The New Bedford City Council held a special meeting on June 18, 2025, at 6:30 PM in City Council Chambers to act on five items that had been tabled at previous meetings: two major loan orders for water and wastewater infrastructure, two transfers from free cash to enterprise fund budgets, and two reappointments to city boards. All items were approved unanimously with no public comment or debate.
No substantive discussion occurred. Each item was moved from the table and adopted via roll call votes without questions or debate.
Good evening, everyone. It is June, Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 at 6:30 PM. And this is a special city council meeting. We do not have a member of the clergy present, so we'll take a moment of silence to offer your own prayer. Thank you. Today we'll do the pleasure of allegiance. Uh we'll be led by the ward one councillor Leo Choquette. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Councillor. I want to make a note that this meeting is being live streamed and recorded. City Council and committee meetings can be viewed on the city council. Um can be viewed on the city of New Bedford's homepage under quick links. Then meetings. I'm joined in the chamber tonight by my colleagues and government. Uh councillor at large and second vice president, Linda Morad, Councilor at large, Brian Gomes, ward five, councillor Joseph Lopes, Ward 1, Counselor, Leo Choquette. Sorry, it was like I can't see your sign. Anyway, ward two, counselor Maria Giesta, Councilor at large, Ian Abrew, Ward 4, Councilor Derek Baptiste, Ward 3, Councillor Sean Oliver, and Counselor at Large and First Vice President Naomi Carney and Grandmother. Congratulations to you. Yes. I'll ask the clerk if there are any letters to read into the record. There are no letters. All right. I'll ask the clerk to read uh the first communication, please. Uh communication, uh Council President Burgo to Dennis W. Farrell's city clerk, clerk of the city council, calling a special city council meeting for Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 at 6 30 p.m. for the purpose of acting on two transfers that were tabled at the city council meeting of May 22nd and two loan orders and two reappointments that were tabled at the June twelfth City Council meeting. Motion res motion received and place on file. Made by Councilor Morad, seconded by Councilor Loops. Anyone on the question? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. I'll ask the clerk to read items two and three together without objection. Without objection, two and three loan order appropriating thirty-eight million one hundred thousand dollars to pay the costs of capital planning and construction of water distribution and treatment system improvements, including a lead service abatement program, transmission main inspection program, and general system improvements. It was passed to a second reading on May 22nd, 2025, and on June 12th, 2025, it was tabled. Three is the loan order appropriating 32 million two hundred thousand dollars to pay the costs of projects outlined in the city's long-term CSO control and integrated capital improvement plan, including wastewater collection system improvements, pumping station improvements, flood control structure improvements, water quality improvements, CSO abatement and general system improvements. It was passed to a second reading on May 22nd, 2025. It was tabled on June twelfth, 2025. Two and three are now before you and the question. And adopt the orders. And adopt the orders as presented. Motion made by Councilor Lopes to receive and place on file removed from the table items two and three and adopt the orders as presented. And waive rule 40 with one vote. And waive rule 40. Seconded by Council Moore. Mr. President, can we sever the waive rule 40? All right, we'll sever uh rule 40.