Special City Council Meeting - June 30, 2025: Wastewater Rate Increase and Fund Transfer
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Special City Council Meeting - June 30, 2025
A special meeting of the New Bedford City Council was called by Council President Shane Burgo on Monday, June 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM for the purpose of considering a wastewater rate increase for Fiscal Year 2026 and a transfer to the Wastewater Enterprise Fund. The meeting was livestreamed and recorded. Roll call was taken with 10 councilors present; Councilor Sean Oliver (Ward 3) was absent due to a family commitment, as noted in a letter read into the record. All votes were unanimous.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the meeting.
Discussion Items
- No discussion beyond the motions and votes occurred; the items were presented and adopted without debate.
Key Outcomes
- Wastewater Rate Increase (FY2026): The council adopted an order from Mayor Mitchell to increase wastewater rates by 3.0% for Fiscal Year 2026. The motion to receive and place on file and adopt the order passed 10-0. (The transcript initially recorded a slip of "10 to 7" but was corrected to 10-0 in the roll call.)
- Transfer to Wastewater Enterprise Fund: The council adopted an order to transfer $2,350,000 from the Special Projects Fund to the Fiscal Year 2026 Wastewater Enterprise Fund. The motion passed 10-0.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:05 PM.
Meeting Transcript
We ready? One, two, three, four, five, six. We got our phone. Want to be on time. God forbid. We're live? All right. Oh, we're late. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, it is 7 p.m. on Monday, June 30th, 2025. And this is a special city council meeting. And we will begin today's meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance by Councilor at Large Ian Abreu. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. Under God. Mr. President, thank you. Thank you. I'm joined in the chamber tonight by my colleagues in government, Councilor at Large, Ian Abreu. Ward 2, Councillor Maria Giesta. Ward 1, Councilor Leo Choquet, Ward 5, Councillor Joe Lopes. I don't I don't I blink every time. I'm not sure. Um Councillor at Large Brian Gomes, Ward 6, Councillor Ryan Pereira, Councilor at Large, Linda Morad, Councilor at Large, Naomi Carney, and Ward 4, Councilor Derek Baptiste. I'll ask the clerk if there is anything to read into the record. Yes, we have one letter tonight. It's from uh Sean Oliver says dear Council President Burgo and honorable members of the City Council. I am writing to inform you that I am unable to attend the tonight's special city council meeting on Monday, June 30th, 2025, due to a previously scheduled family commitment. Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and the public aware of the reasons for my absence. Thank you sincerely, Sean Oliver, Councilor Ward 3. Motion and place on file. Motion received in place on file made by Councillor Abreu. Second. Seconded by Councilor Lopes. Anyone on the question? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. I'll ask the oh, excuse me. Note this meeting is being live streamed and recorded. City Council and Committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Brefort's homepage under quick links, then meetings. I will now ask the clerk to read item one. It's communication, Council President Burgo to Dennis W. Farrier, City Clerk, Clerk of the City Council, calling a special city council meeting for Monday, June 30th, 2025 at 7 p.m. for the purpose of the wastewater rate increase for the fiscal year 2026 and a transfer to the fiscal year 2026 wastewater enterprise fund. Motion to receive and place on file motion received and place on file made by Council Pereira. Second. Seconded by Councilor Carney.
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