Thank you, Gus.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to the Committee on Finance.

It's uh Tuesday, December 9th.

What's that?

6.52 p.m.

And I'm sorry that we're a couple minutes late.

I apologize.

We had a meeting before us tonight.

I am in the council chamber tonight with my colleagues in government, Councilor at Large, Ian Abrew, Council Ward II, Maria Giesta, Councillor At Large, Brian Gomes, Councilor Ward 3, Sean Oliver, Counselor at Large and Council President, Shane Burgo, Council Ward 4, Derek Baptiste, and myself, Linda Morrad, Counselor at Large, and Committee Chair.

I'll ask the clerk if we have anything to read into the record.

I have one letter to read into the record from Councillor Choquett.

This is uh to inform you that I regretfully will be unable to attend the committee on finance meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, due to an out-of-town business commitment.

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

Motion receiving place on file.

Motion received and place on file, made by Council Oliver, second by Council Burgo.

Any discussion on receiving and placing on file?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

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 uh link.

I'm sorry, click links and then meetings.

I'll ask the clerk to read item one into the record, please.

Item number one is a written motion, Councillors Lopes and Morrad requesting that Derek Santos, Executive Director of the New Bedford Economic Development Council, provide to the Committee on Finance, the annual program report detailing the status of the City of New Bedford tax increment financing TIFF special tax assessments, STA and tax increment exemption TIE activity for all active certified projects.

It was referred here on February 27, 2025.

It was uh heard on May twelfth, twenty twenty-five when it was tabled with a related motion that the solicitor's office provide the committee with an updated SOP on how TIFFs and STAs will be processed based on the changes made by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Office of Business Development.

On September 18th, 2025 it was tabled for 30 days.

On October 16th, 2025, it was tabled.

On November 19th, 2025, it remained on the table.

Item number one is before you and it remains on the table.

Second.

Motion removed from the table made by Council Oliver, second by Councillor Burgo.

Any discussion on removing from the table?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Colleagues, the item is before us.

Um Attorney Winters is here.

Uh Derek Santos is here, and Bob Eckstrom is here.

We've gotten some information regarding the policy that was provided to you.

I I'd like to have a motion, please to receive and place on file that information.

So move.

Made by Councillor Oliver, second by Councillor Abrew.

Any discussion on receiving and placing on file?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Questions on the revised information?

Attorney Winters, would you please take the podium?

Chair recognizes Council Pereira has joined us as well.

Any questions on the revised policy?

Attorney Winters, um, we received a document in the last day or two that was uh slightly different from the one you had submitted for the last meeting.

Could you just uh synopsize what those changes were?

They appeared to be minor, but um the the document that I submitted was uh recently submitted was the was the um the standard the standard operating procedure.

So it's it's really outlines the process.

Before um Councillor Morad, we had submitted the policy setting forth the policy guidelines.

This is more of a uh uh operational document to uh guide uh to guide us and you as well on the process.

Um so that was the TIFF SOP.

Prior to that, we had submitted the proposed uh agreement, the policy, the and the re the reporting um document as well.

And you've worked with the uh economic development folks and with uh the chief financial officer here in the city.

Everybody is on board?

Yes, madam counselor.

They they have been very helpful, and we have worked um greatly together, and uh they their input was invaluable.

And what about the assessors department since they've got a hand in this?

Um have also been been here at every step of the way guiding us and uh assisting us in and really um willing to do uh whatever we asked of them.

So I apologize.

Sherry is here as well.

She's hiding behind that chair.

I didn't see her at first, so I see you now.

So colleagues, anyone want to hear from Bob, Derek, or Sherry?

Chair recognizes Councillor uh Pereira?

For Derek, please.

Derek, can you take the podium, please?

Don't go too far, Peter.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good evening, Derek.

You had at previous points stated that there were three um businesses interested in pursuing TIFF agreements.

Uh now that it looks like we are across the uh finish line here.

We have an SOP, we have uh line out uh an outline of procedures.

Have we begun the process of contacting those three businesses?

Uh we have not, because the last meeting we were supposed to have on this, um I believe the item was tabled because the council couldn't make it.

Um but it is not holding up the work of any of those uh private sector projects, counselor.

They are aware that this final meeting has to happen as a last check.

And then once that happens, assuming everything is okay, we're able to have have those meetings and as Peter pointed out, let them know what the process is in an SOP.

That's the P part.

So at this point, if if we move forward, what what is the timeline to launching this as far as EDC's typically been the uh has been and will continue to uh uh foster the the facilitate uh TIFFs.

Yep.

Uh this SOP, as Peter correctly pointed out, was done in concert where the assessors, solicitors, the CFO's office, and the EDC.

Um we adapted it from an an internal one that that we used when we were working with the state.

Um so the only things left remaining, assuming there were no uh changes is and it's stated in here, is we would uh make the application forms, uh, do what we need to do technically just to make them live on the EDC website and and uh and go from there.

So that that that should not take that should not take long at all.

For the companies that we're working with already, the first step is actually just meeting with them, going through the project with them, and then we would uh offer up those PDFs directly.

Okay.

Let's get work once once we get to that point.

Let's get working with those companies right away and and move them along and and on the other hand, at the same time start getting those applications ready to go for future companies.

We want to be as business friendly as we can, absolutely.

Agreed.

Okay.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Counselor.

Anybody else?

Okay, thank you, Derek.

Sherry, would you please just take the podium?

I just want to make sure, I mean, this is new to your department.

You're very comfortable.

You've been involved in the process.

I know you won't say anything negative standing at the podium, but do you have any concerns?

Because we're we certainly have put a lot on you.

No, I mean I'm pretty sure Derek and Peter will be very helpful with any questions I may have.

Um I've been part of the process somewhat, but it kind of has been the standstills, and I've taken over at the assessors.

But I'm willing to learn and figure it out.

So we have a lot of confidence in you, but we are placing, I mean, we generally do one, two, three of these a year.

That's not the process that's not the issue, though.

The issue is the tracking and the monitoring once they are out there.

And um uh that's what I am trying to make sure that you are comfortable with.

Yeah, I'll put a system in place where we can follow it and I'm not afraid to go on.

We generally get a yearly report from economic um development regarding the status of all the previously granted TIFS.

Um yours truly generally asks for that report.

I'm not sure who is asking for it next year, but I mean that's something that's the report for like July, right?

Uh I'm sorry?

The July report, like the end of the fiscal year.

No, I think.

Okay.

Yeah.

So and it's generally presented to the council in February, generally of each year.

Okay.

I'm sure somebody will work through that process, but okay.

Thank you.

Anybody for Sherry?

Bob, you got any concerns?

No, ma'am.

Very good.

Colleagues, your pleasure.

I would Madam Chair.

Point of information.

Just for clarification.

Attorney Winters is looking for an approval of this SOP from the body.

I do not believe so, no.

If there's any changes that we would have.

No, I'm okay with this.

So I'd refer this to the full city council for no further action.

Yeah, I think that's the right motion at this point in time.

Second.

Yep.

Made by Councillor Pereira, second by Council Baptist.

Any discussion on referring to the full city council for no further action?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

So in my mind, Attorney Winters, Derek, Sherry, you move forward.

You know.

Yes, Council Pereira said, call up those companies and let's get started again.

So thank you all for your work.

We appreciate it.

Ask the clerk to read item two, please.

Item number two is a communication, Mayor Mitchell to the City Council submitting two proposed resolutions, a resolution to file and accept grants with and from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Parkland acquisitions and renovations for the communities, known as park grant program for improvements to the Common and a resolution for the dedication of Riverside Park was referred here on November 25, 2025.

2A is a resolution to file and accept the grants with and from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities Park Grant Program for improvements to the comm to the common referred here on November 25th, 2025 and 2B is a resolution for the dedication of Riverside Park, referred here on November 25, 2025.

2, 2A, and 2B are now before you.

Motion receiver placement file.

Motion received and place on file made by Council Oliver.

Second.

Second by Councillor Carney.

Any discussion on receiving and placing on file?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

We've invited Mary and Bob.

Mary, can you take the podium, please?

Thank you.

There is to the city regarding this?

Yep.

Okay, sure.

So thank you, everyone.

And good evening.

The um we've received a state park grant.

Um this is uh grant that we've received several times in the past.

Um it's for park improvements.

This specific grant is to uh renovate and relocate the playground at in the splash pad at Riverside Park.

So the um as many of you may know, the splash pad at Riverside Park I'm not the splash pad, excuse me, the playground at Riverside Park, those two sites often flood.

And um so we were working with the state and with other entities, it was determined that we we need to move the playground upland and um closer to Belleville Ave.

So we're not just um rebuilding the playground, we're actually moving it upland in the park.

The state gave us a 425,000 dollar grant.

They um reimburse 70 percent of the cost.

The um anticipated full cost for the playground um renovation and relocation is eight hundred thousand sixty-three dollars.

So, in addition to the 425,000 that we've received from the state, we've also received $63,750 from a private organization that's envisioned resilience.

And um we currently have a CPA grant application pending for the balance, which will be $311,313.

So the um the state requires that the city approve the full amount for the playground renovation.

The um if we do not receive the CPA funding for the uh balance of the project, then the uh park grant will not be accepted.

So there would be no um, you know, the city would not be on the hook if we do not get the 311 for the balance of the project.

Okay.

Anything else, Mary?

The other piece of this is that you know we um this the state requires as part of the application that we submit the deeds for the parks.

And when the deed for Riverside Park was submitted, they it was noticed that there was no parkland dedication for that park.

That park was um opened in 2005.

It is protected under Article 97 of the state because it has been used as recreation land since it was opened in 2005, but the state has specifically requested that as part of this process, we get the city council to dedicate Riverside Park is dedicated park land.

And that's what item 2B is.

Yep.

Colleagues, any questions?

Okay, so the 425,000 dollars has no cost to the city at all.

It's free money.

That's correct.

Free money.

Good.

Okay.

And um your application's already been submitted for the CPA funds, correct?

That's correct.

Yeah.

Another project not going award one, but I'll leave it at that.

I'm sure Jessica knows exactly what I'm talking about.

But I knew it I knew there had to be a reason.

I knew there had to be another project that the administration wanted to move forward.

I I knew they had to be.

So I'm good for you.

Hope you get that money.

Um Bob, are you in the room?

No, two minutes.

Huh?

He's not planning on coming back.

Okay.

Um colleagues, can you table this item for a minute, please?

Motion adjourned.

Mary, don't leave.

Yeah.

Sorry.

Uh made by Council Oliver, second by Council Pereira.

Any questions on tabling the item?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Council Pereira, can you see if you can grab Bob, please?

Thank you.

I'll ask the clerk to read item three into the record.

If Bob's here before then, we're going back to two.

Item number three is uh Committee on Finance recommending to the City Council the adoption of an order for the City of New Bedford to accept a donation of real estate from Wayland's uh development corp consisting of two parcels shown on the City of New Bedford assessors map 132 as lot 62, and the second on map is 132 lot six or for anyone, 1125, 2025 and 3A is the order.

Motion to receive and place on the file.

Made by Council Oliver.

Second by Council Abreu.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Uh colleagues, uh you may recall that this item was in finance last month, referred to City Council, and then sent back to finance because there were some questions regarding um not only the parcels, but also the use utilization of CPA funds.

So I invited Jessica Bailey to join us tonight while we're waiting for um for Bob to come back down for item two.

Jessica, could you approach the podium, please?

My colleagues had questions about a project back in 2023 where money was granted for these specific two parcels.

Could you go through that project, please, and let my colleagues and I know what the money was utilized for?

Um do you want the from the very beginning or from when you all approved it?

Um first of all, I can't hear you, so you're gonna say did you want it from the very beginning or did you want it from when the council, the full council vote approved it?

No, we want to know the background of what that request was.

Absolutely.

Yeah, okay.

So back in FY23's application cycle, um, environmental came to the CPC with a step one eligibility determination.

At that time it was for acquisition and rehabilitation of the property.

Acquisition, acquisition, and rehabilitation, because at that point the owner had not offered to um donate the land to the city.

So in the uh step one, of course, it's eligible, it would be open space and recreation.

We've only had one other open space project come before the city council, um, and that was the Aquishna River Saw Mill.

Uh in the course of the, I think it was just after the application or right before the application.

Forgive me if I don't know right off the top of my head.

Um chance came to me and said that the owner had uh graciously agreed to donate the land so that they did not need the app the acquisition funding, they only needed the rehabilitation funding.

And what would what was the split of the money that was applied there?

Um they ended up with 48,000.

Uh 45,000, I'm sorry.

Their application originally was for 145,100.

And so, and of course, it was yet another year where we had a very, very large gap.

So the CPC was kind of happy that they reduced their ass by almost 100,000.

Came before the chamber, it went um went to finance and in finance um the recommendation was the 45,000 dollars for the rehabilitation of the property.

The 45,000 was approved.

Um I think it was a six one vote in finance, went out to full council and was approved.

Um in the course of that, then there was the process of by which everything needs to take place, which I'm not as privy to, but it was the things that were behind that were acquisition.

So at this point, it's before you all to accept the donation of the land.

So from the chair for a second, just to be clear, none of the money was used for acquisition.

The 45,000 was used for rehabilitation.

And what work was done to rehabilitate the money has so they were awarded that money.

They have not spent that money.

The only money that they have spent to date is $6,950.

So $4,000 of that was for environmental, $2,950, that was for the title search.

So projects that go out to the the departments, they basically set up a budget.

In Munis, which is our financial system, CPA grants are treated like an outside grant because we sort of live in our own little bubble.

So when the grant administrator in finance sets up these projects, they set them up under the under the departments.

So they have a budget that they work from.

And at the end of the fiscal year or at the end of when the project is closed, whichever comes first, I do a service transfer from the CPA fund to that department's funds.

So in this case, at the end of fiscal year 25, there was the expenditure of 6,950 total, so that I change did a service transfer from CPA funds to environmental to cover the process.

But you don't expect any other of the 44,500 to be spent at this point.

Or is that still spent?

It is still open.

It is a grant.

They've had two term extensions since their initial MOA that was issued FY23.

They conservation.

Yes, environment.

Yes.

So we have an for internal projects, we have MOAs.

Memor memorandums of agreement.

For external, we have um grant agreements.

So the MOAs are a little less cumbersome, isn't the word, but there's a little bit less because it's a it's an agreement within the city that that we the CPC holds these departments to, that they're they have to stay within the scope.

They have there's things that they have to do.

There's expectations, you know, reporting and and such.

So but they have a term, and typically CPA grants are one-year term.

Um the only exception really usually is for the housing projects because the the amount of time it takes to get these housing projects financial stacks to put together, it usually is a two-year term to give them allow them that time to get that together.

Um and as well as uh playgrounds, because playgrounds they have to do it during usually typically when the schools are out.

So we take the project, the remaining $34,000.

Is there a is there a plan for how that's going to be spent?

Yes, you are.

So the rehabilitation, once the acquisition is approved by this body, they will use that money and they have an agreement the first term, so now they're on their second term extension, which expires June 30th of 2026.

So they have about six and a half months to do the work.

And if all goes according to the timeline that we were given back in May when the CPC approved this particular term extension, it's anticipated that the acquisition would take place over the winter, and that as soon as they could start doing the work in the spring, late winter spring, depending on how harsh the winter is, that all those that money would be expended, the work would be done, and then I would do a service transfer at the end of the year for what they expended.

Will they expend the full 40 um 38,000 and change?

I don't know.

Are there details to the rehabilitation plan that you have in your office?

I don't have the plans, no.

But what I was told back in FY23 was that, and that what the CPC's application, uh, what they received in the application was that they were going to be doing some work to clear the area that is closest to Phillips Ave that uh surrounds that brook and around the sawmill, they were they were going to be putting up a split rail fence to sort of keep people from going where they shouldn't.

Um it was just the initial portion closer to Phillips, if I'm if I'm correct, is that right?

Phillips Road, yeah.

So Phillips Road and that area not going all the way back, they were going to leave that as is.

Um, but I think that pretty much hasn't changed, correct?

And chances saying no, it has not changed.

So that was the initial rehabilitation.

Okay.

Colleagues, I appreciate you giving me the linguity to speak from the chair.

Does anyone else have a question here?

I see Council Oliver.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Uh thank you, Jessica.

Um counselor.

They can't file for any more extensions.

They can.

They can, okay.

They can.

Um how many more can they?

Do you is there any guidelines for that?

There is not a guideline, but typically the CPC likes to see these projects move forward.

They understand that it is out of the control of the uh grantee that they're that they have to go through this process and that does have does take time.

But they were told back in the spring that this should wrap up this winter so that they could do the work so that this would be a completed project by June 30th.

And if the come spring and they start the rehabilitation and whatnot, any leftover monies is that go that goes back into the pool to be used at a later date?

Correct.

In CPA worlds, the money all lives in the same bubble.

I'm not positive I'd have to go back and look.

But if it came out of open space and recreation, out of that restricted fund, it has to go back into that restrictive fund and be spent on Open Space and Recreation in a future round.

If it wasn't from that, it was from fund balance or from the budget of reserve.

It could be spent on any of the categories.

But it does stay within CPA and it does get expended on a future uh award.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

That's all I have for Jessica.

I do have some questions for chance or anybody else for Jessica at this point.

Okay.

Thank you, Jessica.

Please don't leave though, just in case something else comes up.

All right, colleagues, at this point I'd like you to table this item, please, from the chair.

Motion on the table.

Made by Council Pereira?

Second.

Second by Council Oliver.

Any discussion on tabling the item?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Oppose the ayes have it.

Colleagues, I take a motion to take item two off the table, please.

Made by Council Oliver, second by Council Pereira.

All those in favor of removing item two from the table say aye.

Oppose the ayes have it.

Bob, can you take the podium, please?

I can't believe you left the finance meeting.

Sometimes Nietzsche calls.

Oh, I'm really sorry then.

Actually, I was looking for some more information for the second.

So we we didn't get you out of your office.

I apologize for that.

Um Bob, we were talking about item two, which is the parkland grant.

And um Mary indicated that there would be no financial obligation on the part of the city as it relates to the $425,000 grant or the resolution for dedicating the Riverside Park as a park.

And as the financial officer, I just want to make sure that there is no nothing from you that we need to be concerned about.

No, ma'am.

So we rely on uh state commitment.

So when the state encumbers money and uh as or state agencies encumber money, it's a valid document for which we can actually set budgets up ourselves.

So the state is on the hook or the park grant is on the hook to commit.

And you don't need to advance the money, it comes out.

Right.

So so um the timing of that, that's a that's a um uh so Mary is not here, I don't think any of the questions.

Yeah, she is.

I don't know.

Oh no, we didn't let anybody leave.

Yeah.

I'm not sure if it's it so there could be one or two things.

It's reimbursable, so that means we do pay the money first and then we seek reimbursement.

That's what I wanted to check.

Some of them are advanced to us, and we have the money to spend and we'd have to turn it back.

We don't spend it for all its intended purposes.

But in this case here we would we would expend the money.

We have um our auditing department make sure that the expenditures are eligible for reimbursement under that grant and they'll allow the expenditure they are returned in a reimbursement document.

Okay.

All right.

Anyone else with a question for Bob?

Okay.

On this item number two, is there any further discussion?

Chair would be in in um like a motion, please entertain a motion to refer to the full city council for approval.

So made by council Gomes.

Uh second by Council Baptiste.

Any further discussion on the item?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Oppose, the ayes have it.

Mary, is there a timeline here?

A time commitment.

Yes.

Ideally, the state requires that the full city council vote to accept the award is made by the end of December.

Um we've never made that deadline.

My intention is to contact them tomorrow and let them know that it will be referred to the full city council and that we anticipate having a final vote before the end of January, if possible.

Okay, so uh there's a possibility that there may be another full city council meeting this month.

Okay.

We haven't determined that for sure.

We'll keep you posted.

But if you can make that call, and if you would let me know whether they are amenable to that, we would appreciate it.

Okay, okay.

Me or Shane, one of the two.

Okay, okay.

Thank you.

Thanks.

All right, colleagues, uh motion to take item three off the table, please.

Made by Council Oliver, second by Council Pereira.

All those in favor say aye.

Oppose the ayes have it.

All right, we've heard from Jessica.

Who do we want to hear from next?

Chance.

Chance.

Could you take the podium, please?

Also, colleagues, um, point of information.

I'm sorry?

Did we want to do the resolution?

I can't hear you.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Didn't we want to do the resolution to uh dedicated?

We referred to 2A and 2B altogether.

I'm sorry.

Yep.

I only heard one.

Thank you.

Yeah, I'm sorry.

Yeah.

Council Oliver.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Chance.

Um we heard that there was um extensions that have been uh granted.

Um do you foresee another extension being needed, or is this something that you guys can if you if you acquire that parcel um you guys are able to based on the timeline, I think what we have proposed could be done by June.

Okay.

Um things could happen, but I believe it's it's feasible.

With the funds that have been appropriated thus far or yeah, very much so.

Okay, we um we're doing light development.

Do you guys have uh a plan in place, like a a drawn-out plan of what this is gonna look like?

There is not yet an engineered plan.

Um for the scope of the project, there's not one likely needed, but there may be one in time.

One doesn't exist now.

Okay.

Um we had had um some conversation uh before about uh one parcel versus two parcels or things like that.

Does if one of the two um parcels that are uh in front of us um the if the larger of the the parcels in front of us uh does not get accepted, um that's not going to uh prohibit the work that's going to take place if the smaller parcel with the water feature in the sawmill gets accepted, correct?

I believe so, yes.

Okay.

Um from a conservation standpoint, that bigger parcel.

Um do you foresee anything that's needed to take place there to keep it you know, in the situation that it's in right now, it's there, nobody's using it.

It's so us taking ownership of it, it doesn't change that in any way, correct?

There's nothing uh impending that we have to address as a city for that parcel.

Do you I I guess my a better question would be do you have a or does the the conservation um committee have a vision for that larger parcel?

In terms of development, no.

No.

So um without going down a wormhole of of the philosophy behind land preservation.

There's no intended plan for um recreation facilities or anything like that on that parcel.

So by uh by acquiring that parcel, we are just removing it from the tax roll is basically what we're doing.

That's one way we can look at this.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

That's all I have for for chance.

Thank you.

Madam.

Thank you.

Anybody else?

Uh Chair recognizes Council Carney?

Yes.

Real quickly.

Hi, Chance.

Um is there any encumbrances or any stipulations from whale in on this property if we accept it?

Not to my knowing.

Especially nothing formal.

Say that again.

Not to my knowing, especially nothing formal.

Okay.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Council Pereira.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Chance.

Just to refresh my memory.

The uh both parcels, but specifically the larger one.

The larger parcel is wetlands.

It is a mix of upland and wetland, and that's why it's attractive.

Um it's mostly wetlands, though.

In the parlance of wetlands talk, it's mostly wetlands.

So not developable?

Developable.

You're not likely to put large housing on there.

Okay.

Development as a term is is is a very broad term.

Fair enough.

So it's all based on our value systems and things that we do.

Um you're not going to see a strip mall there, not likely.

Right.

Uh but anything can happen, and that's the point.

Um with enough money and influence, we can do anything.

You know, the laws have ways of being used to you know other things.

Do other things.

And so that's one of our goal is to protect water courses, and we believe by preserving this land that's what we're doing.

And again, I'd love to just take this opportunity to um remind the council and my colleagues.

Hopefully, this is one of several that we'd like to present to you.

Protecting our water courses um can only be done ahead of time.

It's very hard to do after the fact.

And so um what right now looks like a piece of land that's just gonna sit idle.

Um we may be having a different conversation a couple years from now, and it's very hard to go backwards.

Okay.

Thank you, madam.

Thank you, Chance.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Anybody else?

Chair recognizes Council Oliver on his second.

Thank you, madam, madam chair.

Um chance, um we it was briefly discussed about uh development, and I understand that development is is broad.

Um it's in the hands of a developer right now.

In your opinion, if it was developable, would it be developed or some sort of plan?

Again, um development uh engineering is not my forte, so I can't say that.

Um but I do believe market forces in the future could render this spot usable for something that may be adverse to the water course in the future.

That's my kind of diplomatic answer.

Um there are several water courses in New Bedford that I am going to work hard on your behalf to help preserve.

Um regardless of how this goes.

This has been a great exercise for myself and my colleagues.

Um we of course hope to preserve this land, but there will be others that I'm coming before you with.

Uh stay tuned.

Okay.

And uh final question.

Um as the um the gifter or um stated that um this must be a two-parcel deal or or it doesn't happen.

It has in several of the conversations been presented that way, but at no point has it been made um explicit that it is a shall statement.

Um but it has been in conversation said that way.

Um I don't recall ever seeing in writing or being told in a earnest manner that that was the case.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

That's all, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Um anybody else?

So from the Chia, Chance, how big is the bigger parcel?

Ooh, in terms of acreage.

Um of course I'm gonna draw a blank.

I think it's about 11 acres.

Yeah, well, 11 and a half?

Yeah, thank you.

You want to approach the podium?

Yep, that's fine.

I apologize.

Been a while to not remember that figure.

Good evening.

Good evening, Madam Chair.

You can pull that down, Kevin.

Sorry about that.

Chance.

Um the larger parcel is eleven point seven four acres.

And as Chance mentioned, it's a mosaic of upland and wetland.

Interesting.

And how would we access that parcel?

Uh depends how we want to say access.

People like me that get muddy, straight up.

No.

But uh if we were going to build on it, how would we access that property?

Um again, I'm not a developer, I can't say that.

Um I think there's a way through um both from the north and from the south.

So it's not landlocked?

It is it is not landlocked.

There would have to be some stormwater infrastructure that could be moved.

Um that's not that's not a hard thing to do.

Um so I I believe there is potential future access from the south.

I'm seeing you know, other developments in the city that I go, there's no way they can get in there, and oh, that's how they get in there.

So it's just um this would preserve a larger chunk that would then abut the state land, which is uh in the right-of-way of route eight uh Route 140.

Um so it is one of those things where it's always when it's too late that we go, that's the back door.

Um but that's just again my opinion.

I'm not a developer.

Eleven acres is a big parcel.

Do you know how much of that is wetland?

I couldn't give you a good figure.

Uh uh eighty percent?

Eighty percent.

I'd say it's mostly wet, uh, especially around the existing uh development.

It it gets really nice when you get to the northeast um corner of it.

Um that and that's where you start seeing the on the parcel maps um where there's potential house lots.

Um and right now it's gorgeous.

Um do you or attorney Suko know is it currently being taxed as wetland by the city?

Do you know that?

So we've had this conversation a couple times.

Um there is an abatement.

Uh we did provide this in the email um uh number three here.

Um there the figure that was presented to you folks in terms of the taxes does have a discount to it.

It is that is part of a discounted rate.

Um I'm not sure they actually wanted to use the word abatement on that one.

It may be it's a discount code as part of the uh equation.

So I believe the answer is.

So they're giving the developer credit for the part of the land that is.

Yeah, 11 acres is yeah.

Uh when I forget what the figure actually is.

Sixteen hundred, sixteen hundred dollars a year for eleven acres, and it's wonderful for them.

Okay, thank you.

Anybody else?

We also have um Michelle Paul and Bob Ekstrom.

And do we invite Quinlan?

I see him.

Did we invite you, Quinlan?

Huh?

Oh, we yeah, okay.

But okay.

Anybody else?

Bob, do you want to or Michelle?

Either of you wish to add anything?

No, no.

Okay.

Thank you both.

Colleagues, your pleasure.

Thanks for time.

I make a motion that we strike the words two parcels and replace it with one parcel.

Strike the words and second on map 132 as lot six.

And authorize the administration to alter the order um to reflect those changes.

Right.

So you're requesting that lot six um I'm sorry, map 132 lot six be stricken from the order, correct?

Yes, and the the language changes from of two of two parcels to one parcel.

Okay with that, Clerk Lawrence?

Yeah, you provide me with that language?

You don't have to, you can just okay.

He will.

Yep.

All right.

Anybody else?

Motion's been made by Council Oliver.

Is there a second?

Second by Council Baptiste.

Any discussion on the item before us?

Chair recognizes Council Oliver.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'll be brief.

I think that if this land was developable, the owner, the current owner would develop it.

There seems like there's a lot of moving parts to even if it was developable.

We just heard we have to move some stormwater management.

It's almost landlocked.

It looks like there's very little access.

The city is not in the business of being, you know, landowners or developers.

We look for people to develop.

It's in the hands of a developer now, and I think it can stay there.

And if uh and I think there's still an opportunity for us to revisit.

Um that's that's pretty much my piece.

Thank you.

Very good.

Anybody else?

All right.

I will ask the clerk to call a roll on the amendment presented to us.

Council Abel?

Yeah.

Yes, Council Abel, Council Baptiste.

Here's Council Baptiste, Council Burgle?

No.

No Council Burgo, Council Carney?

Yes.

Here's Council Carney, Councilor Giesta?

No.

No Council Giesta, Council Gomes?

Yes.

Yes, Council Gomes, Councillor Moran?

No.

No, Councilmore and Council Oliver?

Yes.

Yes, Council Oliver, Council Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

That passes 6 to 3.

Item passes 6 to 3.

Motion to refer the amended report to the full city council for adoption of the order.

Made by Council Oliver.

Second.

Second by Council Abru.

Any discussion?

Roll call vote.

Council Abu?

Yes, Council Abel, Council Baptiste.

Yes.

He has Council Baptiste, Council Burgo?

Yes.

He has Council Burgo, Council Carney?

Yes.

Yes, Count.

I'm excuse me.

Yes.

Yes, Council Carney.

Council Giesta?

Yes.

He has Council Giaz to Council Gomes?

Yes.

Yes, Council Gomes, Council Moor and No.

No, Councilmore and Council Oliver?

Yes.

Yes, Council Oliver, Council Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

That passes 9 to 1.

It and passes 9 to 1.

Colleagues, there's no further business before us before I adjourn.

I want to apologize to the people that are here for audit.

I'm sorry we're running late tonight.

So motion to adjourn is made by Council Oliver.

Second by Councillor Burgo.

Any discussion on adjournment?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Oppose the ayes have it.

We are adjourned at 7 34 p.m.

Thank you, everybody.