Council Committee Advances Hillman Street Realignment for Safer Intersection
Solicitor Confirms $460K MBTA Bridge Settlement Funds Already Spent in General Fund
School Department Warns of Budget Shortfalls and Rising Transportation Pressures
School Administration Closes Budget Deficit Through Step-Level Hiring and Deferred Maintenance
School Department Addresses Bus Contract and Route Consolidation
Council Discusses $395K Transfer and Funding for Zeiterion Theatre
The New Bedford Finance Committee, chaired by Councillor Joseph P. Lopes, met on August 17, 2026. The committee voted to refer the orders for the layout and taking of land for the Hillman Street realignment project to the full City Council. The project aims to create a new, safer, signalized intersection. A discussion was held on a 2025 motion regarding the use of a $3.5 million settlement from the MBTA for pedestrian bridge maintenance. City Solicitor Eric Jaikes informed the committee that the city's portion of those funds, about $460,000, had already been absorbed into the general fund two fiscal years prior and was no longer available. The committee tabled the item pending a report from the City Auditor on how the funds were expended. The committee also addressed several budget transfer requests intended to correct accounting errors in the new fiscal year budget. After questioning City Auditor Quillan Lowney, the committee voted to table transfers for the Mayor's Office ($37,154), the Assessor's Office ($2,000), Labor Relations ($650), and the Zaitarian Theater ($395,000). The decisions to table were made after confirming that essential payments would not be hindered in the short term. However, a transfer of $157,791 for the School Department, moving funds from general expenses to transportation to meet the state's minimum net school spending requirement, was approved for referral to the full council by a 7-1 vote after a lengthy discussion with a school department representative about the department's overall budget shortfall.
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It is 7:02 PM on Monday, August 17th.
0:26Calling the Committee of Finance to order.
0:29Note this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.
0:32City Council committee meetings can be viewed on the city government homepage under Quick Links, then Meetings.
0:39In attendance, we have Council Derek Baptiste, Council Shane Burgo, Council Sean Oliver, Council Naomi Carney.
0:47Sorry, I will start this over again.
0:48In attendance, we have Council Derek Baptiste, Council Shane Burgo, Council Sean Oliver, Council Naomi R.A. Carney, Councilor James Roy, City Council President Ryan Pereira, and Councilor Scott Pemberton, and myself, Councilor of Ward 5 Joseph P. Lopes, Chairman of Finance.
1:03We do have 2 letters to be read into the record.
1:05I have a letter from Councilor Abreu.
1:07I'm writing this letter to inform you that I'm unable to attend the Committee on Finance meeting on Monday, August 17th, 2026, 7 PM, due to attending an out-of-town work commitment.
1:17I ask that you read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and those in attendance and the public aware of the reason for my absence.
1:24And I also received a communication from— actually, a call from Councillor Gomes.
1:28He's ill and will not be here this evening as well.
1:29Motion to receive and place on file the communication from Councillor Abreu, made by Councillor Burgos, seconded by Councillor Pemberton.
1:35All those in favor?
1:36Opposed?
1:36The ayes have it.
1:36We're going to get a motion to take item number 7 out of order.
1:39Motion to take item number 7 out by Councillor Pereira, seeing no objection, seconded by Councillor Burgos.
1:44All those in favor?
1:45Opposed?
1:45The ayes have it.
1:46Item number 7 is a communication Ryan A. Paveo, First Assistant City Solicitor, submitting orders for the layout and taking of the Hillman Street variable width from STA 72 plus 32.80 at the terminus of Pleasant Street, 41.74 feet easterly to terminus at STA 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 The matter was referred here on July 16th, 2026.
2:187A is registration of land and 7B is the requited land.
2:23Motion to receive and place on file made by Councilor, um, Pereira.
2:27Second by Councilor Burgal.
2:28All those in favor?
2:28Opposed?
2:29The ayes have it.
2:30Councilor— uh, Mr. Chairman, uh, just to inform the public and, and my colleagues, uh, in the— in our mayor's papers this week for, uh, our August 20th City Council agenda.
2:43We have received the appropriation order pursuing, uh, in conjunction with this taking of the land.
2:51Uh, I— that is what was requested of this council, of this council in sending it to committee.
2:57I don't know if my colleagues have any questions regarding this, but it all is in order.
3:01In discussions with Attorney Garatowski, he agrees the order appropriation order is in pursuant to this item.
3:11So this council would make a motion to refer if none of my colleagues have any questions.
3:17Council, before we get— anybody have any questions for anyone in attendance tonight on 7, 7A, or 7B?
3:25Seeing none, Councilor Pereira.
3:26Motion to refer out to the full city council on August 20th.
3:31Motion to refer out to the full city council on Thursday, August 20th, 2027.
3:36Made by Councilor Pereira, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.
3:40Anyone on the question?
3:41Seeing none, all those in favor?
3:42Oh, Councilor Baptiste on the question.
3:44Well, I'm not really on the question.
3:45I just wanted to speak.
3:47I spoke to Jamie today about the changes that they had to make and make sure that they made the proper changes.
3:52And I think it's a good— I think this is a good project, making Hillman Street go all the way down.
3:59I think it's a safer— you know, it should have been done years and years and years ago.
4:04I don't even know why we get to the bottom of Hillman and have to take a right and then and then hook a U-turn just to get back on the street.
4:10I think it's super dangerous for pedestrians and for drivers in the— and, um, for guys that's driving and people that's walking up over in that area.
4:18I think this, um, they got all their paperwork in order and everything is the way it should be, and I think that this is, you know, this is a good thing to go forward.
4:25So thank you, and I yield the floor.
4:27Thank you, Councilor Baptiste.
4:28Anyone else?
4:29Seeing none, all those in favor?
4:32Opposed?
4:33The ayes have it.
4:35Back to our normal agenda.
4:37Item number 1, written motion, Councilor Morad, Gomes, Gieser, and Lopes requesting that Chief Financial Officer Robert Ekstrom, City Solicitor Eric Jakes, and a representative of the administration appear before the Committee on Finance to discuss options regarding the $3.5 million settlement to be received from the MBTA.
4:53Said discussion shall include but not be limited to appropriating the monies to the stabilization fund or to a newly created revolving fund account with the intentions of restricting the funds to create a revenue stream dedicated to paying for ongoing maintenance of the pedestrian bridge currently being constructed across Route 18, and that the city of New Bedford will be required to maintain after construction is completed.
5:21Oh, sorry.
5:21The item was referred on August 13th and has remained on the table on October 21st and February 19th, 2025.
5:28Motion to remove from the table made by Councilor Burgo.
5:31Second by Councilor Brewer.
5:32Anyone on the question?
5:32Seeing none, all in favor of the items in front of us?
5:37Attorney Jakes.
5:45Attorney Jakes, you want to give it— my apologies, your counsel had questions for me.
5:49It's okay, it's okay.
5:53Would you like to give an overview of the, of the possibility of creating the stabilization and having the funds set aside for the maintenance of the bridge?
6:03Well, forgive me, I was a little surprised to see this on the agenda this evening, so I went back to the February 19th minutes when it was considered and we addressed the issue.
6:13I explained where the various monies went, the percentage, and the fact that the ones that went to the Housing Authority, to the Redevelopment Authority, into Housing 70 all went there and couldn't be touched, which left a little over, I think, $460,000 that came to the city.
6:33But forgive me, I've got an eye problem from surgery.
6:39Bob Ekstrom spoke on Chapter 44, Section 63 at that meeting back in February of 2025 and indicated that the funds could only be used to retire debt from the asset being sold.
6:56And so the monies were placed into the general fund.
7:01Ultimately would have been free cash if there were free cash back in fiscal '25.
7:07So the monies are long gone at this point.
7:10They couldn't be placed in a revolving fund.
7:15And that was explained back in February 19th, 2025, by both myself as to the allocations and by CFO Ekstrom as to limitations of the use of the funds after chap— under Chapter 44.
7:29So based on that, the answer is no.
7:32The answer is no.
7:33There's only $460,000 that's— that was there, and it's long since gone.
7:37It's 2 fiscal years ago.
7:40Okay, thank you, Attorney Jakes.
7:42Does anybody have any questions for anyone in attendance tonight in regards to item number 1?
7:48Councilor Pereira.
7:50When appropriate, if I could speak with Auditor Lowney, please.
7:54Okay.
7:55Any have any questions for Attorney Jakes?
7:57Seeing none, we'll refer over to City Auditor.
8:07That's Bob's minutes.
8:09That's the minutes of what Bob said.
8:14Council Forever, the floor is yours.
8:15Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
8:16Quillen, good evening.
8:17Good evening.
8:18Um, if we could get a breakdown of where the $460,000 that City Solicitor Jakes was, uh, referencing that came to the city general fund— if we could get a breakdown of where that was expended to.
8:33Okay.
8:33Okay, sure.
8:35Thank you.
8:36Uh, no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
9:00Mr. Chairman, oh, sorry.
9:03What would your preference be?
9:04It doesn't matter to me if you'd rather just table it and wait to get these documents, or when we get them, we can resubmit them for investigation in the committee.
9:11What would— okay, then at this time I make a motion to table.
9:17Thank you.
9:31Item 2, communication.
9:32Mimitsa City Council submitting an order for the transfer of $37,154 from mayor's purchase of services to mayor other charges and expense.
9:40The matter was referred on July 16th, 2026, and 2A is the order made by Councilor Burgos.
9:48Second by Councilor Pereira.
9:49All those in favor?
9:49Opposed?
9:50The ayes have it.
9:50On the question, anyone have any questions?
9:55Councilor Burgos, you're first.
9:57Um, so just, I guess, for the public's view, um, who didn't get the chance to read the letter, essentially what we're supposed to understand from this is that the budget that was hastily put together and thrown together and given to us last minute essentially had certain items in the wrong category.
10:18And then after the fact, when our cuts went through, the departments discovered their constant mistakes and said, oh crap, these cuts that were initially from this line item, I guess, and for this case, purchase of services, uh, was really from other charges and expenses.
10:40Um, that's why now the negative balance, in this case of $37,154, is being requested to transfer to other charges and expenses because of the error of this administration.
10:53Is that correct?
10:55Uh, yeah, my understanding is that there were roll-up codes used for the proposed budget book which were different than the ones that are in our Munis system.
11:02So 2 different softwares.
11:04Some of the GL accounts were just given wrong roll-up codes.
11:07So the amounts in total were correct.
11:09It was just what was presented in the budget book didn't have the same roll-up as what was in the budget order.
11:15And that's a new system we got for this budget book.
11:18I think we used it last year for the first time.
11:20So there— I think there are new accounts that maybe happened during the year that had been misassigned as far as roll-up codes.
11:26So it only happened this year but not last year?
11:28As far as I'm aware, yes.
11:30Interesting.
11:30Okay, um, so my other question I have, which I'll ask for this one and for number 3 and number 4 and number 6, um, so you'll get tired of me asking it, but I'm going to ask every time, is if we don't approve this transfer right now, will any bills not be able to be paid because of it?
11:53Is it— especially since you're the auditor, I know purchases and payments of bills come through you as a second look.
12:00Are people going to be denied or will there be delays because of these errors if we don't correct them currently at the beginning of this fiscal year?
12:11Yeah, as of right now I don't see that just because we are so new into the fiscal year, so there should be available budget otherwise.
12:17In the case of number 2 for the assessors, right now they have a negative budget So that would be something we have to correct at some point because typically we just can't have a negative budget amount.
12:28So, okay, because like in the mayor's budget, I know obviously we're talking to the mayor's office right now, their 100 account I know for a fact is going to be negative soon.
12:37So we'll come back and have you talk about that later on.
12:40Um, but all right, I just wanted to clarify that no city government or business is going to be delayed, denied, or hindered by us if we decide to wait to approve these transfers.
12:53That is what you're telling us right now?
12:54Yes.
12:55Okay, thank you.
12:56Thank you, Councilor Burgo.
12:58Anyone else have any questions?
13:01Seeing none, what's your pleasure?
13:04Motion to table at this time.
13:06Make a motion to table item number 2.
13:07Made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Pemberton.
13:10All those in favor?
13:12Opposed?
13:13The ayes have it.
13:15Item number 3 is a communication, amendment to city council submitting an order for the transfer of $2,000 from assessor's purchase of service to assessor's other charges and expenses.
13:24The item was referred on July 16th, 2026, and 3A is the order.
13:30Motion received and placed on file.
13:31Made by Councilor Burgo.
13:32Second by Councilor, uh, Pereira.
13:34All those in favor?
13:35Opposed?
13:35The ayes have it.
13:36Anyone on the question?
13:37Oh, Councillor Burgo, on the question.
13:43Um, so with this account, you made a reference to it being negative, correct?
13:49So it's my understanding— so other charges and expenses, your other charges and expenses account— or not yours, sorry, the assessor's other charges and expenses account is currently negative $2,000, is what you're saying?
14:01Yes.
14:02Yeah, because the budget order was for $24,000 and change in the Proposed budget showed $26,000, so you would cut $26,000, which resulted in the negative $2,000.
14:15Okay, so I'll ask the same question though.
14:19With that account being negative $2,000 on paper right now, whatever is typically paid out of that account or supposed to be paid out of that account, will it not be paid currently or be delayed because we don't— if we table this tonight?
14:38Yes.
14:38Yeah, so in this case, had the budget order and the proposed budget been the same amount, the account would be at $0, so we wouldn't allow any payments to go out of it in the first place.
14:47So the assessor's department has told me they aren't planning on having any sort of charges to that account for this whole fiscal year.
14:52Okay, so basically it won't matter, it's just about cleaning it up afterwards, right?
14:58Yeah, so it's the the, um, purchase of services would be overstated by $2,000 currently.
15:04That's if this administration doesn't overspend like they typically do by the end of the year.
15:08Okay, thank you.
15:10That's all.
15:11Thank you, Councilor Burgo.
15:12Anyone else on the question?
15:15Seeing none, what's your pleasure?
15:17Motion to table made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
15:24Roll call vote.
15:25Roll call vote has been requested by Councilor Roy.
15:29Roll call on item number 3 and 3A, which is the order.
15:33The motion is to table the item.
15:40Yes, Councilor Baptiste.
15:41Councilor Burgo?
15:42Yes.
15:42Yes, Councilor Burgo.
15:43Councilor Carney?
15:44Yes.
15:44Yes, Councilor Carney.
15:46Councilor Lopes?
15:48Yes.
15:48Yes, Councilor Lopes.
15:49Councilor Oliver?
15:50Yes.
15:51Yes, Councilor Oliver.
15:51Councilor Pemberton?
15:52Yes.
15:53Yes, Councilor Pemberton.
15:54Councilor Pereira?
15:56Yes.
15:56Councilor Pereira.
15:57Councilor Roy?
15:58No.
15:58No.
16:007 to 1.
16:01The item passes 7 to 1.
16:02Item 3 will be tabled.
16:05Excuse me.
16:07Item number 4 is a communication.
16:08Mayor Mitchell, City Council, submitting an order for the transfer of $650 from Labor Relations Purchase of Services to Labor Relations Other Charges and Expenses.
16:17The matter was referred out on July 16th, and 4A is the order.
16:22Motion received and placed on— made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
16:26All those in favor?
16:27Opposed?
16:27The ayes have it.
16:29Anyone on the question?
16:30Councilor Burgos on the question.
16:32Oh, I wasn't sure if anyone else had any questions.
16:35Um, same question, $650, uh, but I guess other charges and expenses again is But this one isn't negative, correct?
16:46And again, anything of the value of $650, labor relations, purchase of services, or other charges, expenses will continue.
16:56Yes.
16:57Whether or not we proceed to— yes, at the current time, yes.
17:01Okay, so we can wait and take a review at this towards, uh, closer to the end of the fiscal year.
17:06Okay, thank you.
17:09Anyone else on the question?
17:12Seeing none, what's your pleasure?
17:15Motion to table made by Councilor Burgos.
17:20Second by Councilor Pereira.
17:21Roll call vote.
17:22Roll call on item number 4 and 4A, which is the order.
17:27The roll call is on tabling item 4 and 4A.
17:37Councillor Baptiste?
17:38Yeah.
17:39Yes, Councillor Baptiste.
17:40Councillor Burgo?
17:41Yes.
17:41Yes, Councillor Burgo.
17:42Councillor Carney?
17:43No.
17:45No, Councillor Carney.
17:46Councillor Lopes?
17:48Yes.
17:49Yes, Councillor Lopes.
17:50Councillor Oliver?
17:51Yes.
17:51Yes, Councillor Oliver.
17:52Councillor Pemberton?
17:53Yes.
17:54Yes, Councillor Pemberton.
17:55Councillor Pereira?
17:57Yes.
17:57Councillor Roy?
17:58No.
18:00Item passes 6 to 2.
18:01The item is tabled.
18:04Item number 5 is a communication.
18:06Minn Mitchell to the City Council submitting an order for the transfer of $157,791 from school general expense to school transportation.
18:16The item was referred on July 16th.
18:195A is the order made by Councilor Pereira.
18:24Second.
18:25Second by Councilor Burgo.
18:26Anyone on the question?
18:28Seeing none, the item is in front of us.
18:31I'm assuming Mr. Flynn— yes, would you like to come to the podium please, as it's a school-related matter?
18:42Does anyone have any questions?
18:43Councilor Bergo.
18:44Thank you.
18:45How are you, Assistant Superintendent Flynn?
18:47Good, thank you.
18:48Um, I have some concerns, um, a lot of concerns actually.
18:54Um, but in regards to the school budget, we already know that in regards to the net school spending side of things, SURE, the formula worked out to however it worked out, and they're telling us that $157,791 is no longer needed for the net school spend.
19:14NSS, SURE is the acronym.
19:16Um, my concern though is the budget that the school committee and technically the superintendent and yourself worked out for FY27 included not only this $157,791 but an additional $2 million plus on the net school spending side of things.
19:38Not just the net school spending side of things but also an additional $2 million on the non-net school side eligible which we just say transportation.
19:45But we know it's so much more than transportation.
19:47It's custodial and other sides of that.
19:51So I say all that to say there's about $4.5 million or so.
19:56If I'm getting— if I'm rounding that number up too much or rounding down too much, you can clarify.
20:01But there's a huge gap, and I'm just curious as to how this $157,000 fits into that.
20:10So I want to address one thing you said about $157,000, quote, not needed.
20:14That's, that's, that certainly would not be my term.
20:17Oh, I agree, I agree.
20:19I'm saying that's what the letter is saying to us.
20:21The letter that's on file here says to us that it's no longer needed because the state's final, uh, calculations— if you're being completely honest, we take CFO Ekstrom's calculation of like the net, net amount that should come to the school department, and he applies his formula, and the actual end result of state aid compared to when the budget was passed.
20:41Correct, there was a net difference of $157,000 in state aid to the city, which then trickles down through the calculations of the net amount to the schools of net school spending.
20:52If you wanted to keep us at the exact minimum set by the state, would be lowered by the $157,000.
20:57It's not to say that we don't need it, couldn't use it, but to meet being at exactly zero above and zero below using CFO Ekstrom's calculations, that's the amount that you would reduce net school spending by, but then transfer it into the non-net, which is 99% transportation, keeping the total school department budget the same.
21:18But I guess that's for his reporting purposes, wanting to show that we're at the minimum net school amount on the net amount side.
21:25And then addressing the shortfalls, well, that's You know, that's ongoing.
21:31You know, Superintendent O'Leary and I speak about that every week.
21:34We're watching all of our hires, all of our turnover in staff.
21:38We're trying to ensure that, you know, the figure is what it is.
21:43We have to live with it.
21:44What can we do?
21:45What can we defer to manage our budget within the amount that was appropriated to us?
21:50The transportation side, quite honestly, is a little more difficult because there's not much leeway.
21:55We, we transport who we must transport.
21:58You know, the students in district, in the city, and outside of the district, largely run by IEPs or special education students, they, they need those services.
22:07They're required.
22:08We're going to supply those services.
22:11If we come to March, April, May and this $2 million less than what we requested is really coming to a reality, I mean, if I'm being completely honest, I can't tell you today that we're going to make it through March, April, May, and June.
22:24We're doing everything we can to consolidate routes, ensure that we're only transporting who we have to transport to make sure we're doing the minimum number of routes.
22:32But we are going to service all the students who need servicing with their routes.
22:36I will make that commitment.
22:38So essentially, this $157,000 is barely a dent in the— it's— and I'm getting that number right, the $2 million?
22:45It's less than one— it's less than one-half of 1% of the budget being transferred from one line to another.
22:50It's I mean, I don't mean to diminish $157,000 at all, but it's not going to affect us one way or another.
22:57You're new to my sarcasm, so I know that you're not catching any of the things that I'm saying.
23:02Everyone else in the room— I'm catching it.
23:03Okay, good, because I just want to make sure some of your responses, you were like, I wouldn't clap.
23:07But anyway, um, again, I just want to highlight the, the concern that I have, especially around the net school spending side.
23:17I agree with you, and I'm one of the people that I would want us to exceed net school spending, but my concern here too, and I will say that sometimes I don't necessarily have a lot of faith in you and the school administration, is when it comes time for the tough decisions around, okay, we're not going to get that $2 million, which I'm— we all know the reality of the situation is we don't have the money to fund the school department this year, which is why the mayor cut the school department by almost $5 million.
23:48Um, I rounded up, um, but essentially at 4.5, whatever the number— but he cut that amount because there's not enough in the tax levy to fund it.
23:56My concern though is what drastic decisions will the school be making?
24:02Is it going to affect our teachers in the classrooms?
24:05Uh, will it affect Prab more?
24:06Those kind of things.
24:07And since we have you in front of us, that's why I'm looking for those kind of questions, especially when you're saying we don't know what's going to happen in March or April.
24:15In that time frame, right?
24:16So to address it right now, the last thing we want to have happen is to affect student-facing, direct in the classroom, direct to teachers.
24:23That would be the last decision we would ever try to make.
24:27Quite honestly, with the number of employees we have exceeding 2,400, there's a lot of turnover every year.
24:32We're trying to squeeze every penny we can out of turnover.
24:34We're being extra insistent this year with the principals that, okay, you have an opening, we do need to fill that opening.
24:41But let's, you know, could somebody with 1, 2, 3 years experience fit the criteria of what you're looking for as opposed to someone with 9, 10, 11 who's going to be placed higher on a union scale?
24:52And, you know, if you save $50,000, $20,000 here or there, it will start to add up pretty quickly.
24:59So that's our very first attempt at closing this gap is being very vigilant this summer on all of our turnover positions is You know, hiring the best candidate, yes, but at the lowest experience level, lowest point on the scale that we can get them.
25:14Second to that, you know, with anything, there's maintenance items we would like to do, there's things we have to do.
25:19So right now we're just doing the things we have to do.
25:22If there are maintenance items we would like to do but can defer them, we're making the decision to not do it right now because again, if it's $50,000 here, $20,000 there, it's going to add up.
25:31So we're not doing those, and that's the And to clarify, the maintenance side of it is the, as you keep coining, transportation, but non-net school spending side falls under maintenance, is that correct?
25:43Um, technically no.
25:45Well, it depends on the size of the project.
25:46To get— not to get too into the weeds, a maintenance project that exceeds $150,000 is non-net school spending.
25:54A maintenance, say a $20,000 repair to a boiler, that does count towards net school spending.
25:59So regular everyday maintenance of any one job under $150,000 counts towards the minimum net school spending side of the budget.
26:10But the custodial staff— net school spending— they're on net school spending?
26:14Yes, they are.
26:19All right, that's all I had for clarifying questions.
26:22Thank you.
26:25Hi.
26:25Hi.
26:25So just one question, I think.
26:27Do you— does, does your office support this transfer?
26:32Support?
26:33I mean, the net, the net amount of the total school budget staying the same.
26:37So quite honestly, I don't have an opinion either way.
26:40I think it's more a bookkeeping thing.
26:41We want to— we, the global— we as the city want to do this transfer so that the schools are at the exact minimum net school spending.
26:50I'd say I'm not really a fan of being exactly at zero.
26:53I would not be a fan of the budget being reduced, but if it's just transferring from one line to the other and it's what the city auditor CFO's office wants to do, it's really not going to affect us at the end of the year.
27:04I mean, it's the same bottom line that we have to spend, and we're going to spend on the expenses that we need to expend throughout the year anyway, if I'm being completely honest.
27:13Thank you for being honest.
27:14I'm all good.
27:14Thank you.
27:15Thank you, Councilor Roy.
27:16Councilor Baptiste, on your first.
27:18What's up, Dave?
27:19How you doing today?
27:19Good.
27:19Thank you.
27:20Good.
27:21I just had a couple of questions with the trans— with the money going in transportation.
27:27Did the sale of Tremblay Bus have anything to do with that?
27:31Did the prices change with how your bus routes are going to— and how you're going to have to pay for your bus routes and all that?
27:37And how do you put your net spending like with your routes, right?
27:43You know how like you have clustered routes and you have double runs at certain places.
27:47Have you ever thought about consolidating— not consolidating, but going back to old ways of transportation that maybe might handle the problem with timing, which probably wouldn't go towards so much of the— but like you need to transfer the transportation budget because kids need to get to school and kids need to get to where they're at.
28:07I was just wondering if the sale, you know, of a new company coming in, a bigger company coming And will the prices change knowing that, you know, when you have a mom-and-pop company, you can get them little— you know, you can, you can make them little side deals and you can do a little bit of that stuff where, whereas another company comes in, you don't have that same relationship with them, same bonds.
28:27So the good thing is that we were— right now we're entering year 4 of a 5-year contract that was with Tremblay's.
28:33Part of the deal with them being bought by School Transportation of America is they need to honor all the terms and conditions of that contract.
28:40So for year 4 and year 5, it's the exact same as if Tremblays had not sold out to them.
28:46And then to your second question about consolidating routes so we can tier them better, that's absolutely something that, you know, Darcy Youngs and Superintendent O'Leary and I have talked about.
28:54The one stumbling block to that potentially is that would require changing in times, potentially like start and end times of schools, to then tier them a little bit better.
29:04And then that requires a lot of negotiations with the unions to change changed times.
29:07Yeah, but it's certainly something that we could do.
29:09When the school times were staggered, I'm sure the bus routes were easier to get people, you know, with everything coming a little bit— with high school starting a little later or closer to the middle schools, you know, like their time being closer together.
29:26So the drop-offs being more clustered, whereas earlier drop-off after high school used to happen.
29:31You used to go like the high school, the middle school, elementary school, and it used to make it easier for runs.
29:36I didn't know if that would, you know, deal with anything with the budget.
29:40And also, like you say, they have to honor Tremblays from 4 and 5.
29:44So we're going to think about a drastic change after year 5, right, with the transportation budget.
29:51Yeah.
29:51And unfortunately, that could, that could be a reality of a bigger company taking over.
29:56But at least we have years 4 and 5 under our known pricing structure.
30:00So let's just make sure we maintain good relationships with every little company around here.
30:06So when these prices balloon, we can always have people that can back us up because we want to make sure with all the issues that people complain about with the times and like when I'm going to work, I'm seeing buses packed like I've never seen buses packed like they are like right now.
30:22And I know there's more people coming into the city.
30:24There's more kids going to school, thank God, um, and showing up, and the attendance is better, so the graduation rate goes up a little bit more.
30:32But, you know, making sure that these kids get there safely is, is the main thing, and making sure that we, you know, stay within the budget and can help out, you know, you guys in any way possible.
30:41But thank you.
30:42Um, I yield.
30:43Thank you.
30:44Thank you, Councilor Baptiste.
30:45Anyone else on the question?
30:48See no one else on the first.
30:49Anyone on their second?
30:52Seeing none, motion referral to the full City Council for adoption.
30:57Made by Councilor Burgos, second by Councilor Baptiste.
31:01Roll call vote.
31:02Roll call vote.
31:09Referring to the full City Council.
31:11Yes, sir.
31:13No, 5, 5, and 5A.
31:20Okay, uh, I'm referring out for approval.
31:23Councilor Baptiste?
31:24Yes.
31:25Yes, Councilor Baptiste.
31:26Councilor Virgo?
31:27Yes.
31:27Councilor Carney?
31:28Yes.
31:28Yes, Councilor Carney.
31:29Councilor Lopes?
31:32Yes.
31:32Yes, Councilor Lopes.
31:33Councilor Oliver?
31:35Yes.
31:35Yes, Councilor Oliver.
31:36Councilor Pemberton?
31:37Yes.
31:37Yes, Councilor Pemberton.
31:38Councilor Pereira?
31:39Yes.
31:39Yes, Councilor Pereira.
31:40Councilor Roy?
31:41No.
31:41No.
31:42Item passes 8 to 1.
31:44Yep, item passes 8 to 1.
31:477 to 1, I'm sorry, sorry.
31:48Yeah, 7 to 1 on referral to the full City Council.
31:52Item number 6 is communication amendment to City Council submitting an order for the transfer of $395,000 from Zaitarian Theater Supplies to Zaitarian Theater Purchase of Services.
32:02The matter was referred here on July 16th, and 6A is the order.
32:06Motion.
32:08Made by Council Oliver.
32:10Second by Council Pereira.
32:12All those in favor?
32:12Opposed?
32:13The ayes have it.
32:15Who would you like to hear from?
32:17I'm assuming I know the answer, but Rosemary— oh, Mr. Lowry, please.
32:30Council Pereira on your first.
32:32Thank you, Mr.— thank you, Mr.
32:33Chair.
32:34Uh, Quillen, we, uh, I'm reading this, it just looks like again the order line was put in wrong as it's a contractual service that we have with the Citerion Theater which needs to go in the 200 account, which is the purchase of services, and it was incorrectly put in the 400 account.
32:51Yes.
32:51Okay, so this is just transferring from the 4 to the 200 and it's the entirety of it.
32:56So this one doesn't have like— for them to start getting their payments, it needs to be in the 200 account.
33:02Yeah, for proper UMass accounting, we need to have it being paid out of the 200 account.
33:05Okay.
33:05Have they received a payment yet?
33:07No.
33:08No.
33:08So if once we get it in the 200 account, they can start receiving the payment that we are obligated to give them based on the— our agreement with the Zeitarian?
33:20Yes.
33:21Okay.
33:21Contractually obligated to pay them?
33:23Yes.
33:23By law?
33:25Per the contract.
33:26Per the contract.
33:26Thank you.
33:27Thank you, Mr.
33:28Chair.
33:28Thank you, Councilor Pereira.
33:30Councilor Oliver, on your first.
33:31Thank you.
33:31Councilor Burgo, you're on deck.
33:32Thank you, Mr.
33:33Chair.
33:33Uh, thank you, Quellen.
33:35Uh, contractual— what's this contract?
33:37Uh, just a— it's a support agreement with the Zaitarian the city entered into with the Zaitarian, correct?
33:45Yes.
33:46Okay.
33:47Uh, how long do we have on that, the existing agreement?
33:50Do you know?
33:51Off the top of my head, I don't know.
33:52I'm sorry, I don't know.
33:53I can get back to you with that.
33:55I know, I know the answer.
33:56I'm just— oh, okay.
33:58Um, and this is— so this, this support agreement, it's sitting in supplies now.
34:05It can't be touched because it's in the wrong— in the wrong drawer, if you will, right?
34:10It's in the wrong account.
34:12Yeah, if we want to have it be correct, it would be paid out of the 200 account.
34:15And the whole idea of this support agreement, you— is for What, what does your office believe it's, it's for, or know that it's for?
34:26To support the Zaiterian in their operations.
34:28Support the Zaiterian.
34:30Okay.
34:31Um, it is— we give the building to the, to the Z at no cost, correct?
34:38Uh, I believe a $1.99 a year.
34:40Yeah, yeah, for $99.
34:41Yep.
34:42Okay.
34:43Um, all right, that's— I just wanted to clarify for the general public what the what this $400,000 is, um, and why it was— it needs to be changed, um, because it, like you said, it is sitting in one account, needs to be moved to the other account.
35:00Um, and, um, that's all.
35:02Thank you.
35:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
35:04Councilor Oliver.
35:05Councilor Burgo, on your first.
35:09Yes, thank you.
35:10Um, I just want to clarify with this particular account, why we're not able to make payments to the Zaiterian Theater while we wait?
35:21Well, I was told that we can treat this as just a sub-functional department where the purpose of this department is to just provide support for the Z.
35:28So as for reporting to the state and for our audit, it really is just one line for it.
35:35But ultimately, we do need to charge a certain object code, and so right now we would have to charge it to the 400 account to have it match, even though ultimate roll-up to all the same point.
35:45But we do want to get it right, as we have with the other items as well.
35:48So even though you get it wrong any other time, you guys wouldn't be able to make the payment?
35:55That's my question, is that if, for example, it's table tonight and the Zaitarian needs their, their funding, you wouldn't be able to cut them a check with it being in— we would, because the way we report it is just on the Zaitarian line in total.
36:08So you would be able to?
36:09Correct.
36:10Even though you just told my colleague Councilmember that a payment would not be able to go out to them?
36:14Well, for me, I would like to have it go out of the correct account, but if we need to put in the wrong— and that's fine, and I understand that.
36:19I think that we should do things that way.
36:22I just want to, again, on the record, clarify that this administration picks and chooses, not you, and I want to make that clear.
36:30I think you're doing a great job, Quinlan.
36:31Thank you.
36:32You're excellent.
36:33I'm so proud of the work that you're doing as our auditor.
36:35So proud to have voted for you.
36:37Keep up the good work.
36:39This administration, though, picks and chooses when they want to do things right and by the book.
36:44And so right now, I think it's too early in the fiscal year to be doing transfers.
36:49And so I want to, again, just like these past transfers that we just tabled, to table this item.
36:54And I'm glad that you just clarified for us that the Zeitgeist Theater can still receive this access to the $395,000 because this administration tried to play with this money in a previous budget when it was under DFFM, when we knew that DFFM's line items budget— when it was under DFFM's budget, they had the money to pay.
37:16But the administration at that time played games and said, nope, we can't because it was cut from the budget, even though they could have funded it.
37:23But they did it as a tug of war.
37:25And so the same thing's happening again.
37:26I just wanted to clarify, I don't want to hear on the radio, I don't want to see in a press release from this administration that, oh, the Zaitarians are at jeopardy again, because a check— and it's on the record now— can be cut for them.
37:40Although the, the source code might be messed up, we can fix that later on, just like we fix every other mistake from this administration, just like we did on item 7 here from the registered land taking for this easement.
37:52Just like I can list a whole other— in my tenure here, just for 5 years, I'm sure my other colleagues who've been here longer can tell you all the other mistakes this administration has made.
38:01So again, I do not want to hear that this administration has not given a check to anybody when these funds have been appropriated.
38:11Understood?
38:12Yep.
38:12Thank you.
38:13That's all.
38:15Thank you, Councilor Burgo.
38:16Anyone else on the first Anyone on there second?
38:22Seeing none, what's your pleasure?
38:25Oh, really quick.
38:25Second.
38:26Oh, there was a motion on the table to refer the full city council.
38:30Is that for adoption?
38:31Councilor Pereira, motion to refer to the full city council and adoption of items 6 and 6A, made by Councilor Pereira, seconded by Councilor Roy.
38:40Motion to receive and place on file this report that we should have all received and know if Rosemary handed this to everyone.
38:47Rosemary, did I get one?
38:49Did you give this to everyone?
38:54Oh, you don't have that?
38:57Okay, never mind then.
38:59Okay, well, I just thought because everyone's always complaining they don't get this, but you'll get an electronic copy of it.
39:05Thank you.
39:05It's just the report to the city I thought was appropriate to receive.
39:08But motion to table.
39:09Second.
39:10Motion to refer takes precedent.
39:13No, it doesn't.
39:14The motion to table takes precedent.
39:15Sorry, I apologize, Councilor Burgo.
39:17There is a first made by Councilor Burgo.
39:19Is there a second?
39:20Second.
39:21Second made by Councilor Oliver.
39:23Roll call vote on tabling.
39:26On tabling.
39:28Roll call vote on tabling.
39:30Councilor Baptiste?
39:32Yes.
39:32Councilor Baptiste.
39:33Councilor Burgo?
39:34Yes.
39:34Councilor Burgo.
39:35Councilor Carney?
39:36Yes.
39:36Yes, Councilor Carney.
39:37Councilor Lopes?
39:39No.
39:39No, Councilor Lopes.
39:40Councilor Oliver?
39:41Yes.
39:42Yes, Councilor Oliver.
39:43Councilor Pemberton?
39:44Yes.
39:44Yes, Councilor Pemberton.
39:45Councilor Pereira?
39:46Yes.
39:47Yes, Councilor Pereira.
39:49Councilor Roy?
39:49No.
39:50No, it passes, um, 6-2.
39:55Item to table, passed 6-2.
39:59Motion to adjourn.
40:01Motion to adjourn is made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Oliver.
40:06All those in favor?
40:07Opposed?
40:09We are adjourned at 7:42 PM.