All right.

Perfect.

Good evening, everyone.

It is Thursday, October 23rd, 2025, and it is 7.01 p.m.

And tonight's uh session will begin with a prayer from the associate pastor Jesse Danner from Grace Harbor Church.

Let's pray.

Almighty God.

I acknowledge that you are creator of all things.

You are the one true God.

Your word in the Gospel of John reminds us of this.

It says all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

I come before you with gratitude, acknowledging that every good and perfect gift comes from you.

You knew what our community would need long before we existed.

And we rest in the assurance of your unfailing love and wisdom.

I live before you the men and women gathered in this chamber, leaders whom you have entrusted with the care in of this city and its people.

Each one is uniquely gifted and called to serve and made in your image.

Grant them wisdom, O Lord, wisdom that is pure, peace loving, and full of mercy.

And so I ask today guide their minds as they deliberate.

Their words as they speak, their hearts as they lead.

Made every decision here be marked with integrity, humility, and compassion.

Seeking not only what is expedient, but what is right and what is good for all.

Bless this city and all that call it home.

May it flourish by your gospel and under your guidance.

May justice, peace, and unity be established in every neighborhood.

I offer this prayer in your holy name.

I pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you.

Thank you, Pastor Danner.

Tonight we're led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Councilor at Large Naomi Carney.

And to the Republic for which it stands.

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

Thank you.

Mr.

President.

I just want 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.

There is not, Mr.

President.

Wonderful.

I'm joined tonight in the chamber by my colleagues in government, Counselor at Large, Ian Abrew, Ward 2, Counselor Maria Giesta, Ward 1, Counselor Leo Choquette, Ward 5, Counselor, Joseph Lopes, Counselor at Large, Brian Gomes, Ward 6, Counselor Ryan Pereira, Counselor at Large and Second Vice President, Linda Morad, Counselor at Large and First Vice President, Naomi Carney, Ward 3, Counselor Sean Oliver, and Ward 4, Counselor Derek Baptiste.

I'll ask the clerk to read uh the first item under hearings.

Mr.

President, item one is a hearing from network building and consulting on behalf of Verizon of New England to the location of 145 foot midspan poll and one cable in Hathaway Road near 19 Hathaway Road.

1A is the order.

Motion receive and place a file and open the public hearing.

Motion received and place on file and open the public hearing made by Council Oliver.

Seconded by Councilor Giesta.

Anyone on the question?

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you, City Council President, and to the council itself.

My name is John Moore.

I'm here to represent Verizon.

This petition is for a mid-span poll on Hathaway Road.

I have a source because they're going to be adding power for a new building that's going there.

So the two polls that are there presently are too long away.

And they'll have to put one in the middle so we can uh make sure that uh all the cabling that's going to be run for the electric and for Verizon itself would be uh within safety, of course.

Chair recognizes Council Oliver on is first.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um you said it's gonna be for a new building that's going into that.

Yes, I believe there's a new building going there.

And there's been a lot of work there lately, so I don't know if it was something to service what ex is existing now.

So that's no, it's gonna be primarily for just that little area for the new building and obviously for uh buildings that are there now as well.

Um I do agree with you.

I looked at the the map and the polls that they they span pretty far.

Is this gonna be closer to the traffic light?

It's gonna be off of the sidewalk on the side where the building's being built.

Okay.

And where there's a building there presently now.

All those sidewalks there are brand new.

If uh side rock walk is this uh disrupted, you guys will replace it too.

This mid-span poll is not going to go on the sidewalk.

It's actually going to go in the um the grassy area after the city.

Same it though, if the the sidewalk is is broken, obviously.

Oh absolutely, yes.

Oh, yes.

Um this is a very very busy intersection.

Yes.

Uh I would um really like a police detail there and maybe even two because it's it gets very it gets very important.

Absolutely, because those one once they want to uh install that poll, uh they're obviously going to be tying up the traffic on that side street there.

So uh police details uh definitely would be in order.

Yep.

And we looking for is this just one day?

Uh one day I believe, yes.

Okay.

All right.

Um that's all I have for right now, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Anyone else from the body?

Chair recognize Council Morat on her first.

No, right now it's just cables that are there right now between the two poles.

So they want to put this mid-span poll where the cabling is because if they add the new electric cables and all the cabling for Verizon and so forth, it'll make those two poles right now a little weaker, what they call uh poll load.

So that's why it's in, you know, obviously for safety reasons why they're putting that mid-span poll there now.

And the two poles that you're connecting to, they're existing.

Yes, they are.

They're single polls they're not double polls, there's no little pieces attached to them.

To the best of my knowledge, I believe there's single polls.

They are single?

Okay, good.

We have enough double polls.

We have enough double polls everywhere.

Yeah, okay, yeah, all right.

Okay, thank you for answering my question.

Thank you, Mr.

Welcome.

Anyone else from the body?

Seeing none, this is a public hearing.

Anyone here wish to speak in favor?

Speak in favor.

Be recorded in favor, be recorded in favor.

Anyone wish to speak in opposition?

Speak in opposition.

Be recorded in opposition, be recorded in opposition.

Close the public hearing.

Motion to close the public hearing made by Councillor Abreu, seconded by Councilor Oliver.

Anyone on the question of closing the public hearing?

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Motion to grant the order as discussed.

Motion to grant the order as presented, made by Councillor Oliver, seconded by Councillor Abrew.

Anyone on the question.

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

City Council.

Uh that will bring us to mayor's papers.

I'll ask the clerk to read M1.

Mr.

President, M1 is a communication from Mayor Mitchell to the council.

Submitting a loan order appropriating 17,421,338 for the purpose of making critically needed repairs to city-owned buildings, including but not limited to projects for the repair and renovation of public safety facilities, recreational facilities, general office space, replacement of capital equipment and vehicles, and roads and infrastructure improvements.

1A is the order.

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

Motion receive in place on file and adopt the order made by Council Pereira.

Seconded by Councillor Abreu.

Council Perron is first.

Thank you.

Mr.

President.

Mr.

President and members of and colleagues, I plan on voting no on this item here.

Um as you know, we make motions in the affirmative.

But I I am not supporting a $17.4 million capital improvement plan at this time.

Many months ago, in conversations with members of the administration in his office, uh CO his COO and chief of staff reassured me that we will see a lean CIP.

And now, while the the definition of lean wasn't given, we said, oh, it'll be a couple projects and road repair.

Road rep money for road repair and a couple projects.

Before us tonight is not a lean CIP.

It is the largest CIP in the city's history.

I have made financial decisions leading up to tonight, based upon the assumption that we would see an amount that would be uh uh lower, much lower than we've seen in years past, not much higher.

So I am voting against this tonight.

Send this back and put forward a capital improvement plan of something around six million dollars, seven million dollars.

I'll debate that.

I'll decide what projects are good in that.

But to sit here and try and cut out over 17 million dollars worth of projects trying to decide that is ridiculous.

When we were told we would receive a lean CIP, not the largest in history.

The largest.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

And I asked my colleagues, Mr.

President, to vote against this tonight.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Chair recognizes Council Choquett on his first day.

Good evening, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Um I just wanted to say that uh a few weeks ago I put in a motion and a request for, in comparison to 17 million, a fairly paltry 100,000 request uh for monies for the Board of Health in the event of an appeal by parallel products.

Um the people award won, this is a very important issue to them.

And so unfortunately, the mayor returned that request unsigned.

And I feel if he can't say yes or no to a request for 100,000, then why should I say yes to 17 million?

Thank you.

I yield.

Well, it's on there first.

Chair recognizes Councillor Carney on her first.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'm also a no on this 17 million dollars.

Over the past several CIPs, uh I've asked my colleagues to put a pause on it because I just think that uh that right now with the with the economy and the taxes.

I know it's they stretch it out over a period of time, it's a loan.

But the way I look at it, a loan is a loan.

And every time you take it alone, you do have to pay it back.

So there was something added on every year to the taxpayers when you pay a loan, because we have to pay it back.

$17 million is a little crazy.

When we first started the CIP, it was five million dollars a year.

I was comfortable with five million dollars a year.

But every year I know prices go up, things go up, every year it goes up and up.

But for it to jump this high is ridiculous.

I would vote for something with five million dollars in it, strictly for the roads and sidewalks.

Because our sidewalks are deplorable all the street with the trees are buckled to sidewalks, people trying to walk on sidewalks, and it's not it's not a good situation.

So I would like to see something just for roads and sidewalks, but $17 million, absolutely not.

So I will be voting a no on the $17 million.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Chair recognizes Councillor Morat on her first.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, I I don't think it's any surprise that I would support my colleague from Ward 6 and his request to vote no on an absolutely absurd request for $17 million after we just got a $500 million budget request less than three months ago.

This administration and its spending is out of control.

Like my colleague said prior, when we were going through the budget, I was asking some questions as well, because you know, CIP comes every year, and I actually support the concept of uh capital improvement program every year to slowly take care of some of the deferred items in the city that that are targeted that need to be repaired.

And I was told as well that this year's CIP would be very lean.

I guess my definition of lean and someone else's definition of lean is is very different.

17.4 million dollars.

Now I don't know about all of you, but since the mayor put out on his Facebook page how excited he was about sending this to us, I know you've read some of the comments that are out on social media, but I've gotten several calls.

And I was at a ribbon cutting representing the council today, and several people spoke to me.

Taxpayers spoke to me saying, Are you crazy?

What are we doing?

Somebody's got to pay this bill.

It might not be me, I'm old, but somebody's got to pay this bill.

This isn't free money.

This is borrowed money.

And look, I'm sure we have the capacity to take this type of loan at this point in time.

We've been frugal about things.

But 17 million?

And then you look at the projects.

You know, if it were me submitting an order to all of you asking for you to um approve something, I'd be sitting thinking, okay, how might I get this through?

Well, every year they talk about how they want more road money, they want more road money.

So maybe I'll make it four this year instead of what it was last year, three.

Well, maybe I'll make it five.

But it's three.

It's the same number that it's been.

And the only reason it's three is because a few years ago we refused to pass the CIP unless we put more money in for roads.

And then I start looking, and I hope you will as well, because whether this passes tonight or not, this won't be debated this year.

It'll be debated sometime next year, as as it usually is.

And I I won't be here to be part of your discussion.

But I hope you look, as I do every year, about what you're being asked to fund.

Because in this year, because many ye many times it's the first segment of a long-term project.

That's freaking expensive.

And uh what I get concerned about is what's happening this year in the CIP.

This year, there's a request for $150,000 for the Z.

$750,000 for the Z.

They just put through a $38 million capital improvement program, and they need $750,000 to bring the building to code.

That's what it says.

To bring the building to code?

Really?

You just got $38, $37 million.

You couldn't bring the building to code.

And what I've heard is, oh, well, this is the second phase of what you committed in a prior CIP.

You have to keep an eye on that because that's gonna come back to bite you.

And I sure hope you don't give the Z 750,000 after just having given them 495,000, they're not even operating.

You gave them 495,000 to operate, and now they want 750 to bring the building to code.

But I say that because there's many projects like that in this year's CIP.

It's 17 million this year.

But when you look at 27, 28, 29, the total is huge.

Look at some of the projects.

So you want to make sure, and I want to make sure that when we're doing this, we're not only planning for this year, and we're not gonna give them 17 million, but we're not just planning for this year.

You're planning for what you're gonna face in prior in upcoming years.

And the numbers are big, and the taxpayers have to pay the loan.

My colleague to my right is right.

It's probably not paying it this year, but you're gonna pay it eventually.

A loan is a loan.

That's what these are, and they have to be paid back.

So this administration's out of control.

This is another problem of the four-year mayor term.

Um, this administration is out of control.

They don't care about putting their hand in your pocket, taxpayers of the city.

And I'm really glad that people are paying attention.

And as I said, maybe some of you have heard from your constituency.

Uh, the gentleman that spoke to me today at the ribbon cutting was vehement about not doing this, not putting this kind of burden.

And he said the same thing.

I understand some things need to be done, but this is ridiculous, and this is way too much.

So I'll be voting no.

Uh, probably the only chance I'll have to vote no on this particular CIP.

But when you're debating it next year, I'll be in your ear.

I'll be a resident at a taxpayer then.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

The chair recognizes Councillor April on his first.

Thank you very much, Mr.

President.

What all the points that my colleagues had had raised before uh you recognized me are all well placed and well put, and uh many of those comments I was going to echo, but also too, it's concerning to me is I've heard from maybe my colleagues have as well, but a couple of different department heads, and of course I'm not gonna name any names, I won't put them out there tonight, but I've heard from a few different department heads telling me that they had no idea that these allocations were being proposed to their particular departments.

That should alarm everybody in this room and alarm the taxpayers of New Bedford, where allocating funds to certain departments, and we're not sitting down with the experts of that department who run that department to find out what his or her needs are and discussing what said needs are and what their thoughts are about these allocations.

That to me is just totally insane.

Uh I'm in my wrapping up my about my tenth year now.

I've never heard of that or seen that before.

Um that's very concerning.

We're putting forth over 17 million dollars worth of initiatives, and there are several department heads that didn't know this was coming down the pike.

They find out about this through mayor's papers or through a press release.

Is that appropriate?

Is that how things are getting done?

I I'm pretty shocked.

I don't know if anyone heard the same story.

They want to back up or corroborate my story, but I'm sticking to it because that's what I'm being told.

Why would these department heads lie?

They're not gonna lie, that's what they're telling me.

So that's very disconcerting to me.

Uh I too will vote no to send this back because now's not the right time for this, in my opinion.

Roads, infrastructure, public safety, absolutely, we can make the case.

Supporting the men and women of our police department, fire department, and our infrastructure department, our DPI to tune up our roads and sidewalks.

Absolutely.

Everything else can wait, in my opinion.

It can wait.

I mean playground improvements.

I mean, we can just go on and on.

Like these are all cool and great things.

And I have children and I love my kids and we all love the kids of the city.

We want them to have brand new playgrounds.

I want them to have brand new playgrounds too, but what we have is fine for now.

And it's just, I'm looking through this, and a lot of this is just pie in the sky at this time, in my opinion.

So let's send it back.

Let's get to the table.

Let's get a real number back here and let's have that discussion about what's wants versus needs.

Wants versus needs.

Let's get the needs to the table.

Let's have a hearing on the needs, and then we can vote and deliberate accordingly.

So with that, I'll yield Mr.

President.

Thank you for the time.

Thank you.

Councilor Gomes on his first.

Can I just catch my breath for a minute?

Because it was very emotional just now.

Mr.

President, been here a long time.

Biggest CIPA I see coming at us.

And you know why?

This is what happens when you give a four-year mayoral term.

This is what happens when you think that you just do what you want and it doesn't matter.

You know, the funniest thing is some of these things in here.

I don't see a problem with them right now.

I don't see that they have to be replaced.

So I'm in agreement.

There's nothing much more that can say than what's already said.

Let's send it back.

Um let's see what um you can come up with that is in range of what we need.

Um there's a lot of roads to be done in this city.

A lot of roads.

You can do church street, you can do these streets that are being done.

There's even some streets that have been torn up that shouldn't have been torn up.

But I guess it's good.

It's good for the voting people that are out there.

You understand what I'm saying, Mr.

President Street like Illinois, did not have to be taken up if you ever traveled on them.

If you travel throughout the city, you'll know the streets that need to be done and don't need to be done.

But that was torn up.

Let's send this back, Mr.

Mayor.

Take a look at this and realize what you are doing to the people.

Because one thing I'm going to tell you right now is that you can keep putting the bills on the people.

You'll walk out the door.

You won't worry about the people or what you leave behind.

All you're worried about is what you can put in front of you.

And I don't know no congressional office, no office statewide, countrywide, that's going to reflect on um spending CIP money and what you're doing in the city of New Bedford, because you're really putting people into a situation that is not good.

I know you've been out there just as many of us going throughout the city in the time that it is.

And what is what what are people talking about?

Taxes, taxes, taxes.

They don't like all that other jive either.

They don't like the crime, they don't like this, they don't like that, but the taxes.

We've been through this before.

They start spreading across the city because people cannot take it.

Mr.

Mayor, send us a small CIP with the right stuff in it that needs to be taken care of immediately in this city, not ACIP that you're just throwing money around and you can't even prove to me that that money is gone where you say it's going.

Thank you.

Anyone else on there first?

Seeing none, the chair recognizes Council Chicago on his second.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Whether you live in Ward 1, 5, 6, Dartmouth, Westport, wherever.

If you think the roads are bad now, imagine what the roads look like with 250 dump truck trips a day coming in.

That's what'll happen if parallel products appeals and we don't have the money to help get outside legal counsel for the Board of Health.

Mr.

Mayor, why did you return my request unsigned?

This is not a game.

The people award one deserve better leadership.

I am not going anywhere, and I am not going to shut up.

So you're not getting any money from my vote until you give the people award one a hundred thousand dollars to the Board of Health so that we can have proper legal representation.

And that's what I'm here to say.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I yield.

Anyone else on their first?

Anyone on their second?

Seeing none, the motion before us is a motion to adopt the order.

And I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abreu.

No.

No, Council Baptiste.

No.

No, Council Burgo.

No.

No, Council Harney.

No.

No.

Council Shokett.

No.

No, Council Chiesta.

No.

No.

Council Gomes.

No.

No.

Council Lopes.

No.

No.

Council Morad.

No.

No.

Councilor Oliver.

No.

No.

Council Pereira.

No.

No.

Fill 0-11, Mr.

President.

Fail 0 to 11.

I'll ask the clerk now to read item M2 under Mr.

President.

Consider taking M2 through M4 together.

Without objection, I'll ask the clerk to read M2 through M4 together.

Mr.

President, M2 is communication from Mayor Mitchell to the Council.

Submitting a loan order appropriating 21,865,465 for acceler for accelerated accelerated repair projects at the Sergeant William Carney Memorial Academy, Hayden McFadden Elementary School, and Casmir of Colasky Elementary School.

M2A is the loan order.

M3 is a communication from the mayor to the council.

Submitting a loan order appropriating $7,911,603 for accelerated repair projects at the LNG Campbell Elementary School, Ellen R.

Hatway Elementary School, and Carlos Pachico Elementary School.

M3A is the order.

And M4 is a communication from the mayor to the council.

Submitting the loan order appropriating 200,000 to pay the costs of a schematic design feasibility study as required by the MSBA with respect to the proposed accelerated repairs to the Trinity Day Academy and M4A is the loan order.

Motion receive and place on file items M2 through M4 and refer to the Committee on Finance.

Second.

Motion receive and place on file M2 through M4 in the loan orders to the Committee on Finance made by Councilor Morad, seconded by Councilor Lopes.

Anyone on the question?

Seeing none, all those in favor on referral to finance say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read M5.

Mr.

President, M5 is a communication from Mayor Mitchell to the Council.

Submitting a resolution adopting the 2025 City of New Bedford multi-hazard mitigation plan and 5A is the resolution.

Motion receive and place on file and refer to the environmental affairs committee.

Motion to receive and place on file and refer to the environmental affairs committee made by Council Morrad, seconded by Councilor Gomes.

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 M6.

Mr.

President, M6.

Excuse me, is a communication from the mayor to the council.

Submitting an order that in accordance with Section 19-7C of the New Bedford City Code of Ordinances, the Mayor is hereby authorized to advertise negotiate the salary of and higher between now and March 1st of 2026 for the position of executive finance and operation manager in the auditor's office.

M6A is the order.

Motion receive and place on file, refer to the committee on finance.

Very good.

Motion received and place on file and referred to the committee on finance made by Council Morrad, seconded by Councillor Gomes.

Anyone on the question?

Seeing none, all those in favor are on the referral to committee to finance.

Say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask clerk to read M7.

Mr.

President, M7 is a communication from the mayor to the council.

Submitting an order for the transfer of 1076 dollars from fire code enforcement reserve for appropriation to fire other charges and expenses.

M7A is the order.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt made by Council Pereira, seconded by Councillor Gomes.

Anyone on the question of adoption?

Seeing none.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read M8.

Mr.

President, M eight is communication from the mayor to the council.

Submitting the appointment of Daniel Higgins of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the election commission, placing Lisa Dunaway, who has resigned.

And this term will expire in April of 2029.

Motion received the place on file and sent to the committee on appointments and briefings.

Second.

Motion to receive and place on file and refer to the committees on appointments and briefing made by Councilor Oliver, seconded by Council Morad.

Anyone on the question?

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

The ayes have it.

Mr.

President, under tabled business.

Related communication dated 1009-2025.

Remove from the table, wave the reading and take no further action.

Motion made by Council Morad to remove tabled item 109 2025 from the table.

Wave the reading and take no further action.

Seconded by Council Oliver.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

All right.

Sorry, just documenting.

And that will bring us to M9.

Mr.

President, M9 is communication from Mayor Mitchell to the City Council.

President, M9 is a communication from Mayor Mitchell to the City Council submitting the appointment of Cheryl Ann Viveris of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the traffic commission, replacing Angela Johnson, whose term has expired in December of 2024.

This term will expire in December of 2027.

Motion received and place on file sent to the committee on appointments and briefings.

Motion is motion received and place on file and refer to the committee on appointments and briefings made by Council Oliver, seconded by Councillor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

I'll ask the clerk to read item two.

Mr.

President, item two is a report from the committee on finance recommending to the council adoption of the order for the transfer of 132,572 from police purchase of services to MIS Purchase of Services 2A is the order.

Motion receive in place on file.

The report of the committee on finance, follow the recommendation and adopt the order as presented.

Second.

Motion receive in place on file and follow the report from the committee on finance and adopt the order as presented, made by council Morad, seconded by Councillor Gomes.

Anyone on the question?

Seeing none, I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abreu.

Yes.

Yes, Council Baptiste.

Yes.

Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Shulkett.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Giestin.

Yes.

Yes.

Counselor Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Lopes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Morrad.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

11 to 0, Mr.

President.

That passes 11 to 0.

I will ask the clerk now to read item 3.

Mr.

President, item 3 is a report from the Committee on Finance recommending to the Council adoption of the order that pursuant to the provisions of Mass General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 5B to establish a stabilization fund to be called take cable television public education and government access stabilization fund 3A is the order.

Motion to adopt the order.

Second.

Motion to adopt the order made by Council Pereira, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question.

Seeing none, I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abreu.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Baptist.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Shulkette.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Giesta.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Lopes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Morad.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 11 to 0.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 4.

Mr.

President.

Item 4 is a report from the Committee on Finance.

Recommended to the Council adoption of the order for the appropriation of $750,000 from ordinary revenue and municipal receipts to health insurance purchase of services.

4a is the order.

Motion to adopt the order.

Motion to adopt made by Council Pereira, seconded by Councillor Abru.

Anyone on the question?

On the question.

Chair recognized Council Morat on her first.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just rise to explain to the taxpayer why my vote will be no.

We're three months into the fiscal year.

This is the cut that the council made.

I saw the numbers that were sent to us.

I'm sure you all did as well regarding the health care costs for three months.

I'm not sure this is the right time to put $750,000 back into the health care line item.

And when you do that, obviously you'll be affecting the tax rate that we're about to set next month.

So I know that this is going to pass because it passed in finance.

I was the lone vote.

But um I'm sorry to see us doing this at this point in time.

If this was February or March, um, you know, maybe I'd say okay, I support that out of free cash, but I don't support it on the back of the taxpayer at this point in time.

So um my vote will be no, and I hope the taxpayer um is listening and maybe some of you will be as well.

Thank you.

Anyone else on there first seeing none?

I'll ask the clerk to call the roll on adoption.

Councilor Abreu.

Yes, Council Baptiste.

Yes, yes, Council Burgo.

No.

No, Council Carney.

No.

No, Council Schulkett.

Yes.

Yes, Council Gestin.

No.

No.

Council Gomes.

Yes.

Yes, Council Lopes.

No.

No, Council Morrad.

No.

No, Council Oliver.

No.

No, Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Fills five to six.

Fails five to six.

I'll ask the clerk to read it five.

Mr.

President.

Is it possible to take items five, five A, six, and six A together?

Wave the reading and refer the items per the recommendation of the Committee on Finance to the audit committee.

Without objection.

Second.

All right.

Motion made by Council Morris, seconded by Councillor Gomes to waive the reading of items five and five A and six and six A and refer to the audit committee and follow the recommendation made.

All those in favor of the question.

Oh, sorry, on the question.

I apologize.

Uh, Chair recognizes Council Morat on the question.

So, Mr.

President, thank you.

And I want to thank the Chair of Audit, my colleague who sits directly behind me for agreeing to see this.

As you know, Mr.

President and my colleagues, um, this was on the finance agenda last Thursday night.

We were hoping to have a robust discussion about where the 250,000 that the City Council appropriated back some time ago to fight the parallel products uh project went, how the money was spent, uh, what invoices there were from the law firm, etc.

etc.

My colleague from Ward 5 thinks there might be an additional appropriation that he's researching as well.

And I think it's appropriate that the um administration speak to the city council and to the residents of Ward 1 and the city as to where where this money was and how it was spent, especially since we know that a memorandum of understanding was authorized by the administration, um, not with the support of this council, and there was an agreement made with the developer regarding this project, and I'm hoping that what we're being told when we get to audit committee is this money which was appropriated to fight the parallel products project, wasn't used to do a handshake with them so that they cut a different deal with the City of New Bedford.

And as do in doing that, um, as my colleagues may know, I know you know, Mr.

President, as the Chair of Finance, I set my agendas a month in advance.

And as a courtesy to those that we're inviting, I always send a message myself, not the office, saying next finance meeting is and there's an item on the agenda that we'd like you to come for.

I want to make sure it's on your calendar well in advance.

And I sent that message out as I always do a month before the meeting last week, and I heard crickets from anybody saying I can't make it.

But the day before the meeting, uh the representative from the administration, Neil Mello, sent a message, not to the chair, but to the council office.

Why would he do that?

To the council office and told the council office that he would be unable to make it.

So I pushed back and said exactly what I just said to you.

I sent this out a month ago.

You didn't say anything.

Hey, I understand stuff comes up.

What's the issue?

And then he proceeded to tell me who was going to represent who was going to speak on this item to give us an update.

Well, I invited you.

I didn't invite, I invited other people because there's other questions those people can ask.

But I'm inviting you as the spokesperson of the represent of the administration to tell us how you authorize this money.

Bob Ekstrom didn't authorize this money to go somewhere.

Eric Jakes didn't authorize somewhere to go.

Quinlan Louney didn't do that.

This was done by the administration.

I'm asking you to come here and tell us why you spent the money the way you spent it and how you thought it was appropriate to do that.

So I don't have the power to make him come to committee, and he did not come as you know last week.

But as I always say when I speak about Neil Mellow, he certainly went to Dartmouth and spent four hours in the Dartmouth Select Board meeting talking to them about how their project for the business park on Hathaway Road wouldn't affect traffic in Dartmouth, but he can't come here and talk to the City Council.

He can't be responsible to the taxpayers of the city of New Bedford.

So we'll send it to audit, and the chairman's agreed to hear it promptly.

And if we are not given the answers we need, or if Mr.

Mellow decides his presence isn't required, we can utilize the powers that are in the audit committee to make them appear.

And you know, one of the comments he made to me is oh, these people can speak, these people can speak.

But I don't know about you.

Oftentimes when I talk to department heads in the city about policies of the administration, they always tell me about that phrase that the administration says to them.

They always tell me that they're told that's above your pay grade.

So certainly the questions we were going to ask about this would be not appropriate for Bob Ekstrom, Eric Jakes, or Quinlan Louny to answer.

And certainly we wouldn't want them to be in trouble because they answered questions that were above their pay grade.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Anyone else on there first?

Seeing none, the motion at hand is on referring items 5, 5a, 6, and 6a to the committee on audit.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

If I could get a motion from the floor to waive the reading of items 7 through 8A and take no further action.

So moved.

Second.

Motion made by Councilor Loeb, seconded by Councillor Carney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

All right, and I will ask the clerk to read item nine.

Mr.

President Item 9 is written motion from Councillor Gomes requesting that Mayor Mitchell and Police Chief Vote and consider immediately filling vacant positions within the New Bedford Police Department, including the Deputy Chief position, the North End Captain position, and several sergeant positions.

These leadership positions are needed for the successful operation of the New Bedford Police Department.

Refer to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, the man, Chief Dorty.

Second.

Motion made by Councillor Gomes to refer to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.

Mayor Mitchell and the police chiefs though.

He's seconded by Councillor Choquette.

Chair recognizes Councillor Gomes on his first.

Very brief, Mr.

President.

Mr.

President, these positions have been gone too long, not being filled.

I understand them numbers within the department, but we also have to have the leadership to run the department.

And when you don't have a captain in the North and you don't have server sergeants that are needed, you're not running a good ship.

You got one captain, I think running the whole down city.

As they climb up the ladder, this should have the opportunity, not um for us to um change the structure.

And many of you know what I'm talking about in this building.

But um these positions need to be filled.

Let's let's fill them.

Uh especially um the high ranking positions.

In order to run a good department, you must have these positions, and these positions should be filled.

You asked me in the CIP for money for the North and station.

I think that's what I seen.

North then station.

Station three was like a million something for what?

For what?

You got the door damn locked.

What do you want money for for up there?

Yeah.

You gotta ring a doorbell to get in.

That same old job that we were doing back in 2001 or whatever when they were closing the stations then and we're standing up here and they're gonna put a button to call for help.

That I really want my daughter pushing a button up there to get help when I got officers that are assisting or on calls in other places.

But it really cracks me up.

Where are the priorities around here?

Where are they?

Let's fill these positions.

The department needs that leadership.

Thank you very much.

Anyone else on there first?

Seeing none again, this is a motion on referring uh to the committee on public safety and neighborhoods, Mayor Mitchell and the Chief of Police.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 10.

Mr.

President, item 10 is a written motion from Councillor Loebs requesting on behalf of the family of Elaine Lima that the special committee on memorials and dedications consider a suitable memorial to honor Mrs.

Lima's continued support of the City of New Bedford and the downtown business community.

Motion to receive and place on the file and refer to the committee on memorials and dedication.

Second.

Motion receive and place on file and refer to the special committee on memorials and dedication made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

Motion speaks for itself, Council President.

All right.

Seeing that, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 11.

Mr.

President, item 11 is a written motion.

Council Shulkett.

Requesting that pursuant to mass general law in Chapter 44, Section 33 in the City Council, after having made request of the mayor on September 25th, 2025 and said requested funds having not been appropriated by the mayor after seven days of said request.

Make appropriation of 100,000 for the special purpose of providing funds to the Board of Health to acquire independent legal representation for the anticipated appeal of its decision to reject the South Coast Renewables Parallel Products Project due to the City Solicitor's Office having a potential conflict resulting from the mayor's agreement with the company to not contest the company's proposed project and location.

Motion to accept and place on file and adopt as presented.

Motion receive and place on file and adopt the adopt as presented, made by Councillor Choquette, seconded by Councillor Abrew.

On the question.

Chair recognizes Council Chicago on his first.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

So just to give everyone a a quick heads up here.

Apparently we have until October 31st until Parallel Products reaches their deadline for filing an appeal.

If I were a betting person, I would assume that they are going to file the appeal.

Right now we don't know if we have enough money or if we have any money in the legal fund to battle this potential appeal.

Again, this is one of the most important issues in the history of Ward 1 in the North End.

Why did my request come back unsigned?

So the beauty of representative democracy is that according to Mass General Law, Chapter 44, Section 33.

The City Council will now make that appropriation.

And the mayor does not have to worry about that anymore.

And we thank him for his participation in this matter.

That's all.

And also I would like a roll call vote on this item, please.

Anyone else on their first?

Anyone on their second?

Seeing none, a roll call has been requested.

Council Abrew.

Yes, Mr.

Baptiste.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes, Council Carney.

Yes.

Yes, Council Shulkett.

Yes.

Yes.

Counter Giustin.

Yes.

Yes, Council Golmes.

On behalf of the people of Wardborn, yes.

Yes, Council Lopes.

Yes.

Yes, come to Morad.

Yes.

Yes, Council.

Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 11 to 0, Mr.

President.

Passes 11 to 0.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 12.

Mr.

President, item 12 is a communication from Councillor Lopes.

Submitting petition signed by city residents regarding the number of sober homes, group homes, and rooming houses being established in residential areas of the city.

Motion to receive and place on file the communication.

Motion is place on file made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

Chair recognized Councillor Lopes on his first.

Thank you, Council President.

So I feel sorry for the council office because I asked them to make copies of over 2,000 and 47 signatures of residents not in Ward 5, but residents across the entire city of New Bedford that have concerns and reservations, not about giving help to those that need it, but the unregulated sober homes that are across the city.

So one constituent in Ward 5 took it upon herself to literally go door to door, sit outside grocery stores, and get over 2,000 signatures.

Her petition is basically simple.

It's asking that the administration and both our State and Federal delegation look at how these are regulated.

Because right now in the Commodore, Massachusetts, they're not regulated.

People can go get a volunteer certificate that they're meeting the requirements.

But the ones that we're talking about aren't doing any tests to see if somebody's reusing.

They're not doing any services to help somebody stay on the right track to move from a sober house to transitional housing.

You know, we have one in my ward that has been a nuisance for over a year, which began the initiation of these signatures.

And it started out just as the ward five issue, but I give her all the credit in the world.

She knew it was more of a citywide issue, and she gathered the signatures.

And the council office took it, you know, and I gave it to them, and I I literally apologize because they had to make copies of over 2,000 signatures of concerned residents that live across the city that want to see something happen.

Not to not provide care, but provide the proper and right care for those that need it.

Thank you.

Anyone else on there first?

Chair recognize Councillor Carney on her first.

Yes.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um I stand up to support my colleague here from Ward 5.

Yes, these sober homes are not sober homes, they are rooming houses, they are money grabs.

The ones we are talking about.

We're not talking about the ones that are licensed, the ones that have clinicians, the ones that have 24-hour services, and staff on site.

Those are the ones we're talking about.

The ones we're talking about are the money grabs, and there's plenty of them out there.

They're coming into the city, they're taking these big homes, they're taking them and putting rooms in there, they're putting many, many excuse me, uh, men in these houses in residential neighborhoods without any oversight whatsoever.

It's a bad situation all around, and they need to be regulated.

So I have been working on a resolution to send to the Federal Government to establish rules and regulations on sober homes for not only New Bedford, but for the State of Massachusetts and all over the place, because this is popping up everywhere.

It's a money grab.

We don't need a money grab.

If you want to help people, let's truly help people.

Let's get clinicians, doctors, 24-hour care for them, and let's do what we're supposed to do to help the people and get rid of these stinking sober homes that are just money grabs.

Thank you so much, Mr.

President.

Anyone else on there first?

Anyone on their second?

Point of information, Mr.

President.

Through you to the maker of the motion.

I know it's a communication received in place on file.

Is it going anywhere?

Are we doing anything with this?

Council Lopes?

Due to the work that went into it to refer it to the administration or to other people to require more copies of all of the signatures.

I am going to I've scheduled a meeting with the administration to have a conversation with him in regards to the work that was done to gather all the signatures, and we'll take it from there with the one-on-one conversation with the administration.

And I've also reached out to our state delegation, making them aware of the work that was done.

Okay, thank you.

Anyone else on there first?

Anyone on their second?

All right.

The motion is just to receive and place on file the communication.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 13.

Mr.

President, item 13 is communication from Manuel De Brito, Board of Election Commissioners to the City Council submitting the municipal election warrant for Tuesday, November 4th, 2025.

This warrant has been signed by the majority of the city council and will be posted on the seventh day prior to the election date as mandated by Mass General Law, Chapter 43, Section 44A.

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

Motion receiver placed on file.

Second.

Motion received and place on file made by Councillor Abrew, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question?

No call.

Roll call has been.

No, I'm just kidding.

Okay.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 14.

Mr.

President Item 14 is a communication from Dennis Ferries, City Clerk, Clerk of the Council.

Submitting a copy of a certificate and a handwritten instrument from Mass DOT, informing that on September 24th, 2025, the Mass DOT Highway Division altered the location of a section of interstate Route 195 in New Bedford.

See opposite action.

Motion received and place on file made by Councilor Abrew.

Seconded by Councilor Oliver.

Anyone on the question?

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Motion to take up consent.

Motion to take up and adopt consent made by Councillor Baptiste.

Seconded by Councilor Oliver.

Anyone on the question?

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Motion to adjourn made by Councilor Oliver.

Seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question of adjournment?

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

We are adjourned at 7 54 p.m.

Please come forward.

We need at least five other signatures for the uh