councilor, um, Abreu.
33:17Sorry.
33:18Chair recognizes Councilor Burgo.
33:20Thank you.
33:21Um, I appreciate my colleagues for supporting this discharge Again, the reasons for supporting this.
33:29I do agree with my colleague from Ward 3.
33:33We know that maintenance of a bridge, especially one that has 2 elevators, is costly.
33:38I do agree with our colleague, former Councilor Morad at the time, and the chairman of finance, Joseph Lopes.
33:49Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry.
33:51He's going to be mad.
33:52I always do that.
33:53They both were concerned at the time when we sued the state to get more money for this bridge.
34:00And at the time, we were hoping that a special fund would have been created.
34:04And I am in full support of that.
34:06We had attempted to work with this administration, but as we know, this administration only works with himself.
34:14And he denied that.
34:15And so unfortunately, It was bottled up in committee all this time.
34:19It continues to, and that's why I'm thankful that we got it out of committee because it is wasteful to sit there because as we know, the city has been responsible for the maintenance of this bridge even with it being bottled up.
34:30Our DFFM budget has already budgeted for maintenance of this bridge.
34:36I've gotten phone calls, I don't know if any of my other colleagues have, when unhoused individuals have used the elevators to as a bathroom because we know this administration has closed bathrooms downtown.
34:48So unfortunately, people have used the elevators to defecate or urinate, and the state's not cleaning it up.
34:54Our personnel are cleaning it up.
34:56So even trying to keep it in committee has not stopped the city from footing the bill.
35:02The only thing that this has stopped is the family, the Andre Lopes family, which is who the bridge is named after, from having their dedication and granting the easement.
35:13So that's why today I'm asking my colleagues to support this adoption, so that way again Andre Lopes, who is of Cape Verdean heritage, can celebrate with— well, not him, I apologize, he's passed— but his family can celebrate this honor and we can finally have that dedication.
35:29Thank you.
35:31Thank you, Councilor.
35:32Chair recognizes Councilor Carney.
35:34Yes, thank you, Mr.
35:35Chair.
35:36Um, I will not be supporting this bridge easement at this time.
35:41I do believe there's a lot more discussion to be had with our state delegation.
35:44It's not only the elevators, it's the lights, it's the maintenance of the entire bridge.
35:49It's a big ticket item.
35:51I know we've been maintaining that elevator, DFFM has been doing that, but there's lights on there, there's lights that have to be replaced, there's all kinds of other issues that that come with that bridge.
36:02So I would like to have some more, more discussion before any easement is granted with our state delegation to find out if they're going to chip in, because technically that part of Route 18 belongs to the state.
36:14We own from Union Street down to Cove Road, but that part is state property.
36:20So I think that they should be chipping in and helping us with the maintenance.
36:24We do not have money.
36:26Am I going to ask my taxpayers for more money for lights that are out in that bridge to be fixed?
36:31Am I going to ask the taxpayers for any girders or, or bolts or something that happens in that bridge?
36:38Yes, they're cleaning the elevator, but that's all they're doing right now.
36:41But there's going to be a lot more done to make bridge maintenance down the road.
36:44So I'm hoping my colleagues keep it.
36:47Do not do that until we actually talk with our state delegation.
36:50Thank you very much, Mr.
36:51Chair.
36:53Mr. President.
36:55Sorry.
36:55Thank you.
36:56Chairing Council Oliver.
36:59Thank you, Mr. President.
37:00I agree with both my colleagues that spoke before me, but I cannot support the, the adoption of the easement because of the concerns that I had as far as overall maintenance.
37:12$22 million bridge for the MBTA commuter rail or intercity rail or whatever they want to call it.
37:22And we're left holding the bag as far as maintenance.
37:26Now, I can't speak for other councils before me, but I can speak for the one that— the body that I'm on right now.
37:33I believe that we should continue having the conversations with our state delegation, even though that every time that we either contact them or invite them, we get nowhere.
37:46But I'm, I'm committed to continuing to bang the drum to see if we can get additional aid for this bridge, because like I said, with, with it comes great maintenance and with that comes great cost to the ratepayers of the city of New Bedford.
37:58Thank you.
38:01Thank you, Councilor Baptiste.
38:02Thank you, Mr. President.
38:04I'm in agreeance with the good councilor from Purchase Street.
38:09You know, in Cape Verdean Heritage Month, we would like to dedicate this bridge.
38:14And I know everybody's worried about the taxpayers and what they're saying about, you know, this easement is going to be on the taxpayers' shoulders.
38:22FYI, it's already on the taxpayers' shoulders.
38:25It was on— it was in DFFM's budget.
38:27So if you read the budget, you would know that the bridge and all the maintenance at the bridge was in the budget.
38:32So it's already on the taxpayers' shoulders right now.
38:36So now what we have to do is just we're eating it anyway, you know, so we might as well, you know, give this family what they— what they just do, right, and continue.
38:48And like, like you said, uh, the councilor from Ward 3 says, we keep on inviting the state and we're going to keep on inviting the state and they're, they're going to keep on not coming and we're going to drag this out and drag this out and they're not going to show up and we're still going to hold the bag.
38:59So no matter what's going to happen, we're still going to hold the bag.
39:03So So if we're going to hold the bag for it anyway, we might as well own it, dedicate it, and work on what we have to do to keep it up and make sure that we're keeping the taxes down so that it don't hurt us.
39:14Right.
39:14Because it's already here.
39:15So let's make sure it don't hurt us.
39:17Thank you.
39:17And I yield the floor.
39:21Thank you, Councilor.
39:22All right.
39:23Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.
39:25Opposed?
39:27The ayes have it.
39:30I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.
39:33Councilor Avery?
39:34Yes.
39:35Councilor Baptiste?
39:36Yes.
39:36Yes.
39:36Councilor Burgos?
39:37Yes.
39:38Yes.
39:38Councilor Carney?
39:39No.
39:40No.
39:40Councilor Choquette?
39:41Yes.
39:42Yes.
39:43Councilor Gomes?
39:47Yes.
39:48Yes.
39:49Councilor Oliver?
39:50No.
39:50No.
39:51Councilor Pereira?
39:51Yes.
39:52Yes.
39:53Councilor Roy?
39:54Yes.
39:55Yes, item passes 7 to 2.
39:58All right, item number 29 is before us.
40:02Mr. President, item 29 is a written motion from Councilor Gomes requesting the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with the Whaling City Festival President Michael Sylvia along with the New Bedford Police Chief Thody and his command staff for the purposes of discussing future security procedures during the 4-day festival.
40:18Motion is Second.
40:21Motion to refer to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods made by Councilor Gomes, seconded by Councilor Roy.
40:26On the question, the chair recognizes Councilor Gomes.
40:28Good evening, Mr. President, and thank you for the opportunity.
40:31I'm going to rise just because I think this needs the attention of the people.
40:36I, um, have been watching what is happening with the Wheeling City Festival, and as a creator of the monster that— and I use that in a very lightly term I was part of what created the festival into rides, entertainment, TV stations, radio stations, laser light shows, and it goes on and on.
40:58And, um, I've seen thousands and hundreds of thousands of people having a good time at the Wheeling City Festival.
41:04And because there's a selected few of, um, people that decided on Saturday night to create a disturbance outside of the Wheeling City Festival.
41:14The Whaling City Festival now suffers again.
41:17We've already backed the time down from 9 o'clock.
41:20Many of you that sit in this room remember when the festival was open till 11 o'clock at night, when we sat hundreds of thousands and thousands of people on the green on Rock Hill Avenue to watch a laser light show.
41:30Not only that, but bringing in tracked acts from Lizette Mendez to Maki Mox and the Funky Bunch.
41:36If you've heard me talk about it here before, parking cars in the gully on 1 party.
41:41That's what we created, and it was a good thing for the people of this city.
41:45The Whaling City Festival is a good thing for the middle-class people and some people that don't have $5,000, $7,000 to go off to Disney.
41:53They can take their kids for a couple of hundred dollars and enjoy a night of activity and fun.
41:58And the most important thing about this is we keep trying to bang the Whaling City Festival.
42:03This is— this problem has come from society, from our young people who choose to go to these things and create a disturbance.
42:10Should we look at the security of this?
42:12Yes.
42:12Should we cage the pack in?
42:14No.
42:14That atmosphere is not going to look good.
42:16Should we match it up to what's going on with the Portuguese Feast?
42:21Totally different animals you're dealing with.
42:23This is family-oriented.
42:25It's been going on for nearly 50 years, and I'm glad to have been a part of it, and I'm glad to, as I said in the beginning, and I'm not patting myself on the shoulder, but I created the monster.
42:36I created the monster with $1,000 from the committee, getting ABC 6, Channel 10, all of them involved.
42:42They were actually fighting at times who was going to bring in a celebrity, who wasn't going to bring this.
42:48It's a success story, and it's one that should remain for the good of the city of New Bedford, for the people of the city of New Bedford.
42:55I understand the concerns of the neighborhood, the willingness to Festival has tried to address that issue— excuse me— has tried to address that issue, taking every avenue to clean the neighborhood after, the changing of streets or whatever.
43:09And you— I remember, and I still see it, is many people take the opportunity in that neighborhood to have their family and friends over during the Whaling City Festival.
43:19They also take the opportunity to run yard sales.
43:21They also take the opportunity to just enjoy what is going on in their neighborhood.
43:27And it's only 3 nights.
43:28It used to be 4.
43:29We used to kick that thing off on Thursday night.
43:32Thursday, Friday, Saturday night.
43:34And remember, Mr. President, you're younger than me, but I can close my eyes and I can still see the lighting throughout the park and see the families having a good time and see us not having a problem.
43:44There's a problem with society if we're shutting down things because these young people are disturbing us.
43:49It's out of control.
43:50Look what's happening at the mall.
43:52I'm a former employee up at the mall.
43:54I worked loss prevention up at the mall for many years, after— and actually one year after I was elected.
44:00But I was afraid after a while that somebody would say that I was violating somebody's rights or something because we had arrestable rights.
44:08Worked with Jeff LeClaire, many others that came— went on to be police officers, and I decided to run for political office.
44:15And let me tell you, that was the place to be.
44:17But you, you had standards, you had a foundation that you came from.
44:21And your parents dropped you off at 6 o'clock, you were told see the movie, whatever, pick you up at 10 at Sears.
44:27That— it's affecting everything.
44:29And if you look at this, you blame the Wheeling City Festival, look at what has happened in the past few weeks at different things that are going on.
44:36It's a matter of putting up security.
44:38You don't want to scare the hell out of people, but I can already solve this problem.
44:42And I told you in this body before, and maybe Councilor Carney is the only one remaining to understand, um, the Sheriff's Department used to assist us with the Winnebago, setting the camera up so that we can— we now have portable cameras in this city that we can put up.
44:56I've talked about drones in this city.
44:58I'm glad to see that some people now coming over to the drones, because you see the light, and when you see the light, you got to jump on the flight.
45:04So come on, I'm going to be the pilot.
45:07Um, We can use drones.
45:09I don't want to scare the heck out of people, and I don't want to cage a festival in a beautiful, beautiful park that should look like we're putting people in jail.
45:19People should still be able to get out of their cars down on Arnold Street, Maple Street, walk into the park, enjoy the festivities that are going on there.
45:27I appreciate you giving me the time to speak, but I want to speak on behalf of the Wayland City Festival, and I hope my colleagues will support me.
45:34The mayor has an idea of moving the festival.
45:37That's not a good idea, Mr. President.
45:39The mayor has an idea of cutting down the time.
45:42That's not a good idea, Mr. President.
45:45The mayor has an idea of— he'd been wanting to choke this thing for a long time for some reason, because this doesn't fit into the mayor.
45:52And I'm sorry to say this, this doesn't fit into the mayor's category.
45:56Let me ask the mayor something and let him tell the public next Wednesday when he's on the radio.
46:00When was the last time he walked around the Wheeling City Festival?
46:04When was the last time he joined the people of this city at the Wheeling City Festival and walked around?
46:10That answer will be no.
46:11Thank you for the opportunity.
46:13Thank you, Councilor.
46:14Chair recognizes Councilor Abril.
46:16Thank you, Mr. President.
46:18Um, so I do support this motion, and to answer one question, I was there all 4 days.
46:24Uh, I didn't see him once, the mayor.
46:26So Opened that Thursday at 3 o'clock, went all the way through Sunday night.
46:31I was off and on throughout the weekend visiting, supporting.
46:34I didn't see him.
46:35But bad people are going to do bad things no matter what.
46:40And it seems like certain folks were looking for a reason to sort of fix the hours of this festival.
46:46Certain people were looking for a reason to use the festival as a scapegoat for issues that might be happening in the community.
46:55I mean, remember, this didn't even happen at the festival.
46:58This happened on Rockdale and Arnold and then the basketball courts.
47:02They may have been at the festival at one point, but again, it was a wide-open festival.
47:06It's a wide-open event.
47:08The reality is that I was there off and on for 4 different days and nights.
47:13I brought my children there.
47:15If I feel it's safe for my kids, I feel it's safe for anyone else's kids, and I really believe that.
47:20I put my money where my mouth was.
47:21I brought my children there.
47:22We spent hours and hours there.
47:24The wrestling, the vendors, the carnival.
47:27And the councilor spoke before me.
47:29You're absolutely correct, Councilor.
47:31I think, uh, the, the, uh, saying things that we might have to add more police detail, we have to change and amend the hours, that's just all a way to choke this thing out.
47:40It's all it is.
47:41Um, we know police details aren't cheap.
47:44They get No, they receive no assistance from this municipality, from this city.
47:49No grants, no budget line item in the mayor's office.
47:53DPI and DFFM don't eat any of the costs.
47:56It all gets passed on to the Wayland City Festival folks.
48:00And somebody might say, well, fixing it, going from 9 to 8, it's only 1 hour, it isn't a big deal.
48:06Trust me, it's a huge deal.
48:08Anyone who's been in business, that's run a business, that owns a business, They will tell you that hour is everything, okay?
48:15You talk to the folks at Fiesta Shows, the Dean family, E.J.
48:19Dean, Gene Dean, father and son team who run it.
48:22They run a first-class operation all over the Eastern Seaboard.
48:26They said that one hour, that makes or breaks them as far as getting it either at a net loss, a net neutral, or getting a little bit of a profit.
48:36Think of the staff.
48:37Think of the overhead.
48:38Think of what they have to pay.
48:39This is business, but they're providing a great service.
48:42We have to be cognizant of that.
48:43So, yeah, I mean, I definitely think we have to do something about this.
48:48We have to have the conversation.
48:49If I had my druthers, I'd like it to stay in Buttonwood Park, too.
48:52That's where it belongs.
48:53It's a great event.
48:55And unfortunately, there's always going to be bad actors in life.
48:59But to always tie it into one singular event isn't fair, isn't right.
49:04Um, because these people, these board members, they're volunteers.
49:08No one's getting paid.
49:09These are good men and women who are just doing the best they can for this community.
49:13Is it perfect?
49:14No, nothing is perfect, but they're trying their best.
49:17I speak with Mike and his team often.
49:19I know others in here do.
49:20They give me updates.
49:22They're trying their best.
49:23And I— and one last thing I'll say, what the Feast does— and I've been involved with the Feast for a while, I think many of you know that— is what they did is they had the police department at the table.
49:33They were partners with the Feast on the entire security apparatus, the security plan.
49:38That's what Mike— and I believe Councilor Gomes said the same thing on the radio— and I think that's what many others believe, and that's what I believe.
49:44I believe that, um, and even Mike acknowledges it, and I think he'll say it when he comes to committee.
49:49He wants the police department at the table.
49:51Let's figure out the plan together.
49:53Let's kind of create a synergy here.
49:54So hopefully good things will come in the future for this festival based on some plans.
49:59Thank you, Mr. President.
50:01Thank you, Councilor Abreu.
50:02Chair recognizes Councilor Baptiste.
50:03Thank you, Mr. President.
50:06We do not want to see the Wayland City Festival go, right?
50:09And we don't like to see things blamed for occurrences happening outside of the venue, right?
50:16I wish— I wish this outrage happened when they blamed the Cape Verdean Festival for somebody throwing a firecracker 3 hours after the festival.
50:243 blocks down the street that was nowhere near the festival.
50:27But, you know, that was quiet as kept and it was blamed on the Cape Verdean Festival.
50:30Unfortunately, this is what's going to happen at the Whalen City Festival.
50:34Being at the hospital Saturday night after 3 people got stabbed, I was at the hospital Saturday night, which I often am if there's violence in my ward.
50:43So, and I'm talking with the people at Shannon, talking with police officers and talking with residents around around the area that I know that live there.
50:51The unfortunate part about it is there was fights Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night stabbing.
50:58So that was an occurrence this year, and that was the same thing that happened last year.
51:04Talking to police officers at the hospital that night, they said they only had 9 cops detailed for the park that night.
51:119 cops detailed for the park.
51:13All them people, them vendors, Everybody going there.
51:17There was 9 cops detailed for that night.
51:19So I don't think that the problem is the festival.
51:22I think the problem is we need more detail, more people spread out, more people in different areas.
51:27And maybe it's, you know, and just having checkpoints of whatever they have to do.
51:33I think that, you know, we have to keep our festivals in this city our festivals, right?
51:38But we have to keep them safe and we have to keep people safe.
51:41And I don't think having all them, all them people in that park that night— our good counselor at large lives right across the street.
51:48There was tons of people in the park that night.
51:499 cops.
51:51That's, that's unacceptable.
51:52I don't know if they had to get the detail and that was the detail that they had to get.
51:56But that was the word I got from police officers at St. Luke's Hospital.
52:01They said there's more cops here right now protecting, making sure nobody gets into this building than there was at Barnwell Park, and that's a problem that we have.
52:09So I yield the floor on that, and hopefully we can get more safety and we can stop blaming people's individual actions on great festivals that we have in this city that have nothing to do with the festival.
52:22I yield.
52:23Thank you, Councilor.
52:24Uh, Councilor Carney.
52:27Thank you, Mr.
52:28Chair.
52:29I stand up to support my colleagues in the Swailing City Festival Don't make me laugh.
52:36So anyways, um, I have been living there.
52:40I've been with that festival for 35 years.
52:42I live 6 houses from the park.
52:45I've been dealing with the Wheeling City Festival for 35 years.
52:48My kids enjoyed it.
52:49I've enjoyed it.
52:51I didn't enjoy it Saturday night when I went— Sunday night when I went there and stood in line for 15 minutes and get my fried dough because they closed at 8 o'clock.
52:58So it was the next one over, but it was not in the festival.
53:05So anybody would hear that, it's not in the festival.
53:07It happened at the basketball courts.
53:10The Reggae Festival, there was a big brawl there of what, 150 kids that on the south end on the, on the pier.
53:17I've got pictures of that.
53:18There was a big brawl down there a month and a half ago.
53:23They didn't close down the beach.
53:24Beach is still there.
53:26What my problem is, is that we had that festival running for a very long time with the original festival people.
53:34That was packed.
53:35There was rows and rows of vendors.
53:38Everything was there.
53:40Then all of a sudden, when the mayor shut it down, vendors didn't come, the original people left, and thank God that the police department— the police association took it over because we We didn't have that, and it was very small.
53:52Now it's getting back to the festival that I remember, where now they're parking— I didn't have a problem parking the last couple years on my street.
54:00Now they're parking on all the individual streets, meaning there are more and more people coming to the festival.
54:07The incident that happened should not be a reason to close down early, to cordon off the festival.
54:14It happened at the basketball court.
54:16Courts.
54:16It happened further down at the end of the park.
54:21It didn't happen inside the festival grounds where people were and the kids were.
54:26So I do not see discussion with the police department.
54:30Do we need more details?
54:31Fine.
54:32But inside that park area, I was there Saturday night.
54:35I didn't leave there till quarter past 8 with my, my daughter-in-law and my 1-year-old granddaughter getting some food.
54:42Getting dinner there.
54:43I saw Councilor Abril there.
54:45I saw many people there walking around.
54:47In fact, Councilor Abril was handing out tickets everywhere.
54:50He had a slew of tickets given out to families that couldn't afford rides.
54:53He was just walking around with his family handing things out, which was— I commend him for doing that because a lot of people can't afford as many rides to go on.
55:01But I stand with my colleagues.
55:02Let's have some discussion on it, but let's not move the location.
55:06Listen, I lived at Sometimes it's a pain.
55:09I park my car, I know it's coming, I'm there.
55:11And so does everybody in the neighborhood.
55:13We're so used to it, let's keep it going.
55:15I want to keep it at the park.
55:17I want to keep it there for the 4 days.
55:19I don't want to corral it in.
55:21And let's keep the hours of operation.
55:22Let's just meet with the police officers and see what we can do to make it better.
55:26Thank you, Mr. President.
55:27Thank you.
55:28Anyone else on that first?
55:29Okay, Councilor Gomes on the second.
55:33Thank you very much.
55:33First, let me thank my colleagues for their support this evening on this issue and the continued support on behalf of Mike Sylvia and his staff, who, as it's been said here tonight, do a lot of volunteer work.
55:47Can the police— can we have more police?
55:49Yes, we can.
55:50But this is also very costly to these organizations.
55:53When I first got here and part of the City Council, we used to have a mayor, and I want to say Mayor Mayor Tierney, Mayor Careless, there might have been a little from Mayor Lang, I'm not sure, but there was an allotment of money in their budget that they spread it around to these festivals throughout the city.
56:10We had a North End and South End Business Association.
56:14If they gave $5,000 to $7,000 to the Wheeling City Festival, I know for a fact that that would have gone to security.
56:22What I'm saying is that we also have to support these.
56:25We— there is support that comes from the city departments, laying down the water, all them other things.
56:30But we also should have that kitty that we used to have that supports this.
56:37It's good money spent on behalf of the taxpayers that could add to those 9 officers.
56:42As I talked to Mike this morning and we had a discussion, I just asked him, what would $5,000 have done as far as security was concerned.
56:51He said, I could have put 6 more cops on.
56:53So with Councilor Baptiste telling me about 9 cops, that's 15 now that we have.
56:59And again, you want people to enjoy themselves, and you don't want people to be in fear that if they go somewhere, something is going to happen.
57:08But we want to put the best forward security policies forward, and that's why I want to bring him in.
57:14I want to talk.
57:14I don't think this is a brain surgeon to go through this.
57:17We've been through this 100 times, and I, for the many years that I was part of that festival, again, we took security measures.
57:24There's certain things that can be done, as we discussed earlier today, from walking around the monument, that we didn't allow that.
57:32That was a cut-through that was to go east, west, north, and south to wherever you were going, eat, rides, whatever.
57:38There was no congregation, and that's something that we also should consider.
57:44Consider.
57:44Again, I thank my colleagues for supporting tonight.
57:47Mike Sylvia and his group does a wonderful job.
57:50And let me just remind you something else because I want to.
57:54When I was part of that Whaling City Festival, do you know that we were part of— the Whaling City Festival was part of what saved the zoo?
58:01Guy Shepherd, anybody recognize that name?
58:04George Meniz, anybody recognize that name?
58:07The zoo was in trouble.
58:08You know who gave money to the zoo?
58:11Whaling City Festival at the time, when things were just not the same.
58:15So, and the contributions that the Whaling City Festival has not only made with scholarships, just like many other organizations, they have contributed to things that people are not aware of in this room, or they publicize.
58:27We don't have to publicize every time we do good for people.
58:30We do good for people out of our hearts, not to get recognition, not to get the We do it because we're supposed to do it.
58:37The city of New Bedford is supposed to work with these festivals to try to make them— continue to have them be successful.
58:45And if that means a little bit extra money for security, so be it.
58:50You've got to understand where the middle class in this city are coming from and why these festivals are so important.
58:57Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. President, and thank you for your support, those who have stood up this evening.
59:01Thank you, Councilor Gomes.
59:03Chair recognizes Councilor Abruana, second.
59:05Thank you, Mr. President.
59:06I'll just be brief.
59:06I— listening to my colleagues and some certain other things were coming up in my head about how this all kind of went down and some of the banter or conjecture you see out there on social media or on talk radio.
59:18And, you know, you see things like, well— and I'm not quoting verbatim— but, well, the city is trash, the city has nothing for the kids, the city's no good.
59:27And the festival is this, the festival is that, and the city doesn't do anything for the kids.
59:33At what point— first of all, that's categorically false and wrong on both accounts, factually wrong on both accounts, not even open for opinion.
59:41But number 2, at what point are we going to blame bad parenting?
59:46Honestly, there's bad parents out there and they're not raising their young men and women to do right in their community.
59:52If that were the case, they wouldn't be out doing what they're doing.
59:55Like we saw on Saturday, like we saw a few weeks ago.
1:00:00Bad parents are bad parents no matter what.
1:00:03And that's the unfortunate reality that we have.
1:00:05And I know we can't legislate good parenting or bad parenting, but we have to address the elephant in the room.
1:00:11At some point, we have to start blaming people for their behavior.
1:00:14Like, I don't know, over the weekend when I see a post on Facebook— maybe you saw it, Mr. President, you live in the South End like me, maybe Councilor Gomes— Somebody tagged a post and said, Ian Abreu, do better.
1:00:28Someone trashed Hazelwood Park over Saturday night.
1:00:31How the heck is that our fault?
1:00:33Someone did something bad overnight and trashed the park.
1:00:37But again, tag a councillor, tag the mayor.
1:00:40It's the city's— it's not.
1:00:43When we find out about these things, we take care of it.
1:00:46We clean these things up.
1:00:47We're on it.
1:00:48But again, there are unfortunately in life There's bad people who are going to do bad things, and we have to call it out and expose it and tell some parents who aren't maybe as engaged in the homes as they should be, do better.
1:01:01Thank you, Mr. President.
1:01:02Thank you.
1:01:03Councilor Baptiste on the second.
1:01:04Thank you.
1:01:06Like I said, being at— please, please respect your councilor.
1:01:12Thank you.
1:01:14You're next.
1:01:24No.
1:01:24Knowing the parents, right?
1:01:25Being at the hospital at night.
1:01:28Like I said, right?
1:01:30Sometimes we can't help the neighborhoods we come from and the things that we do.
1:01:37Sometimes the parents do their best jobs, right, as they can, and when their kids leave the house, you don't know what decisions they make.
1:01:44Sometimes they're good decision makers and sometimes they're bad decision makers.
1:01:47The problems that we're having right now is, you know, even good parents that are trying their hardest are having a tough time with their kids because of the influence of other people.
1:01:58You understand what I'm saying?
1:02:00So there's a lot of— there's a lot of parents out there that are good parents that their kids are wilding out right now.
1:02:05And I see it firsthand all over the place, all over the city.
1:02:08Right.
1:02:09And there's a lot of kids that are really doing good.
1:02:12Out here and we're turning 3 or 4, 10 or 20, 50, 100 against— I don't know, there's what, how many, what, 1,000 kids in high school, 700 kids in each middle school.
1:02:25Right.
1:02:26And not to mention the elementary schools and, you know, post-teens, like we're throwing everybody in that bad batch.
1:02:34Right.
1:02:34And we can't do that.
1:02:35And I think that Being in our positions, we have to start being more leaders as far as how we get out there too and talk to people and talk to parents and make sure that when we see something, we're getting old school and calling something out instead of allowing bad behavior to happen.
1:02:52What happened is everybody can act any way they want because everybody wants to be their parents' friend and nobody wants to be a parent.
1:02:58And that's what we're dealing with at the festival.
1:03:00And it's not the festival's fault that they have to deal with parents like that.
1:03:02Like that, you understand what I'm saying?
1:03:04Or kids like that.
1:03:05Maybe they should have kids at a certain age have to be with parents.
1:03:08Maybe they should do what the mall does, you know what I'm saying?
1:03:11Little precautions to make things safe for other people, right?
1:03:14And then we can hold people responsible for their children, right?
1:03:18And then we can hold the kids accountable.
1:03:19And accountability comes always.
1:03:21But I yield the floor, and I just don't want all the parents to get a bad rap because not all parents are bad.
1:03:27Um, but even good parents make bad kids.
1:03:29So thank you.
1:03:30I yield.
1:03:31Thank you, Councilor.
1:03:33Anyone else?
1:03:33Tough kids, not bad kids.
1:03:34There's no bad kids, right, James?
1:03:39Anyone else?
1:03:41All right, all those in favor say aye.
1:03:44Opposed?
1:03:44The ayes have it.
1:03:45I will ask the clerk to read item 30.
1:03:48Mr. President, item 30 is communication from Ryan A. Paveo, First Assistant City Solicitor, submitting orders for the layout and taking of Hillman Street, variable width from Station 72 plus 32.80 at the terminus of Pleasant Street, 41.74 feet easterly to terminus at Station 72 plus 74.52 at Purchase Street, for the purpose of realigning Hillman Street to the west so that a new signalized intersection can be built.
1:04:1430A is registered land, 30B is recorded land.
1:04:17So colleagues, before this item is decided, a Attorney Garatowski informed me that his only concern with this is that there isn't some sort of appropriation order attached to this in response to the takings.
1:04:31I don't know if there should— I don't know if the body is comfortable approving the takings without seeing the appropriations, if that is something you would like to refer to the committee to discuss, or I know solicitors Solicitor Jackson— oh, First Solicitor Paveo is here.
1:04:50And if we were to refer it to the committee, would that screw things up?
1:04:55Sure.
1:05:04Good evening, councilors.
1:05:05Um, Mr. President, not to pass the buck, but, um, Sean Sykes here, the city engineer, and it's my understanding that there's a timeline on the start of construction that might get affected by this, so I think he can better answer that particular question as far as kicking this over to committee, whether that would delay the project.
1:05:27Essentially, I, I would have further discussions with my colleagues.
1:05:31We would be able to get this back by August 20th, more than likely.
1:05:34Is that acceptable, or do you— does it need to be decided tonight?
1:05:38For your— in the best interest of your responsibility.
1:05:42The body still might refer to the committee, but I'm just— I just would like to get all of the information.
1:05:46I have concerns that there is no appropriation amount here, but continue.
1:05:50August 20th would be acceptable, but that would be like the latest because the contractor— the project is going to start in September.
1:05:56So August 20th would be okay?
1:05:58Yes.
1:05:58All right, yes, thank you.
1:06:00Um, I will— colleagues, I will speak with our finance— if I imagine we're going to send this to the Committee on Finance I will speak with our finance chair to put this on an agenda and get it back to the 20th.
1:06:10I would imagine he would be acceptable in, in assisting the council on that.
1:06:15So, your pleasure.
1:06:17Motion to refer to the Committee on Finance.
1:06:18Okay, motion to refer to the Committee on Finance made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Abreu.
1:06:25On the question, Chair and Councilor Roy.
1:06:28Thank you.
1:06:30Uh, I'm— I know there's no appropriation attached to this, but I'm curious if anybody knows what the appropriation might be.
1:06:38So what I would say is I'll allow this answer right now.
1:06:43Normally we don't.
1:06:44I was just getting information for this, but I open that— I will allow an answer if there is an appropriation.
1:06:49Thank you, Mr. President.
1:06:50You're welcome.
1:06:52All right, is there an appropriation?
1:06:56How much?
1:06:56The city received a $5 million grant from the state for this project, so the money would be coming from that pot of money.
1:07:04Okay, so but we don't have a figure for the uptakings?
1:07:10Um, it was— I think that was Councilor Roy's question, how much this cost.
1:07:13It was.
1:07:14Thank you, Mr. President.
1:07:15Thank you.
1:07:15So, uh, sorry, uh, Mr. Paveo, um, this is on speaking on referral to the Committee on Finance.
1:07:23The chair's a lot— the chair's allowing it.
1:07:24I know, but we can also discuss this in the Committee on Finance.
1:07:26Yeah, so what I would say is that— what's happening?
1:07:31Okay, I understand.
1:07:33You have the figure for appropriation?
1:07:36Not with you?
1:07:37You have that?
1:07:37No, we do.
1:07:38It's in, it's in the order, and I can, I can, I can tell the— we don't have it on our record.
1:07:45That is why it's going to get referred, though.
1:07:47I'm sorry?
1:07:48We don't have it on our record.
1:07:49That's why it is going to get referred.
1:07:51Okay, okay, but we'll be in timeline and we— there is an appropriation, so I think that satisfies.
1:07:57No, I didn't get an answer.
1:07:58I was wondering how much the appropriation was going to cost.
1:07:59That's more of a— that is more of a question.
1:08:01He said he could answer it.
1:08:02I was wondering if he was going to, but the general idea was if there is an appropriation, I believe was the question.
1:08:06I'm sorry.
1:08:07No, I wanted to know how much it was going to cost.
1:08:09That is a question for committee if there is an appropriation.
1:08:11They don't have an answer right now.
1:08:13Uh, the chair won't allow that question right now.
1:08:16Oh, okay, okay.
1:08:18Thank you.
1:08:21Anyone else on referral to committee?
1:08:23Chair Agnes Councilor Burgos.
1:08:24Yes, so the reason why I'm asking this to go to committee is because there are questions that we need to find, and that is the appropriate course of action when you have questions about something, is to send it to committee to ask those questions, not during a council meeting.
1:08:37Also, the other reason is because this administration is known to rush things and not be prepared We've seen that with a previous order that we sent to the Committee on Finance in the budget.
1:08:46There was 4 items that we sent because of scriber's errors.
1:08:50This administration is sloppy, and we need to make sure that we're doing this appropriately.
1:08:54So we should send this to the Committee on Finance.
1:08:56We will do our due diligence to make sure that the timeline is followed, like the council always does, to save this administration and the city from ruin.
1:09:05But I think it's important that we send this to Finance.
1:09:07Make sure all the T's are crossed and the I's are dotted, but we shouldn't rush this and ask all the appropriate questions that we need to in committee where the work is done.
1:09:16Thank you.
1:09:17Thank you, Councillor.
1:09:18Anyone else?
1:09:21Okay.
1:09:21All those in favor of referral to committee say aye.
1:09:24Opposed, the ayes have it.
1:09:25I'll ask the clerk to read item 31.
1:09:28Mr. President, item 31 is communication from Councillor Gomes submitting an act amending Chapter 4, 18 of the Acts of 2018 authorizing the appointment of special police officers in the city of New Bedford.
1:09:42Refer to the state legislative delegation made by Councilor Gomes, seconded by Councilor Bergo.
1:09:46Councilor Gomes on the question.
1:09:47Mr. President, very briefly, we've been working on this for a while somewhat in the Public Safety Committee.
1:09:53We— this is just a home rule petition moving forward so that officers that are sick 65 to 70 years old now could work details.
1:10:02This has been passed in many other communities.
1:10:04It would assist our police department as the numbers are down in assisting with details throughout the city.
1:10:12So again, we've been through— excuse me— here at the Whaling City Festival.
1:10:20Again, this is— this I think is needed by the department, has the support from the police chief, talked to the, the department, we can move forward on this.
1:10:29And I'm glad that this is moving forward, that we'll be able to utilize those retired police officers for this purpose as we continue to work in the city of New Bedford to bring that police department up to what it should be.
1:10:42Thank you.
1:10:43Thank you, Councilor.
1:10:44Anyone else?
1:10:46All those in favor say aye.
1:10:48Opposed, the ayes have it.
1:10:49I will ask the Clerk to read item 32.
1:10:52Mr. President, item 32 is communication from the city clerk to the council submitting an application for the renewal of a private livery license on behalf of Khalil B. Arsenios, doing business as International Transportation LLC, of 1220 Pleasant Street in New Bedford.
1:11:06This license term is from July 1st, '26 to June 30th, '27.
1:11:12Second.
1:11:12Motion to grant the renewal made by Councilor Abrams, seconded by Councilor Carney.
1:11:15Anyone on the question?
1:11:16All those in favor say aye.
1:11:18Aye.
1:11:18Opposed?
1:11:19The ayes have it.
1:11:19I will ask the clerk to read item 33.
1:11:21Mr. President, item 33 is communication from Manuel De Brito, Board of Election Commissioners, to the council submitting the primary election warrant for Tuesday, September 1st, 2026.
1:11:31This warrant has been signed by the majority of the city council and will be posted on the 7th day prior to the election date as mandated by Mass General Law Chapter 43, Section 44A.
1:11:42A.
1:11:42A copy of this warrant will be posted at each polling location.
1:11:45Motion received and placed on file.
1:11:47Motion received and placed on file, made by Councilor Virgo.
1:11:50Seconded by Councilor Oliver.
1:11:52All those in favor say aye.
1:11:54Opposed, the ayes have it.
1:11:55I'll ask the clerk to read item 34.
1:11:57Mr. President, item 34 is communication with the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Beaches, Sweeney Memorial Park Bench and Tree Dedication Program application for a bench and plaque to be located along the new pathway on Brownell Avenue at the foot of Sheldon Street in honor of Freddie Melo.
1:12:13Refer to the more— to Committee on Memorials and Dedication.
1:12:15Second, refer to Memorials and Dedication.
1:12:17Made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Roy.
1:12:20All those in favor say aye.
1:12:22Opposed, the ayes have it.
1:12:23Item 35.
1:12:25Mr. President, Item 35 is communication from City Clerk Dennis Farias submitting a copy of a letter sent to the Office of the Attorney General pertaining to ordinances recently adopted regarding Chapter 9 of the Code of Ordinances.
1:12:36Motion to receive and place on file.
1:12:37Motion to receive and place on file made by Councilor Burgos.
1:12:40Second.
1:12:41Seconded by Councilor Carney.
1:12:42All those in favor say aye.
1:12:43Aye.
1:12:44Opposed?
1:12:44The ayes have it.
1:12:45Mr. President, um, I forgot to make a related motion earlier under M1 for mayor's papers to receive and place on file, um, the press release that the office put out earlier Uh, which is on record to the response to the mayor's veto.
1:13:02So at this time, I'd, uh, receive and place on file that into the record.
1:13:06Okay, motion to receive and place on file that item, uh, the, the response to the veto made by Councilor Lobergo, seconded by Councilor Oliver.
1:13:15All those in favor say aye.
1:13:17Opposed, the ayes have it.
1:13:18Councilor Chaukat.
1:13:19Yeah, Mr. President, before we adopt this, uh, consent, I'd like to make a friendly amendment to item C14.
1:13:48Item— that's what item number is that, Councilor?
1:13:50C14.
1:13:50Okay, so the chair will now sever item C14 from the consent agenda.
1:13:57I will ask the clerk to read item C14.
1:14:01Mr. President, item C14 is from written motion sponsored by Councilors Choquette, Gomes, and Abreu requesting that the Traffic Commission install signs to lower the speed limit to no more than 20 miles per hour at Cherokee Street and Acushnet Avenue and Pequot Street and Acushnet Avenue to the city of New Bedford.
1:14:17Okay, Councilor, what is your amendment?
1:14:19Uh, motion to amend.
1:14:21I would like to move to strike the language at Cherokee Street and Acushnet Avenue and Pequot Street and Acushnet Avenue and insert in its place along the length of Cherokee Street and along the length of Pequot Street.
1:14:45Okay, thank you, Councillor.
1:14:47Thank you.
1:14:47Um, the motion has been made to amend C14 by Councillor Choukat, seconded by Councillor Abreu.
1:14:53Anyone on the question?
1:14:55All those in favor of the amendment?
1:14:57Aye.
1:14:58Opposed?
1:14:58The ayes have it.
1:15:00Uh, a motion to adopt item C14 would be appropriate.
1:15:03Motion to adopt item C14.
1:15:06Motion to adopt item C14.
1:15:07As amended by Councilor Chauquet, seconded by Councilor Abreu.
1:15:10All those in favor say aye.
1:15:12Aye.
1:15:13Opposed?
1:15:13The ayes have it.
1:15:14Colleague, the consent agenda is still before us.
1:15:18Motion to take up and adopt consent made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Abreu.
1:15:23All those in favor say aye.
1:15:25Aye.
1:15:25Opposed?
1:15:26The ayes have it.
1:15:26We are adjourned at 8:25.
1:15:28Motion to adjourn.
1:15:30Oh, oh, I'm sorry.
1:15:33Consent agenda was passed.
1:15:36Motion to adjourn made by Councilor Virgo, seconded by Councilor Abreu.
1:15:39All those in favor say aye.
1:15:41Opposed?
1:15:42I'm getting the clock shoved in my face, that's why.
1:15:44Opposed?
1:15:45The ayes have it.
1:15:45We're adjourned at 8:26 PM.