Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

It is Thursday, March, uh April 9th, 2026, at 7 o'clock PM.

I'm calling together this uh session of the New Border City Council.

Uh tonight we are led in prayer by Pastor Jamie Wynne of the Grace Harbor Church.

Pastor.

Let's pray.

Lord, you are good and mighty and you are holy, and uh we look to you now, though, in that you are ultimately the one who gives wisdom and guidance.

God, we pray that you would uh lead these meetings by your spirit.

We pray that these individuals in this room that you have gifted and and put in positions of leadership uh would look to you.

Uh look to your love, look to your righteousness, look to your goodness as they they seek to lead others.

Um I pray that your love would um would mold and shape uh decisions we make.

Um I pray that we be thoughtful toward uh toward others.

I pray that you would unify uh us as unify these individuals as they they look to lead.

And uh thank you for this time.

We thank you for your spirit, we pray all this in the mighty name of God.

Amen.

Thank you, Pastor.

Tonight we are led in uh the Pledge of Allegiance by Councillor at Large Naomi Carney.

Hi, allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, individual, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Councillor.

I am joined in the chamber by my colleagues, Counselor at Large, Ian Abrew, Counselor of Ward 2, Scott Pemberton, Councillor of Ward 1, Leo Chocette, Councillor of Ward 5, Joe Lopes, Counselor at Large, Brian Gomes, Councillor at Large, Naomi Carney, Counselor at Large and First Vice President Shane Burgo, Counselor of Ward 4, Derek Baptiste, and I am Councilor of Ward 6, City Council President Ryan Pereira.

At this time, I'll ask the clerk if there are any letters to be read on the record.

Mr.

President, I have one from Councillor Oliver, dear Council President Pereira and members of the Council.

I am ready to inform you that I'll be unable to attend the City Council meeting on Thursday, April 9th, due to a scheduling conflict.

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

Sincerely, Sean Oliver, Councilor Ward 3.

Motion receive in place on file.

Motion to receive in place on file made by Councillor Burgos, seconded by Councillor Carney.

Any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Oppose the ayes have it.

I'll ask the moving on to the hearings portion of our meeting.

I'll ask the clerk to read item number uh I'm sorry, one A.

One is a hearing from N Star Electric Company doing business as ever source energy for the location of one handhole and approximately feet of conduit in a cushion avenue.

This work is necessary to provide service to 1780 Cushina Avenue.

One A is the order.

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

Motion to receive and place on file, open the public hearing made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Baptiste.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

Jessica, good evening.

Good evening, Mr.

President, members of the City Council.

Uh Jessica Elder, representing Nephasos, thank you for having me this evening.

This was Union Street.

I'm sorry.

They have two of them here.

So the uh work order two four seven seven seven two zero seven.

Uh we are doing infrastructure improvements for 1780 at Kushnav.

Um the project includes installation of approximately sixty-two feet of conduit and the installation of one new handhole within the public right away.

The work is expected to take one to two days.

It shouldn't take long, weather permitting.

Of course, traffic will be maintained throughout construction with police details as necessary.

Um all disturbed areas will be restored in accordance with city standards.

Thank you.

I would like to recognize that our c colleague, Councillor at Large, James Roy has joined us.

We are on item number one counselor.

Any questions for Jessica?

Okay.

Seeing none.

If anyone from the public this is a public hearing regarding the work on Akush and Avenue.

If anyone would like to speak in favor of this item to speak in favor.

If anyone would like to be recorded in favor.

Be recorded in favor.

If anyone would like to speak in opposition if anyone would like to speak in opposition.

If anyone would like to be recorded in opposition.

If anyone would like to be recorded in opposition okay.

Seeing none your pleasure?

Motion to close the public hearing motion to close the public hearing made by Councillor Burgo.

Seconded by Councillor Lopes.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye opposed the Ice have it motion.

Second.

Motion to adopt the order made by Councillor Abrew seconded by Councilor Burgo.

Anyone on the question all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the IS have it I will ask the clerk to read item two.

Mr.

President item two is a hearing from NSTAR electric company doing business as EverSource Energy for the location of approximately 240 feet of conduit to enlarge two manholes and re-roof a manhole in Union Street.

This work is necessary to provide service to 193 Union Street 2A is the order.

Motion receive in place and file and open the public hearing a motion to open the public hearing made by Councillor Burgo seconded by Councillor Lopes anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it now on union street uh so again work order number two two eight eight six five one one infrastructure improvement along union street which is between uh purchase in Pleasant Street the project includes installation of approximately two hundred and forty four feet of conduit and the enlargement and reconstruction of three existing manholes that's 8,000 over 216, 8,000 over 215 and 21 within the public right away.

The the uh work is to accommodate additional conduit and cables which is why we're um we're we're working in lodging these these manholes the work is expected to take no more than two to four days obviously weather permitting traffic will be maintained as usual throughout the construction with police deal details as required and any and all disturbed areas will be restored to their original conditions or better.

Thank you.

Colleagues any questions okay seeing none council Golds do you have your hand I'm sorry?

No right this is a public hearing would anyone from the public regarding a project on Union Street like to speak in favor to speak in favor of the project would anyone like to be recorded in favor be recorded in favor.

Would anyone like to speak in opposition?

Speak in opposition be recorded in opposition be recorded in opposition okay seeing none motion to close the public hearing a motion to close the public hearing was made by counselor burgo seconded by counselor lopes anyone on the question all those in favor say aye aye oppose the ayes have it.

Motion to adopt the order.

Motion to adopt the order made by Councillor Burgo seconded by counselor Abreu anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it colleagues without objection we will take hearings three four and five together as they are all the same project.

Okay without objection I will ask the clerk to read items three, four and five if the clerk would read one and then just the three other roads.

Thank you.

Mr President item three is a hearing from Cornerstone Energy Services on behalf of NSTAR Electric Company doing business as EverSource Energy for the location of underground electric transmission lines and Ashley Boulevard.

This work is necessary to prove system reliability.

3A is the order item four is for the location of underground electric transmission lines in Nash Road and item five is for transmission lines in Belleville Avenue.

Motion to receive in place on file and open the public hearing for items three through five A.

Motion to receive in place unfile and open the public hearings for items three through five A made by Councilor Burgo seconded by Counselor Lopes.

Anyone on the question Chair recognition Councillor Pemberton thank you Mr President I I just want to uh thank you for coming first of all oh counselor Pemberton sorry this would just be on opening the public hearing so we'll open the public hearings he'll present and then or do you have any questions prior to that?

Okay thank you.

In a minute and we'll recognize you.

All right.

Anyone on the question of opening the public hearings?

Okay.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ICE have it.

Thank you.

Good evening.

If you could state your name and the company work for for the record.

Okay.

Excuse me.

Hi, my name is John Perrin with Cornerstone Energy Services.

And uh we prepared the petition for Eversource for the uh the new uh underground transmission line.

It's 4.1 miles, uh runs through several roads.

We have um the project has already had approved nine of the roads.

There's three more to go, which is um items three, four, and five on the agenda today.

If you could give a brief overview about what the work would entail.

Okay.

So the go ahead, come on up, Anthony.

Yeah, you're better at this than I am.

Um the work involves installing underground electric transmission line.

So 115 KV line goes um, it'll be installed uh within the streets, uh vaults every round two thousand feet.

Um it'll be restored, backfilled, everything to existing condition or better.

I don't know if you want to augment that at all.

Yeah, thanks.

Council President, counselors, how are you doing tonight?

Uh it's Anthony Velou, community relations uh for Ever Source.

And just to recap a little of the history here.

So we if you remember, uh I know there's some new counselors as well, but we came in front of the council back in November of 2022 to present the total project.

Uh we got the previous grant allocations last July.

And to summarize, uh New Bedford has basically three transmission lines.

These are two of them.

They run from under the accushment river from a cushion it down Ashley Boulevard County.

They terminate at Pine Street substation.

They were built in 49 and 51.

We just have a project to replace those two lines uh completely to brand new uh modern technology.

So we just need the last three grand allocations for that project.

That's why we're here tonight, but happy to take any questions.

Great.

Thank you very much.

Um Chair recognition is Councilor Pemberton.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Anthony, for being here.

Uh so this works for all those streets would be getting done on the same same time, or are you doing streets by street or nope?

That's a great question.

So uh we originally had it broken down into two phases, um, but we've been meeting with the DPI.

Uh we negotiated with this with the mayor's office as well.

We we now broken down that down into five zones.

So we're basically doing one zone at a time.

We're starting in the south.

Right now we're on uh we did two vaults on MacArthur Drive.

We took a little bit of a pause.

We're currently doing two vaults on South 2nd Street, and then we're gonna work our way north from there.

So it's kind of north to south.

We might be uh there could be a a jump of zones every once in a while, but we're trying to do all the vault work first, finish with the duck banks.

Uh not all at once, but in uh zone setting.

So it's not all under construction at one time.

Uh okay, good, good.

Yeah, and we're just gonna make sure we have details there and and the correct detours if we need to.

Yep.

So another thing I want to add to you is that we had a very comprehensive uh MOU, it's a memorandum of understanding, and in that uh I think the mayor had mentioned it in his state of the city address as well.

It's uh we we propose uh well over twenty million dollars of restoration, curb the curve on the whole route, brand new sidewalks, handicap ramps, a fully rebuilt traffic intersection, details, trees, uh you name it.

It's we we signed it.

The the administration signed it.

It's a great agreement, and we're just happy to we just want to get started to do the work.

Very easy.

Yeah, all right.

Thank you.

That I yield, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Pemberton.

Colleagues, any other questions?

Chair recognizes Councillor Burgo.

Uh when is this work going to begin and when do you anticipate it ending?

Uh we we started already.

We started actually last fall.

We put two vaults in on MacArthur Drive across from where our existing substation is on Pine Street.

Uh there was we took a we had to pause because we had to continue some negotiations on the MOU with the with the administration.

Uh once we got that finalized this winter, we started again on South Second Street right by Harbor View um senior high rise over there.

So we we've started the portions that we got the grant allocation for last July.

We started where we have those, and then we're just gonna continue.

We should be done by what, 2028?

Well, I guess just in regards to this particular section of Belleville Ave and where Belleville Road will be.

Yeah.

When do you guys think would be next year?

Next year.

Okay.

Just because the um my concern is about the businesses in that area, if this will be disruptive uh to that particular roadway, uh what plans do we have to make sure that they still have access uh or I guess patrons still have access to that um area because I know we've had some issues that you've been able to help resolve uh with some other businesses near the other portion of Belleville Road near end zone.

Um so that's my only concern is the continuation as we go down further down these roads that we're being mindful of the businesses that will need to continue to operate.

Yeah, no, that's a great question.

So per the DPU we have to have a very extensive sort of like public outreach program for this.

We we have an interactive map that people can follow and we have uh a fantastic project engagement team.

She's in the back tonight.

They literally knock doors, they go business to business, everybody gets a letter, they work with them on trying to mitigate uh issues, making sure that their businesses remain open.

If there's parking that we need to coordinate around, we can we'll we're gonna do that.

Making sure that the crews, if they are in front of a business, they're in there in and out as quickly as possible.

And as much notification in advance as we can provide, we make sure that those businesses get that.

And if there is a serious disruption, then we can talk with those businesses one-on-one on other forms of mitigation.

Okay, and I want to make it clear to Cornerstone Energies, I guess uh that they are not to park in any of these private parking areas.

Um because that was also a concern from other businesses at the time that we were getting complaints about um that it's very clear that those are private property versus what's public property.

And so it's clearly defined as well.

So Cornerstone only files the grant of submission package.

The contractor on this job is uh a company called Hogland.

And they're well aware of everything that you had just outlined.

Wonderful.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Counselor Carney.

Thank you.

Mr.

President.

Hi, Anthony.

Um is this is this the same project that um that involves the the ribside lofts area?

Correct.

Okay.

So um so that has been determined that there was no Sunday work.

Right.

And you are working on Saturdays right now.

Correct.

And what is the impact?

Have we gotten any feedback from the tenants out there?

I know somebody I spoke to one of the tendons in there.

A little not happy with some of the work that's been going on.

So um the impact of them, because I know we had the meetings down there and there's no Sundays, but yeah, I work until Saturdays, so what time?

Uh what time are we usually working till?

Two o'clock?

Two o'clock.

Oh, okay.

So I think it's eight to two.

And we haven't had uh very we've we deal a lot with the management of riverbank.

Right.

We haven't had too many complaints, I don't think from individual residents.

Right.

And uh when are we gonna be out of there?

Spring of 2028.

In the spring of 2028.

That's a long time.

Spring of 27.

This is the same.

Spring of 27.

Completely done for disturbing the because there's a lot of elderly there, and you know the parking and we we discuss all that stuff.

So I just hope that we're still mindful of the tenants there.

Absolutely.

And because they are mostly elderly there.

Right.

Okay.

Thank you for that.

You got it.

And um we also we resealed their that I know there's that other parking lot that we had folks.

We resealed it.

We put uh some lights up there in the parking lot.

There was never lights in there before.

So we tried to do some things to try to help them out.

Super.

Thank you.

You got it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Council Lopes, did you want the floor?

No.

Okay.

Anyone else, colleagues?

Well, if the body would allow from the chair.

I do have um uh concerns, Anthony, regarding the work uh what at the end of Ashley Boulevard.

Sure.

Uh with the 195 Viaduct project, the traffic over there is can be pretty gnarly.

What are some plans, especially in between Sawyer Street and um uh Cogzall?

That's that and that one-way section.

That's that's that's gonna get could get pretty pretty backed up.

Uh uh uh I I travel that area quite often.

What what are some mitigation plans?

What uh what are our what are your thoughts on that?

Um I might look to the bench here for one of the PMs if they you guys got any Yeah, sure.

Come on, Donald.

Come on.

We we don't bite.

Uh we have extensive we meet bi weekly with the DPI.

We meet weekly with Mastot.

Okay.

We also have an extensive uh traffic management plan to Mastot specs.

Okay.

Um that have to be approved before any construction starts with uh the DPI.

So I think that's pretty robust.

I don't know if you want to add anything.

No, I'm just we're and uh my name is Dylan Gower.

Hi, good afternoon or good evening, everyone.

My name is Don Gallagher.

I'm a project manager for Ever Source, uh major projects transmission department.

Um so where we turn off Ashley Boulevard on our phase two portion of this project, one of our deals with traffic management is to maintain one lane of traffic at all time, no matter what kind of construction we have ongoing at that area.

Okay.

Um we turn off Ashley Boulevard onto Nash Road, and that's the end of Ashley Boulevard run for us.

Um at that portion where we turn, we have like a kind of a specialty traffic management look into.

We completed a fully comprehensive uh traffic uh study previously a couple of years ago.

Um we've ran that down the DPI.

All right.

And we coordinate with DWI and Mastodot every week.

Why are you going to be in Wellsquare?

Oh, uh 2027.

What's what's that?

Sorry.

Uh I think the area the area you're talking about, we won't be there till 2027.

Okay.

Yeah, the the the I I know the Mastodot project for 195 is like a five-year project, so we probably will be there.

There'll still be ongoing.

Traffic patterns might change by that time with mass dots work moving along and the work over there.

But that's uh there's a you guys are meeting with the right people, and and I have confidence that we'll we'll have a good plan in place.

All right.

Thank you.

Uh one additional item I want to mention to you is that in the MOU, I think uh I send to all of you a copy.

We also um we coordinated with DPI and we paid a company, a third-party engineering company to take some of the burden of reviewing all these engineering plans, the traffic management plans.

It was a quite a bit of money, so we tried to do that to lift some of the burden on city employees.

Fantastic, thank you.

Colleagues, any other questions at this time?

Okay.

So from the general public.

This is a project on Ashley Boulevard, Nash Road, and Belleville Avenue.

If anyone from the public wishes to speak in favor of this project.

Speaking sure, come to the podium, please, sir.

I know it's the right time.

I have a question.

So the chair will allow you to ask a question at this time, sir, if you want to go to the podium.

Just we need your name and your address.

My name is Bob Burgess, and I have property at 2324.

Ashley Boulevard, business property.

Yes.

On the corner of Coffin Avenue.

And I'm just curious, um, when is when is the project going to start in my area on Ashley Boulevard?

And uh just wondering, you know, how long it's going to take.

And um, you know, you mentioned about the traffic single lane.

Yeah.

Ashley Boulevard, you uh as you said, you know, it's a it's a rough area, a lot of traffic.

I was just wondering how much it's going to interfere with uh the business.

But basically, when will it start and uh how how long will it take in in the area between uh let's say Dean and Coffin Avenue?

Is it can that be answered?

Okay.

Uh we'll we'll have some of the gentlemen behind you uh get that information to you, sir.

Okay, Mr.

Burgess.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

Any uh Anthony, at appropriate time, can you just meet with the the resident?

Okay.

Perfect.

Thank you very much.

All right.

Okay.

Anyone else from the public wish to speak in favor?

Okay.

Speak in favor.

Be recorded in favor.

Be recorded in favor of the project.

Would anyone like to speak in opposition of the project?

Speak in opposition.

Would anyone like to be recorded in opposition?

Be recorded in opposition.

All right.

Seeing none.

Um Chair would like a motion to close the public hearing.

Motion by motion to close the public hearings on items three through five A by Council Lopes, seconded by Councillor Burgo.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Colleagues, a pleasure.

Uh motion adopt the order for 345.

Motion to adopt orders three, four, and five, made by councillor Pemberton.

Seconded by Councillor Abrew.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Moving on to mayor's papers.

I will ask the clerk to read item M1.

Mr.

President item M1 is communication from the mayor to the council.

Submitting an order that the city accept mass general law, Chapter 71, Section 71F to enable a school department to establish a non-resident tuition revolving fund.

M1A is the order.

Motion to receive in place on file.

Um adopt the order and accept mass general law, chapter 71, section 71F.

Motion to motion made by Council Roy to adopt the uh accept mass general laws chapter 71 and 71 section 71 F and adopt the order.

Second by Councillor Burgo.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Item M2, please.

Mr.

President M2 is communication from the mayor to the council.

Submitting an order authorizing the payment of an outstanding invoice from prior fiscal year totaling $4,182 and one cent to be charged to the account of treasurer collector, purchase of services.

M2A is the order.

And if the clerk wouldn't mind reading M3 as well, please.

Certainly.

M3, Mr.

President is a communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order authorizing the payment of an outstanding invoice from a prior fiscal year totaling of $450 to also be charged to the account of the Department of Facilities and Fleet.

Purchase of Services.

M3A is the order.

Motion to adopt orders on M2 and M3 made by Councilor Burgo.

Seconded by Councilor Roy.

All those anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item M4.

Mr.

President, M4 is a communication from the mayor to the council submitting an ordinance.

Amending chapter 9 zoning, establishing form-based code districts.

M4A is the ordinance.

Motion referred to the committee on ordinances.

Second.

And planning.

And planning.

Motion to refer to the committee on ordinances and the planning department made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

Madam Mr.

President, without objection, can we take items M5 through M10A together?

Waive the readings, waive the readings and grant the reappointments and waive Rule 40.

And 38.

M30, yeah.

Okay.

So a motion has been made by Councilor O'Lopes to take items M5 through M10 together.

Waive rules 38 and 40 and reappoint the appointments.

Second by Councillor Gomes.

Anyone on the question?

Okay.

Roll call vote, please.

Oh, excuse me, I'm sorry.

I'll have the clerk read them.

Well he made a motion to waive the reading too.

That was a part of his motion.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Okay.

I didn't see the question.

Is there any objection to waive the reading from the body?

You can at least give the reappointments and the names.

Okay, so then yeah, read the general public please.

We're just gonna read them at this point.

Everything first is communication from the mayor to the council, submitting the reappointment of Glenn Chandler of New Bedford to the Library Trustees.

This term will expire in April of 2029.

M6 is for Ann R.

O'Leary to the Library Board of Trustees with the same expiration date.

M7 is for Rosemary Saber to the library trustees with the same expiration.

M eight is the reappointment of Brian Ayot to the Community Preservation Committee, which will expire in April of 29.

M9 is for Diana Henry to the Historical Commission expiring in February of 2029.

And M 10 is a communication from the mayor submitting the reappointment of Adriana Baptista of New Bedford as a constable.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Councilor.

All right.

Uh at this time on the waiving of rules 38 and 40 and reappointing.

I will ask the clerk to call the roll.

Counselor Abreu.

Yes, Council Baptiste.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Shilpet.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Lopes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pemberton.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

10 to 0.

Mr.

President.

Item passes 10 to 0.

Is there anyone in here?

That just was reappointed.

I know some of you.

I don't see.

I didn't see anybody before.

Okay.

I don't see anybody.

Okay.

Very good.

Moving on to new business.

I'll ask the clerk to take uh read item number six, please.

Mr.

President, M si I'm sorry, item six is a loan order appropriating thirteen million seven hundred and eighty-seven thousand six hundred and twenty-four dollars for the purpose of paying the cost of replacement of the roof and accessibility accessibility upgrades to the Alfred J.

Gomes Elementary School located at 286 South Second Street.

Motion to be uh received and placed on file and adopt the loan order.

Motion to adopt the loan order made by Councilor Baptiste, seconded by Councilor Burgo.

Anyone on the question of adoption?

Roll call.

Roll call vote.

Counselor Abreu.

Yes.

Yes, Council Baptiste.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Shulkett.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes.

Yes.

Council Lopes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pemberton.

Yes.

Yes.

Counselor Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 10 to 0, Mr.

President.

Item passes 10 to 0.

We'll ask the clerk to read item number 7, please.

Mr.

President, item 7 is a report from the Committee on Finance recommended the Council approval of the COLA base increase from 14,000 to 16,000.

Effective July 1st of 2026 as detailed in a communication dated November 26 of 2025, which was submitted by Eric Cohen, the Executive Director of the New Bedford Retirement Board.

7A is a communication from former Council Morrad.

Your pleasure, colleagues.

Motion to receive and placement file the report out of the Committee on Finance and approve the coli base increase.

Second motion to approve the Cola base increase made by Councillor Burgo, second by Councillor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

Chair will request a roll call vote.

Councillor Abreu.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Shulkette?

Yes.

Yes.

Council Gomes?

Yes.

Yes.

Excuse me.

Council Lopes?

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pemberton.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 10 to 0.

Mr.

President.

Item passes 10 to 0.

I'll ask the clerk to read item number 8.

Mr.

President, item 8 is a report from the Committee on Finance recommended to the Council adoption of an order for the Community Preservation Act FY26 funding recommendations for 20 projects totaling two million two hundred and twenty-seven thousand three hundred and forty-one dollars in eight A is the order.

Motion.

Motion to adopt the order made by Councillor Burgo.

Seconded by Councillor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question?

Roll call vote.

Councilor Abrew.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Baptiste.

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Burgo.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Kearney.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Schulquette.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Golmes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Lopes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pemberton.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Roy.

Yeah.

Yes.

Yes.

10 to 0.

Item passes 10 to 0.

I will ask the clerk to read item 9.

Mr.

President, item 9 is written motion from Councillors Abrew, Lopes, and Shulkett, that the City of New Bedford through its tourism and marketing office and all relevant departments and organizations actively engage in regional planning and promotional efforts associated with the two thousand twenty-six FIFA World Cup has five group stage matches will be held at Gillett Stadium between June thirteenth and July 9th of 2026.

And further, that the city recognize the significant opportunity presented by anticipated overflow, hotel demand and increased regional visitation by positioning New Bedford as a welcoming and accessible destination for out-of-town and international visitors attending these matches.

And further, that the tourism and marketing office work in coordination with state and regional tourism partners, local hotels, restaurants, and business organizations to develop and implement a targeted marketing strategy, showcasing New Bedford's accommodations, dining, arts, culture, and waterfront amenities, and further that the city explore opportunities to support visitor access through transportation coordination, informational materials, and potential visitor packages.

Further, that a representative of the tourism and marketing office be requested to appear before the Committee on Economic Development to provide an update on planned initiatives and partnerships related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Motion to follow the recommendation of the motion and refer to the Committee on Economic Development, Tourism Director, Representative of the Mayor's Office, Southeastern Mass Convention, Visitors Bureau, Executive Director Christine Christian Tyrell, Michael O'Sullivan of the One South Coast Chamber, made by Councillor Burgo, second by the made by Council Abro, second by Councilor Burgo.

On the question.

Thank you very much, Mr.

President.

Sometimes uh good ideas come by what other municipalities are doing.

And uh I've been following because my day job uh working for the Chamber of Commerce up in Brockt.

Um I've been seeing what the administration of Brockton has been doing with their Office of Economic Development's been in Murreston, and they have been for months now uh dovetailed in with the folks from FIFA, Gillette Stadium, the craft group, working with partners uh in the hotel industry, the restaurants, the private industry, and of course the chamber to promote Brockt and the Metro South and the South Shore area as a good destination for hotels, for staycations, dedications, uh what's going on in between the matches is I listed in the motion here.

The FIFA World Cup will be happening for about a month, right here, right on the edge of Bristol County, right here, right on the south coast.

Now, I can tell you that Brockton, Providence, Boston, Taunton, and Fall River, from what I'm told, are all at capacity for hotel occupancy for these four and a half to five weeks during the World Cup, even just before.

So it begs the question.

With these hotels being at capacity, what are we doing?

What's New Bedford doing to promote this World Cup and how we can attract this these international visitors and these national visitors and tourists to New Bedford for those several weeks.

We have hotels, we have three of them.

We have beautiful restaurants, we have our waterfront, we have some amazing amenities here in New Bedford.

I want to know what are we doing for that month to attract visitors and tourists here to our city.

This will be a tremendous economic boom for this region for this month.

I've spoken with folks in print, social media, and in um newspaper advertising and in media in general.

And to their knowledge, and in my questions, I have asked them, we don't have a plan, or at least if we do, they don't know about it.

You figured they would know about it.

They would be the conduit to promote said plans to the populace about what's going on.

So through you, Mr.

Chairman, uh Mr.

President to the chairman of the committee, of which I'm also the vice chair of, I ask that we have an expeditious hearing on this soon so we can get these players to the table from the private sector, the Southeastern Mass Visitors Bureau, the Chamber President, as well as our own tourism office to see what is it that we're doing for these four weeks.

Um we have such a tremendous um following of soccer here in New Bedford based on the wonderful melting pot of ethnic backgrounds we have in New Bedford, Portuguese, Brazilian, Cape Verde, and because goes on and on and on.

Um we there's a lot of excitement going on around the World Cup.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

So we need to be out in front of it.

We need to have a plan.

We need to get folks down here, basking in what New Bedford has to offer.

And I hope we have a plan, and if we don't, we need to get one soon.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'll yield at this time.

Thank you, Councillor April.

Anyone else on the on the question?

Okay.

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Item number 10 is before us.

Mr.

President.

Mr.

President, item 10 is communication from the clerk to the council.

Submitting an application for a new private liberty license on behalf of Maria DePina of 28 Windsor Circle and Brockton, Mass, and Maria L.

Pyres of 60 Foster Street in Brockton, doing business as six sister express transport, which will be located at 109 Robeson Street in New Bedford.

The term of the license is to run from July 1st of this year to June 30th of next year.

Refer to the committee on licensing and permits.

Motion referred to the committee on licensing and permits made by Councillor Abrew.

Second by Councillor Burgo.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Mr.

Chair, without objections, can we take items 11 through 18 together?

They're all renewals.

Yeah.

Okay.

Without objection, we'll take items 11 through 18 together.

We'll ask the clerk to read the first one in its entirety and just the names and addresses on the rest.

Mr.

President, item 11 is a communication from the clerk to the council submitting an application for the renewal of a private liberty license on behalf of Terry Andre Louis of 38 Trinity Street in New Bedford doing business as Mel Transportation at 109 Robison Street, New Bedford.

Item 12 is on behalf of Suzette Rosa DePina doing business as Tia Suzette Transportation at 38 Trinity Street.

Number 13 is Sean Simonello of 29 Shannon Way of Dartmouth doing business as Yeswe Van LLC at 651 Orchard.

Item 14 is David Bizarro doing business as Bizarro Transportation at 85 Osborne Street in New Bedford.

Item 15 is Anthony DeRosa of 56 Westwood Drive in North Dartmouth doing business as Bluebird Transportation LLC at 458 Dartman Street, New Bedford.

Item 16 is Floyd Pinera doing business as for transportation of set at 7 Upton Street in New Bedford.

Item 17 is Joan Philippe DeSantisa Remos doing business as JSR Transportation LLC at 312 Davis Street, Apartment 1 in New Bedford.

And number 18, Mr.

President is Albert Williams doing business as elite transportation, one Deerfield Lane for Haven Mass.

Colleagues.

Grant the licenses or motion to uh renew the licenses.

Motion to grant the renewals made by Councillor Burgo, second by Councillor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor of renewing the licenses say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

Motion to take up and adopt consent.

Motion to take up and adopt consent.

Made by Councillor Burgo.

Second by Councillor Roy.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

Motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn, made by Councillor Burgo.

Second by Councillor Pemberton.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you, everyone.

We are adjourned at 7:39 p.m.