City Council — July 16, 2026

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Today is Thursday, July 16th, at 7:06 PM for the regularly scheduled City Council meeting.

Before 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.

We 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.

Okay.

I just explained, sir, that there was no— no— We're going to take a brief recess.

Thank you.

At this time, I will ask for a moment of silence.

We do not have a member of the clergy here.

But I will ask for a moment of silence.

Thank you.

All right.

I don't know who's doing it.

We are led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Councilor-at-Large James Roy.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands.

Stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Counselor.

You're welcome, Counselor.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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.

I will ask— excuse me.

We 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.

At this time, I will ask the clerk if there are any letters to be read into the record.

Mr. President, I have 2.

The first is from Councilor Lopes.

Dear 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.

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

Sincerely, Joseph P. Lopes, Councilor of Ward 5.

The second is from Councilor Pemberton.

Dear 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.

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

Sincerely, Scott Pemberton, Councilor of Ward 2.

Motion received and placed on file.

Motion to receive and place on file made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Leroy.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number 1.

Mr. 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.

This work is necessary to provide service to 99 River Road.

1A is the order.

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

Motion to open the public hearing made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Roy.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Colleagues, 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.

Mr. President, well, Sean was gonna speak on the issue or whatever.

I don't know, I— we've never been in this situation where they don't show up.

Well, it is a public hearing.

I 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.

So Sean, if you want to present.

Some testimony?

Yes, you can.

It is a public hearing.

David.

Sean, go ahead.

Good evening, everybody.

99 River Road is the location of the Howard Avenue pumping station.

This petition is associated with a new electrical service that is required required as part of DPI's complete upgrade and replacement of that station.

If you drive down Howard Avenue and River Road right now, there is a lot of construction activity going down— happening down there.

And replacement of the station is part of that work.

We are required under our 2019 administrative order with the EPA to replace the station, which we are actively doing.

And ultimately it will help reduce combined sewer overflow discharges to the New Bedford Inner Harbor.

So 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.

Councilor, thank you very much, Mr. President.

Sean, is, um, the work is presently going on down there, am I correct?

It is correct, yes.

And how far along are they already?

They've been doing a lot of the underground piping work on River Road, so they haven't started on the pumping station yet.

They've only done some site work.

They need to do this first because they have to remove some overhead wires that cut across the site.

And in order to get the cranes in there and the equipment to build it, we've got to get the wires down.

And in order to do that, we have to do this replacement first.

This runs just north of Wood Street, correct?

Just south of Wood Street.

South of Wood Street.

They've been in all that area there, and I wasn't sure.

There's plates down and everything, the work that's being done.

Correct.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I'm sorry.

Thank you, Councilor.

I apologize if I didn't see you before.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Hi, how are you?

I'm great.

How are you?

Great.

So I was driving down Howard Ave today, and I was surprised because I couldn't go over the bridge over the river.

How do you know if the work is connected?

Oh, I was not aware of that.

I'm sorry.

You're sorry for the bridge closure?

I 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.

I was not aware that the bridge was closed.

I 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.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.— Thank you, Councilor.

Anyone else for Sean?

Okay, this is a public hearing.

I'm going to ask if any— Councilor Gomes, do you have a question?

Yeah, I had a question.

I just want to know how important this is that we get this through this evening.

As 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.

It's Councillor Roy has just stated, they even might have shut down the bridge today for some other work that's going on.

If there is a need for us to move this along, I would— through you to Sean, I want to know that.

Sean?

Uh, 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.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Just wanted to get that clarification for myself and the colleagues.

And Uh, Councilor, um, I did have a conversation with Attorney Gerotowski up here at the dais.

Um, 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.

However, it is normal that they are here to present.

If this is an exception the body is willing to make, that we can entertain that.

I 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.

Okay, thank you, Councilor.

All right, um, any other questions for Sean's side?

Okay, thank you, Sean.

Thank you, Chair.

The— at this, um, at this time, it is a public hearing.

I will ask if there are any members of the public who wishes to speak in favor of this project.

Speak in favor.

Does any member of the public wish to be recorded in favor?

Be recorded in favor.

Would any member of the public wish to speak in opposition?

Speak in opposition.

Would any member of the public wish to be recorded in opposition?

To be recorded in opposition.

Okay, seeing no more comment from the audience, from the public, your pleasure, colleagues.

Motion to close the public hearing.

And approve the order.

Can it go both at the same time?

Um, yeah, we could do both at the same time.

All right, right.

Okay, motion to close the public hearing and adopt the order made by Councilor Roy, seconded by Councilor Gomes.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item number 1.

Mr. 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.

The veto was received in the City Council office on July 10th, 2026.

M1A is the ordinance.

Motion to receive and spread on the record.

Motion to receive and spread on the record made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

Chair recognizes Councilor Burgos.

Thank you, Mr. President, and those who seconded.

Tonight before us is the mayor's veto of our paid family leave ordinance.

Procedurally, all we are doing this evening is receiving and placing it on file and spreading it upon the record.

At our next meeting, this council will have the opportunity to decide whether to sustain the mayor's veto or override it.

Mr. 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.

While I won't read the entire statement this evening.

I 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.

This ordinance did not appear overnight.

We have been working on this legislation since 2023.

It has been discussed through multiple different personnel directors.

We sought feedback from the administration We revised language.

We addressed concerns.

When meaningful progress stalled, this council directed our legislative counsel to draft the ordinance because we believed our employees deserved action, not endless delays.

Yet, after nearly 3 years of work, the mayor's veto offers hypothetical scenarios and speculative concerns.

But very little evidence that this ordinance is unworkable.

What has been missing throughout this discussion has been the voices of the employees this ordinance was actually written to help.

So I want to share, after issuing my statement today, a couple of the city employees that commented.

One mother wrote, currently using all of my sick vacation and PTO time while on parental leave.

It took me 4 years to accrue enough time to have any paid leave when my daughter was born.

It's a systemic problem for the whole country, but really unfortunate when the state offers paid leave programs that are rejected by an employer.

Think about that.

4 years of saving every hour of earned leave just so she could afford to stay home with her newborn child.

Another employee, a father, shared this.

Just had to use 8 weeks of sick time for the birth of my twins, who spent 2 weeks in the hospital.

These are not hypothetical situations.

These aren't projections.

These are the lived experiences of the men and women who come to work every day to serve the residents of New Bedford.

These 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.

They 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.

That is the problem this ordinance seeks to solve.

What kind of employer do we want the City of New Bedford to be?

Do we want to continue asking our employees to sacrifice for the city while offering little support in return?

Or do we want to demonstrate that we value the people who keep this city running every single day?

Our employees show up for this city.

They 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.

Tonight we begin the process of standing up for them.

Tonight 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.

I 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.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor.

Anyone else?

Motion has been made to receive and spread on the record.

It has been duly seconded.

Uh, anyone on the— uh, sorry, all those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

We'll ask the clerk to read item M2.

Mr. 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.

M2A is the order.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Finance.

Motion's been made to refer to finance.

Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Roy.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item number 3, M3.

Mr. President, without objection, could we read M3, M4, M5, and M6 all together?

Motion is sever M6.

Oh, so M3 through M5A.

I will ask the clerk to read M3 through M5A.

Mr. 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.

M4 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.

And 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.

M5A is the order.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Finance.

Motion to refer to Finance.

Motion to refer to Finance made by Councillor Burgos, seconded by Councillor April, I think.

Anyone on the question on referral?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

We'll ask the clerk to read under M6.

Mr. 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.

M6A is the order.

Motion to refer to Finance.

Motion to refer to Finance made by Councilor Burgo.

Second by Councilor Oliver.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item M7.

Mr. 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.

Motion referred to the Special Committee on Permits.

Did I get that right?

Motion to refer to the Special Committee on Licensing.

Sorry, Permits and Licensing, made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 2.

Mr. 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.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor, um, Abreu.

Excuse me, roll call vote.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Burgo?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Oliver?

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 number 3, please.

Mr. President, item 3 is an ordinance amending Chapter 16 of the Municipal Utilities and Services, Section 16-94, rate charges.

Pass to be ordained.

Moved to pass to be ordained, made by Councilor Bergo, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

Uh, anyone on the question?

I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abramowicz?

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Bergo?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

No.

No.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Councilor Oliver?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Passes 8 to 1, Mr. President.

Item Sorry, item passes 8 to 1.

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

Mr. President, item— do you want to do these together?

4, 5, 6, and then I can start on the announcements if you want.

Yeah.

Yes, that's fine.

You want to announce it or no?

Oh, sorry.

Without objection, the chair will take items 4 through 6A together.

Mr. 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.

Item 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.

And 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.

Your pleasure, colleagues.

Motion to receive the file and grant the appointments.

Motion to waive Rule 40.

Motion to grant the appointment by Councilor Oliver and waive Rule 40, made by Councilor Oliver, seconded by Councilor Burgo.

Anyone on the question?

I will ask the clerk to call the roll on waiving Rule 40 and granting the appointments.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Councilor Burgo?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Chilcott?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Item passes 9 to 0.

I will ask the clerk to swear in our members.

Uh, I see Ricard Resendiz here.

If he wants to go first, he's up first.

I, 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.

Of 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.

So help me God.

Cheers.

Up next, Laura Harrington is here.

I, state your full name.

I, Laura Harrington.

Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

That I will faithfully and impartially.

That I will faithfully and impartially.

Perform my duties.

Perform my duties.

As a member of the Airport Commission.

As a member of the Airport Commission.

In accordance with the laws.

In accordance with the laws.

And the Constitution of the United States.

United 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.

So help me God.

Thank you.

The chair would just like to, uh, congratulate Craig Gaspinola.

He is not here, but wish him good luck on behalf of the body.

Uh, he will be sworn in at a later time in the clerk's office.

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

Mr. President, item 7 is a report from the Committee on Finance recommending the City Council approval of the CPA annual budget for FY27 for committee administrative expenses and community preservation projects in FY27.

7A is the communication.

Motion to receive and place on file and adopt.

Motion to adopt the budget made by Councilor Burgo.

Second.

Seconded by Councilor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

We'll ask the clerk to read item number 8, please.

Mr. 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.

8A is the ordinance.

Pass to a second reading.

Second.

Um, 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.

Just to make the general public aware, this report includes the new version that took a few days to get to this body.

So it is before us, has been passed to a second— passed to a second reading made by Councilor Liburgo.

It was seconded by Councilor Carney, I believe.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor of passing to a second reading say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

We'll ask the clerk to read item number 9, please.

Mr. 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.

9A is the order.

Motion to receive and place on file and adopt the order.

Second.

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

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number 10.

Mr. 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.

10A is the order, 10B and 10C are the proposals.

Motion to refer to the Committee on City Property.

Motion to refer to this Committee on City Property made by Councilor Lobergo.

Second by Councilor Roy.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Mr. President, yes, uh, waive the reading of items 11 through 25A and take no further action.

Motion to waive the readings on 11 through 25A and take no further action, made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number 26, please.

Mr. 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.

And 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.

2 ways of communication.

26A.

Second.

Motion to follow the recommendation made by Councilor Abreu.

Second by Councilor Burgo.

The chair recognizes Councilor Abreu.

Thanks a bunch, Mr. President.

So again, I rise to support this motion.

I 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.

I 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.

We 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.

They weren't even aware that we'd be receiving this tranche of money.

I had to let them know through the Mass Municipal Association, and this was coming down the pike.

So I'm glad we're getting this money.

As we remember, this past winter presented extraordinary challenges for this community.

We 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.

So the Commonwealth, to their credit— I'll stand up here sometimes, we talk about Beacon Hill and bureaucrats, but I'll also be fair.

I'll give credit where it's due.

The Commonwealth recognized those challenges.

And if our delegation had a role in that, thank you to them as well.

They recognized those challenges.

Awarded New Bedford more than $713,000 based on, as I said in the motion, we own over 270 miles of roadway.

So 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.

I mean, I think the purpose of this motion is pretty, pretty straightforward.

Um, so let's find out what our plan is for this, uh, rather large tranche of money.

I 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?

Where's it going to go?

What are we going to do with it?

So 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.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Councilor.

Anyone else?

Motion has been made and seconded to refer to the Committee on Finance, Mitchell Administration, and Chief Financial Officer Ekstrom.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 27.

Mr. 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.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings the Election Commission and the Mitchell administration.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings Elections Commission and Mitchell administration made by Councilor Burgow.

Second by Councilor Oliver.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 28, please.

Mr. 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.

28A is the communication, 28B is the order, and 28C is the easement.

Motion to discharge from committee.

Motion to discharge the committee, made by Councilor Lobergo.

Second.

Seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

On the question of discharging, Chair recognizes Councilor Lobergo.

Thank you, Mr. President.

So I'm asking to have this discharged in this way mainly because this has been in committee for quite some time.

We know for some of the reasons, very understandable reasons, but in this case it's been there for quite some time.

I'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.

I 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.

So 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.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor.

Any— uh, Councilor Oliver, sorry.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Um, 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.

Um, this is in committee because we had some concerns with the easement and who was going to pay for maintenance and whatnot.

And I'll speak more to that when it comes time to, to vote on that properly.

So I recognize why this— why the motion is in front of us to discharge it.

I support that.

I don't support the overall adoption of the bridge because we still have some overall concerns about the maintenance.

And every— there's not a day that I drive by that bridge that a new light is burnt out or something is going on.

And I just think that we are caught holding the bag here.

And 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.

The bridge is great, it's beautiful, it's pretty, but now we're left holding the bag.

But I do understand the importance of rededicating that bridge, especially in the month of July.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else on discharging?

Okay, I will ask the clerk to call the roll of discharging the committee.

Councilor Rabroux, on discharging the committee?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Burgos?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

No.

Councilor Chouquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Councilor Oliver?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 8 to 1, Mr. President.

Item passes 8 to 1.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt the order and grant the easement made by Councilor Burgo.

Seconded by Councilor, um, Abreu.

Sorry.

Chair recognizes Councilor Burgo.

Thank you.

Um, I appreciate my colleagues for supporting this discharge Again, the reasons for supporting this.

I do agree with my colleague from Ward 3.

We know that maintenance of a bridge, especially one that has 2 elevators, is costly.

I do agree with our colleague, former Councilor Morad at the time, and the chairman of finance, Joseph Lopes.

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry.

He's going to be mad.

I always do that.

They both were concerned at the time when we sued the state to get more money for this bridge.

And at the time, we were hoping that a special fund would have been created.

And I am in full support of that.

We had attempted to work with this administration, but as we know, this administration only works with himself.

And he denied that.

And so unfortunately, It was bottled up in committee all this time.

It 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.

Our DFFM budget has already budgeted for maintenance of this bridge.

I'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.

So unfortunately, people have used the elevators to defecate or urinate, and the state's not cleaning it up.

Our personnel are cleaning it up.

So even trying to keep it in committee has not stopped the city from footing the bill.

The 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.

So 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.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor.

Chair recognizes Councilor Carney.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, I will not be supporting this bridge easement at this time.

I do believe there's a lot more discussion to be had with our state delegation.

It's not only the elevators, it's the lights, it's the maintenance of the entire bridge.

It's a big ticket item.

I 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.

So 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.

We own from Union Street down to Cove Road, but that part is state property.

So I think that they should be chipping in and helping us with the maintenance.

We do not have money.

Am I going to ask my taxpayers for more money for lights that are out in that bridge to be fixed?

Am I going to ask the taxpayers for any girders or, or bolts or something that happens in that bridge?

Yes, they're cleaning the elevator, but that's all they're doing right now.

But there's going to be a lot more done to make bridge maintenance down the road.

So I'm hoping my colleagues keep it.

Do not do that until we actually talk with our state delegation.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chair.

Mr. President.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Chairing Council Oliver.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I 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.

$22 million bridge for the MBTA commuter rail or intercity rail or whatever they want to call it.

And we're left holding the bag as far as maintenance.

Now, 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.

I 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.

But 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.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Baptiste.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I'm in agreeance with the good councilor from Purchase Street.

You know, in Cape Verdean Heritage Month, we would like to dedicate this bridge.

And 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.

FYI, it's already on the taxpayers' shoulders.

It was on— it was in DFFM's budget.

So if you read the budget, you would know that the bridge and all the maintenance at the bridge was in the budget.

So it's already on the taxpayers' shoulders right now.

So 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.

And 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.

So no matter what's going to happen, we're still going to hold the bag.

So 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.

Right.

Because it's already here.

So let's make sure it don't hurt us.

Thank you.

And I yield the floor.

Thank you, Councilor.

All right.

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Avery?

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Burgos?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

No.

No.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Oliver?

No.

No.

Councilor Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Yes, item passes 7 to 2.

All right, item number 29 is before us.

Mr. 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.

Motion is Second.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods made by Councilor Gomes, seconded by Councilor Roy.

On the question, the chair recognizes Councilor Gomes.

Good evening, Mr. President, and thank you for the opportunity.

I'm going to rise just because I think this needs the attention of the people.

I, 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.

And, um, I've seen thousands and hundreds of thousands of people having a good time at the Wheeling City Festival.

And because there's a selected few of, um, people that decided on Saturday night to create a disturbance outside of the Wheeling City Festival.

The Whaling City Festival now suffers again.

We've already backed the time down from 9 o'clock.

Many 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.

Not only that, but bringing in tracked acts from Lizette Mendez to Maki Mox and the Funky Bunch.

If you've heard me talk about it here before, parking cars in the gully on 1 party.

That's what we created, and it was a good thing for the people of this city.

The 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.

They can take their kids for a couple of hundred dollars and enjoy a night of activity and fun.

And the most important thing about this is we keep trying to bang the Whaling City Festival.

This is— this problem has come from society, from our young people who choose to go to these things and create a disturbance.

Should we look at the security of this?

Yes.

Should we cage the pack in?

No.

That atmosphere is not going to look good.

Should we match it up to what's going on with the Portuguese Feast?

Totally different animals you're dealing with.

This is family-oriented.

It'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.

I created the monster with $1,000 from the committee, getting ABC 6, Channel 10, all of them involved.

They were actually fighting at times who was going to bring in a celebrity, who wasn't going to bring this.

It'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.

I 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.

And 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.

They also take the opportunity to run yard sales.

They also take the opportunity to just enjoy what is going on in their neighborhood.

And it's only 3 nights.

It used to be 4.

We used to kick that thing off on Thursday night.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday night.

And 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.

There's a problem with society if we're shutting down things because these young people are disturbing us.

It's out of control.

Look what's happening at the mall.

I'm a former employee up at the mall.

I worked loss prevention up at the mall for many years, after— and actually one year after I was elected.

But I was afraid after a while that somebody would say that I was violating somebody's rights or something because we had arrestable rights.

Worked with Jeff LeClaire, many others that came— went on to be police officers, and I decided to run for political office.

And let me tell you, that was the place to be.

But you, you had standards, you had a foundation that you came from.

And your parents dropped you off at 6 o'clock, you were told see the movie, whatever, pick you up at 10 at Sears.

That— it's affecting everything.

And 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.

It's a matter of putting up security.

You don't want to scare the hell out of people, but I can already solve this problem.

And 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.

I've talked about drones in this city.

I'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.

So come on, I'm going to be the pilot.

Um, We can use drones.

I 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.

People 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.

I 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.

The mayor has an idea of moving the festival.

That's not a good idea, Mr. President.

The mayor has an idea of cutting down the time.

That's not a good idea, Mr. President.

The 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.

And I'm sorry to say this, this doesn't fit into the mayor's category.

Let me ask the mayor something and let him tell the public next Wednesday when he's on the radio.

When was the last time he walked around the Wheeling City Festival?

When was the last time he joined the people of this city at the Wheeling City Festival and walked around?

That answer will be no.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you, Councilor.

Chair recognizes Councilor Abril.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Um, so I do support this motion, and to answer one question, I was there all 4 days.

Uh, I didn't see him once, the mayor.

So Opened that Thursday at 3 o'clock, went all the way through Sunday night.

I was off and on throughout the weekend visiting, supporting.

I didn't see him.

But bad people are going to do bad things no matter what.

And it seems like certain folks were looking for a reason to sort of fix the hours of this festival.

Certain people were looking for a reason to use the festival as a scapegoat for issues that might be happening in the community.

I mean, remember, this didn't even happen at the festival.

This happened on Rockdale and Arnold and then the basketball courts.

They may have been at the festival at one point, but again, it was a wide-open festival.

It's a wide-open event.

The reality is that I was there off and on for 4 different days and nights.

I brought my children there.

If I feel it's safe for my kids, I feel it's safe for anyone else's kids, and I really believe that.

I put my money where my mouth was.

I brought my children there.

We spent hours and hours there.

The wrestling, the vendors, the carnival.

And the councilor spoke before me.

You're absolutely correct, Councilor.

I 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.

It's all it is.

Um, we know police details aren't cheap.

They get No, they receive no assistance from this municipality, from this city.

No grants, no budget line item in the mayor's office.

DPI and DFFM don't eat any of the costs.

It all gets passed on to the Wayland City Festival folks.

And somebody might say, well, fixing it, going from 9 to 8, it's only 1 hour, it isn't a big deal.

Trust me, it's a huge deal.

Anyone who's been in business, that's run a business, that owns a business, They will tell you that hour is everything, okay?

You talk to the folks at Fiesta Shows, the Dean family, E.J.

Dean, Gene Dean, father and son team who run it.

They run a first-class operation all over the Eastern Seaboard.

They 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.

Think of the staff.

Think of the overhead.

Think of what they have to pay.

This is business, but they're providing a great service.

We have to be cognizant of that.

So, yeah, I mean, I definitely think we have to do something about this.

We have to have the conversation.

If I had my druthers, I'd like it to stay in Buttonwood Park, too.

That's where it belongs.

It's a great event.

And unfortunately, there's always going to be bad actors in life.

But to always tie it into one singular event isn't fair, isn't right.

Um, because these people, these board members, they're volunteers.

No one's getting paid.

These are good men and women who are just doing the best they can for this community.

Is it perfect?

No, nothing is perfect, but they're trying their best.

I speak with Mike and his team often.

I know others in here do.

They give me updates.

They're trying their best.

And 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.

They were partners with the Feast on the entire security apparatus, the security plan.

That'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.

I believe that, um, and even Mike acknowledges it, and I think he'll say it when he comes to committee.

He wants the police department at the table.

Let's figure out the plan together.

Let's kind of create a synergy here.

So hopefully good things will come in the future for this festival based on some plans.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Councilor Abreu.

Chair recognizes Councilor Baptiste.

Thank you, Mr. President.

We do not want to see the Wayland City Festival go, right?

And we don't like to see things blamed for occurrences happening outside of the venue, right?

I wish— I wish this outrage happened when they blamed the Cape Verdean Festival for somebody throwing a firecracker 3 hours after the festival.

3 blocks down the street that was nowhere near the festival.

But, you know, that was quiet as kept and it was blamed on the Cape Verdean Festival.

Unfortunately, this is what's going to happen at the Whalen City Festival.

Being 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.

So, 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.

The unfortunate part about it is there was fights Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night stabbing.

So that was an occurrence this year, and that was the same thing that happened last year.

Talking to police officers at the hospital that night, they said they only had 9 cops detailed for the park that night.

9 cops detailed for the park.

All them people, them vendors, Everybody going there.

There was 9 cops detailed for that night.

So I don't think that the problem is the festival.

I think the problem is we need more detail, more people spread out, more people in different areas.

And maybe it's, you know, and just having checkpoints of whatever they have to do.

I think that, you know, we have to keep our festivals in this city our festivals, right?

But we have to keep them safe and we have to keep people safe.

And 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.

There was tons of people in the park that night.

9 cops.

That's, that's unacceptable.

I don't know if they had to get the detail and that was the detail that they had to get.

But that was the word I got from police officers at St. Luke's Hospital.

They 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.

So 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.

I yield.

Thank you, Councilor.

Uh, Councilor Carney.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I stand up to support my colleagues in the Swailing City Festival Don't make me laugh.

So anyways, um, I have been living there.

I've been with that festival for 35 years.

I live 6 houses from the park.

I've been dealing with the Wheeling City Festival for 35 years.

My kids enjoyed it.

I've enjoyed it.

I 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.

So it was the next one over, but it was not in the festival.

So anybody would hear that, it's not in the festival.

It happened at the basketball courts.

The Reggae Festival, there was a big brawl there of what, 150 kids that on the south end on the, on the pier.

I've got pictures of that.

There was a big brawl down there a month and a half ago.

They didn't close down the beach.

Beach is still there.

What my problem is, is that we had that festival running for a very long time with the original festival people.

That was packed.

There was rows and rows of vendors.

Everything was there.

Then 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.

Now 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.

Now they're parking on all the individual streets, meaning there are more and more people coming to the festival.

The incident that happened should not be a reason to close down early, to cordon off the festival.

It happened at the basketball court.

Courts.

It happened further down at the end of the park.

It didn't happen inside the festival grounds where people were and the kids were.

So I do not see discussion with the police department.

Do we need more details?

Fine.

But inside that park area, I was there Saturday night.

I didn't leave there till quarter past 8 with my, my daughter-in-law and my 1-year-old granddaughter getting some food.

Getting dinner there.

I saw Councilor Abril there.

I saw many people there walking around.

In fact, Councilor Abril was handing out tickets everywhere.

He had a slew of tickets given out to families that couldn't afford rides.

He 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.

But I stand with my colleagues.

Let's have some discussion on it, but let's not move the location.

Listen, I lived at Sometimes it's a pain.

I park my car, I know it's coming, I'm there.

And so does everybody in the neighborhood.

We're so used to it, let's keep it going.

I want to keep it at the park.

I want to keep it there for the 4 days.

I don't want to corral it in.

And let's keep the hours of operation.

Let's just meet with the police officers and see what we can do to make it better.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you.

Anyone else on that first?

Okay, Councilor Gomes on the second.

Thank you very much.

First, 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.

Can the police— can we have more police?

Yes, we can.

But this is also very costly to these organizations.

When 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.

We had a North End and South End Business Association.

If they gave $5,000 to $7,000 to the Wheeling City Festival, I know for a fact that that would have gone to security.

What I'm saying is that we also have to support these.

We— there is support that comes from the city departments, laying down the water, all them other things.

But we also should have that kitty that we used to have that supports this.

It's good money spent on behalf of the taxpayers that could add to those 9 officers.

As 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.

He said, I could have put 6 more cops on.

So with Councilor Baptiste telling me about 9 cops, that's 15 now that we have.

And 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.

But we want to put the best forward security policies forward, and that's why I want to bring him in.

I want to talk.

I don't think this is a brain surgeon to go through this.

We've been through this 100 times, and I, for the many years that I was part of that festival, again, we took security measures.

There's certain things that can be done, as we discussed earlier today, from walking around the monument, that we didn't allow that.

That was a cut-through that was to go east, west, north, and south to wherever you were going, eat, rides, whatever.

There was no congregation, and that's something that we also should consider.

Consider.

Again, I thank my colleagues for supporting tonight.

Mike Sylvia and his group does a wonderful job.

And let me just remind you something else because I want to.

When 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?

Guy Shepherd, anybody recognize that name?

George Meniz, anybody recognize that name?

The zoo was in trouble.

You know who gave money to the zoo?

Whaling City Festival at the time, when things were just not the same.

So, 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.

We don't have to publicize every time we do good for people.

We 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.

The city of New Bedford is supposed to work with these festivals to try to make them— continue to have them be successful.

And if that means a little bit extra money for security, so be it.

You've got to understand where the middle class in this city are coming from and why these festivals are so important.

Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. President, and thank you for your support, those who have stood up this evening.

Thank you, Councilor Gomes.

Chair recognizes Councilor Abruana, second.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I'll just be brief.

I— 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.

And, 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.

And the festival is this, the festival is that, and the city doesn't do anything for the kids.

At what point— first of all, that's categorically false and wrong on both accounts, factually wrong on both accounts, not even open for opinion.

But number 2, at what point are we going to blame bad parenting?

Honestly, there's bad parents out there and they're not raising their young men and women to do right in their community.

If that were the case, they wouldn't be out doing what they're doing.

Like we saw on Saturday, like we saw a few weeks ago.

Bad parents are bad parents no matter what.

And that's the unfortunate reality that we have.

And I know we can't legislate good parenting or bad parenting, but we have to address the elephant in the room.

At some point, we have to start blaming people for their behavior.

Like, 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.

Someone trashed Hazelwood Park over Saturday night.

How the heck is that our fault?

Someone did something bad overnight and trashed the park.

But again, tag a councillor, tag the mayor.

It's the city's— it's not.

When we find out about these things, we take care of it.

We clean these things up.

We're on it.

But 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.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you.

Councilor Baptiste on the second.

Thank you.

Like I said, being at— please, please respect your councilor.

Thank you.

You're next.

No.

Knowing the parents, right?

Being at the hospital at night.

Like I said, right?

Sometimes we can't help the neighborhoods we come from and the things that we do.

Sometimes 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.

Sometimes they're good decision makers and sometimes they're bad decision makers.

The 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.

You understand what I'm saying?

So 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.

And I see it firsthand all over the place, all over the city.

Right.

And there's a lot of kids that are really doing good.

Out 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.

Right.

And not to mention the elementary schools and, you know, post-teens, like we're throwing everybody in that bad batch.

Right.

And we can't do that.

And 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.

What happened is everybody can act any way they want because everybody wants to be their parents' friend and nobody wants to be a parent.

And that's what we're dealing with at the festival.

And it's not the festival's fault that they have to deal with parents like that.

Like that, you understand what I'm saying?

Or kids like that.

Maybe they should have kids at a certain age have to be with parents.

Maybe they should do what the mall does, you know what I'm saying?

Little precautions to make things safe for other people, right?

And then we can hold people responsible for their children, right?

And then we can hold the kids accountable.

And accountability comes always.

But I yield the floor, and I just don't want all the parents to get a bad rap because not all parents are bad.

Um, but even good parents make bad kids.

So thank you.

I yield.

Thank you, Councilor.

Anyone else?

Tough kids, not bad kids.

There's no bad kids, right, James?

Anyone else?

All right, all those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 30.

Mr. 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.

30A is registered land, 30B is recorded land.

So 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.

I 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.

And if we were to refer it to the committee, would that screw things up?

Sure.

Good evening, councilors.

Um, 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.

Essentially, I, I would have further discussions with my colleagues.

We would be able to get this back by August 20th, more than likely.

Is that acceptable, or do you— does it need to be decided tonight?

For your— in the best interest of your responsibility.

The body still might refer to the committee, but I'm just— I just would like to get all of the information.

I have concerns that there is no appropriation amount here, but continue.

August 20th would be acceptable, but that would be like the latest because the contractor— the project is going to start in September.

So August 20th would be okay?

Yes.

All right, yes, thank you.

Um, 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.

I would imagine he would be acceptable in, in assisting the council on that.

So, your pleasure.

Motion to refer to the Committee on Finance.

Okay, motion to refer to the Committee on Finance made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

On the question, Chair and Councilor Roy.

Thank you.

Uh, I'm— I know there's no appropriation attached to this, but I'm curious if anybody knows what the appropriation might be.

So what I would say is I'll allow this answer right now.

Normally we don't.

I was just getting information for this, but I open that— I will allow an answer if there is an appropriation.

Thank you, Mr. President.

You're welcome.

All right, is there an appropriation?

How much?

The city received a $5 million grant from the state for this project, so the money would be coming from that pot of money.

Okay, so but we don't have a figure for the uptakings?

Um, it was— I think that was Councilor Roy's question, how much this cost.

It was.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you.

So, uh, sorry, uh, Mr. Paveo, um, this is on speaking on referral to the Committee on Finance.

The chair's a lot— the chair's allowing it.

I know, but we can also discuss this in the Committee on Finance.

Yeah, so what I would say is that— what's happening?

Okay, I understand.

You have the figure for appropriation?

Not with you?

You have that?

No, we do.

It's in, it's in the order, and I can, I can, I can tell the— we don't have it on our record.

That is why it's going to get referred, though.

I'm sorry?

We don't have it on our record.

That's why it is going to get referred.

Okay, okay, but we'll be in timeline and we— there is an appropriation, so I think that satisfies.

No, I didn't get an answer.

I was wondering how much the appropriation was going to cost.

That's more of a— that is more of a question.

He said he could answer it.

I was wondering if he was going to, but the general idea was if there is an appropriation, I believe was the question.

I'm sorry.

No, I wanted to know how much it was going to cost.

That is a question for committee if there is an appropriation.

They don't have an answer right now.

Uh, the chair won't allow that question right now.

Oh, okay, okay.

Thank you.

Anyone else on referral to committee?

Chair Agnes Councilor Burgos.

Yes, 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.

Also, 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.

There was 4 items that we sent because of scriber's errors.

This administration is sloppy, and we need to make sure that we're doing this appropriately.

So we should send this to the Committee on Finance.

We 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.

But I think it's important that we send this to Finance.

Make 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.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

Anyone else?

Okay.

All those in favor of referral to committee say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 31.

Mr. 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.

Refer to the state legislative delegation made by Councilor Gomes, seconded by Councilor Bergo.

Councilor Gomes on the question.

Mr. President, very briefly, we've been working on this for a while somewhat in the Public Safety Committee.

We— this is just a home rule petition moving forward so that officers that are sick 65 to 70 years old now could work details.

This has been passed in many other communities.

It would assist our police department as the numbers are down in assisting with details throughout the city.

So again, we've been through— excuse me— here at the Whaling City Festival.

Again, 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.

And 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.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor.

Anyone else?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the Clerk to read item 32.

Mr. 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.

This license term is from July 1st, '26 to June 30th, '27.

Second.

Motion to grant the renewal made by Councilor Abrams, seconded by Councilor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 33.

Mr. 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.

This 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.

A.

A copy of this warrant will be posted at each polling location.

Motion received and placed on file.

Motion received and placed on file, made by Councilor Virgo.

Seconded by Councilor Oliver.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 34.

Mr. 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.

Refer to the more— to Committee on Memorials and Dedication.

Second, refer to Memorials and Dedication.

Made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Roy.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Item 35.

Mr. 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.

Motion to receive and place on file.

Motion to receive and place on file made by Councilor Burgos.

Second.

Seconded by Councilor Carney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Mr. 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.

So at this time, I'd, uh, receive and place on file that into the record.

Okay, motion to receive and place on file that item, uh, the, the response to the veto made by Councilor Lobergo, seconded by Councilor Oliver.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Councilor Chaukat.

Yeah, Mr. President, before we adopt this, uh, consent, I'd like to make a friendly amendment to item C14.

Item— that's what item number is that, Councilor?

C14.

Okay, so the chair will now sever item C14 from the consent agenda.

I will ask the clerk to read item C14.

Mr. 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.

Okay, Councilor, what is your amendment?

Uh, motion to amend.

I 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.

Okay, thank you, Councillor.

Thank you.

Um, the motion has been made to amend C14 by Councillor Choukat, seconded by Councillor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor of the amendment?

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Uh, a motion to adopt item C14 would be appropriate.

Motion to adopt item C14.

Motion to adopt item C14.

As amended by Councilor Chauquet, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Colleague, the consent agenda is still before us.

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

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

We are adjourned at 8:25.

Motion to adjourn.

Oh, oh, I'm sorry.

Consent agenda was passed.

Motion to adjourn made by Councilor Virgo, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

I'm getting the clock shoved in my face, that's why.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

We're adjourned at 8:26 PM.