Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Today is Thursday, July 16th at 7.06 p.m.

for the regularly scheduled city council meeting.

Before our normal uh dealing of business, on the advice of Attorney Garatowski, I'm going to remind the general public that while the meeting is ongoing, I asked for no disruptions from the public.

We at this time are looking to just continue with the business of the day.

And at this point, uh respectfully ask for decorum in the chambers and no disruptions from the public.

Okay.

I just explained, sir, that there was no no rule.

We're going to take a brief recess.

Thank you.

At this time, I will ask for a moment of silence.

We do not have a member of the clergy here, but I will ask for a moment of silence.

Thank you.

All right.

I don't know who's doing this.

We are led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Counselor at Large James Roy.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

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

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councillor.

You're welcome, Counselor.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I would like 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.

I will ask um excuse me.

We are joined in the chamber this evening by my colleagues, Councillor at Large, Ian A.

Councillor of Ward 1, Leo Choquette, Counselor at Large, Brian Gomes, Counselor at Large, James Roy, Counselor at Large, Naomi Carney, Counselor of Ward 3, Sean Oliver, Counselor at Large, Shane Burgo, and myself, Council President Ryan Pereira.

At this time, I will ask the clerk if there are any letters to be read into the record.

Mr.

President, I have two.

The first is from Councillor Lopes, Dear Council President Pereira, and honorable members of the Council.

I am writing to inform you that I'll be unable to attend the City Council meeting on Thursday, July 16th, due to a work-related commitment.

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

Sincerely, Joseph P.

Lopes, Councilor of Ward 5.

The second is from Councillor Pemberton.

Dear Council President Pereira and honorable members of the Council, I am writing to inform you that I am unable to attend the City Council meeting on Thursday, July 16th, due to a prior business commitment.

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

Sincerely, Scott Pemberton, Councilor of Ward 2.

Motion receive and place on file.

Motion to receive and place on file made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Roy.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number one.

Mr.

President, item one is a hearing from NSTAR ledger company doing business as Eversource Energy for the location of approximately 40 feet of conduit at Howard Avenue.

This work is necessary to provide service to 99 River Road 1A is the order.

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

Motion to open the public hearing made by Council of Burgo.

Seconded by Councillor Roy.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

Colleagues, we received communication uh from Jessica Alba uh Elder of Eversource that uh she is unable to make it to this evening.

Uh so we are going to continue this to our next uh meeting on August 20th at 7 p.m.

Yeah, but we haven't received it.

Mr.

President.

Yeah, I have something to ask.

Well, Sean was going to uh speak on the issue or whatever.

I don't know.

Uh I uh we've never been in this situation where they don't show up.

Well, uh it is a public hearing.

I will allow testimony from Sean's side at this time, but I will I'm gonna just get some more information from Attorney Garatowski and then brief the council.

So, Sean, if you want to present some testimony.

Yes, you can.

It is a public hearing.

Uh David.

Sean, go ahead.

Go ahead.

Good evening, everybody.

99 River Road is the location of the Howard Avenue pumping station.

This petition is associated with a new electrical service that is required as part of DPI's complete upgrade and replacement of that station.

If you drive down Howard Avenue and River Road right now, there is a lot of construction activity going down happening down there.

And uh replacement of the station is part of that work.

We are required under our 2019 administrative order with the EPA to replace the station, which we are actively doing.

And ultimately it will help reduce combined sewer overflow discharges to the New Bedford Inner Harbor.

So with that, I am requesting uh asking the permission of the council for approval of this petition to install the new electrical service to the new pumping station.

Councilor.

Thank you very much, Mr.

President.

Sean, it is um the work is presently going on down there.

Am I correct?

It is correct, yes.

And um how far along uh are they already they've been doing a lot of the underground piping work on River Road, so they haven't started on the pumping station yet.

Uh they've only done some site work.

Um they need to do this first because they have to remove some overhead wires that cut across the site, and in an in order to get the cranes in there and the equipment to build it, we've got to get the wires down, and in order to do that, we have to do this um replacement first.

This runs just north of um Wood Street, correct?

Just south of Wood Street.

South wood of Wood Street.

They've been in all that area there.

It was in sure.

There's plates down and everything that the work that's being done.

Correct.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Mr.

Mr.

President.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Counselor, I apologize if I didn't see you before.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Hi.

How are you?

I'm great.

How are you?

Great.

So I was driving down Howard Ave today and I was surprised because I couldn't go over the bridge over the river.

How do you know if if the work is connected?

Oh, I was not aware of that.

I'm sorry.

You're sorry for the bridge closure.

I just I was just wondering if you knew the work was connected and if you could let the public know, like, hey, yeah, it's connected, and the bridge will be closed until I will look into that.

I was not aware that the bridge was closed.

I know that they are working at the intersection of Wood Street and River Road.

Um, but uh if that is associated with our project, then I will definitely uh look into that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Thank you, Councilor.

Anyone else?

For Sean.

Okay.

This is a public hearing.

I'm going to ask if any counselor Gomes, do you have a question?

Yeah, I had a question.

I just want to know how important this is that we get this through this evening.

As you know, Mr.

President, you I'm sure you've been up in the area and my other colleagues.

There's major work going on in this area, as Council Roy has just stated they even might have shut down the bridge today for some other work that's going on.

If the there is a need for us to move this along, I would through you to Sean.

I want to know that.

Sean?

Uh 100 percent.

Yes, we would definitely like to push this along because if we have to wait another month and that's just gonna push the contractor schedule out another month for being able to get in there and start working on the site itself.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Just wanted to get that clarification for myself and the colleagues.

And uh counselor, um I did have a conversation with attorney Garatowski up here at the dias.

Um he did inform me it is a public hearing, source does not technically need to be here to present for us to take action.

However, it it it is normal that they are here to present.

If this is an exception the body is willing to make that we we can entertain that.

I will still go through the public hearing process.

Um and then it'll be up to this body to either close the public hearing or continue the public hearing.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Okay, thank you, Counselor.

All right.

Um any other questions for Sean's side.

Okay.

Thank you, Sean.

Thank you, Chair.

The at this um at this time it is a public hearing.

I will ask if there are any members of the public who wishes to speak in favor of this project.

Speak in favor.

Is any member of the public wish to be recorded in favor?

Be recorded in favor.

Would any member of the public wish to speak in opposition?

Speak in opposition.

Would any member of the public wish to be recorded in opposition?

To be recorded in opposition.

Okay.

Seeing no more comment from the audience from the public.

Your pleasure, colleagues.

Motion to close the public hearing and approve the order.

Can it go both at the same time?

Um yeah, we could do both at the same time.

All right.

Okay.

Motion to close the public hearing and adopt the order made by Council of Roy, seconded by Councillor Gomes.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number one.

Mr.

President, M1 is a communication from the mayor of the City Council.

Submitting a veto of the ordinance admitting chapter 19 of the City Code relative to paid family leave.

The veto was received in the city council office on July 10th of 2020-26.

M1A is the ordinance.

Motion receive and spread on the record.

Motion to receive motion to receive and spread on the record made by Councillor Burgo.

Seconded by Councillor Avery.

Anyone on the question?

Chair recognition, Councillor Burgo.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and those who seconded.

Tonight before us is the mayor's veto of our paid family leave ordinance.

Procedurally, all we are doing this evening is receiving and placing it on file and spreading it upon the record.

At our next meeting, this uh council will have the opportunity to decide whether to sustain the mayor's veto or override it.

Mr.

President, at the appropriate time, I would also like to receive in place on file my written response to the mayor's veto into the record.

While I won't read the entire statement this evening, I believe it is important that it become part of the official record because it addresses point by point why I believe the mayor's objections are unsupported and why this ordinance remains good public policy.

This ordinance did not appear overnight.

We have been working on this legislation since 2023.

It has been discussed through multiple different personnel directors.

We sought feedback from the administration.

We revised language.

We addressed concerns.

When meaningful progress stalled, this council directed our legislative council to draft the ordinance because we believed our employees deserved action, not endless delays.

Yet, after nearly three years of work, the mayor's veto offers hypothetical scenarios and speculative concerns.

But very little evidence that this ordinance is unworkable.

What has been missing throughout this discussion has been the voices of the employees?

This ordinance was actually written to help.

So I want to share after issuing my statement today, a couple of the city employees that commented.

One mother wrote, currently using all of my sick vacation and PTO time while on parental leave.

It took me four years to accrue enough time to have any paid leave when my daughter was born.

It's a systemic problem for the whole country, but really unfortunate when the state offers paid leave programs that are rejected by an employer.

Think about that.

Four years of saving every hour of earned leave just so she could afford to stay home with her newborn child.

Another employee, a father, shared this.

Just had to use eight weeks of sick time for the birth of my twins who spent two weeks in the hospital.

These are not hypothetical situations.

These aren't projections.

These are the lived experiences of the men and women who come to work every day to serve the residents of New Bedford.

These employees shouldn't have to choose between being present for one of the most important moments of their lives and protecting the paycheck their family depends on.

They shouldn't have to spend years stockpiling vacation and sick leave simply to welcome a child into the world, only to return to work with nothing left if they or their family face another emergency.

That is the problem this ordinance seeks to solve.

What kind of employer do we want the City of New Belfort to be?

Do we want to continue asking our employees to sacrifice for the city while offering little support in return?

Or do we want to demonstrate that we value the people who keep this city running every single day?

Our employees show up for this city.

They plow our streets, answer emergency calls, inspect our buildings, maintain our parks, process permits, protect public health, and provide countless services that our residents rely on every day.

Tonight we begin the process of standing up for them.

Tonight is not the override vote, but it is the first step toward telling every city employee that this council recognizes their sacrifices.

It values their families and believes they should never have to choose between caring for a newborn child and earning a paycheck.

I look forward to the discussion at our next meeting, and I remain hopeful that this council will come together to override this veto and reaffirm that New Bedford is a city that stands with the employees and families who make our community stronger.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

Anyone else?

Motion has been made to receive and spread on the record.

It has been duly second.

Anyone on the uh sorry.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

We'll ask the clerk to read item two.

Mr.

President, M2 is a communication from the mayor to the council.

Submitting an order for the transfer of $37,154 from Mayor Purchase of Services to Mayor, other charges and expenses.

M2A is the order.

Motion to refer to the committee on finance.

Motion's been made to refer to finance.

Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Roy.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the aye sabbat.

I'll ask the clerk to read item number three, M3.

Mr.

President, M to the C.

Without objection, could we read M3, M4, M5, and M6 all together?

Motion is several M6.

Oh.

So M3 through M5A.

I will ask the clerk to read M3 through M5A.

Mr.

President, M3 is communication from the Mayor to the Council submitting an order for the transfer of $2,000 from assessors purchase of services to assessors, other charges and expenses.

M4 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $650 from labor relations, purchase of services to labor relations, other charges and expenses.

And M five is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of 157,900 791 dollars from school general expense to school transportation.

M5A is the order.

Motion to adopt motion to refer to the committee on finance.

Second.

Motion to refer to finance.

Motion to refer to finance made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Abreu.

I think.

Anyone on the question on referral?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

We'll ask the clerk to read it on M6.

Mr.

President, M6 is a communication from the Mayor to the Council Switting Order for the transfer of 395,000 from Zaiterian Theater Supplies to Zayetian Theater Purchase of Services.

M6A is the order.

Motion to refer to finance.

Motion to refer to finance, made by Councillor Burgo.

Second.

Second by Councillor Oliver.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Oppose the ICAB.

I will ask the clerk to read item seven.

Mr.

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

Submitting the appointment of Gerald L.

Ribero of New Bedford as a constable.

M7A is his application.

Motion referred to the special committee on per permits.

Did I get that right?

Motion to refer to the special committee and licensing, sorry.

Permits and licensing.

Made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item two.

Mr.

President, item two is a loan order appropriated 220 million four hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of financing the cost of projects outlined in the city's long-term CSO control and integrated capital improvement plan.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt, made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Bur Um Abreu, excuse me.

Roll call vote.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes, Council Baptiste.

Yes.

Yes, Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Shilquette.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 9 to 0.

Mr.

President.

Item passes 9 to 0.

I will ask the clerk to read item number 3, please.

Mr.

President, item 3 is an ordinance amending chapter 16 of the municipal utilities and services, section 16-94 rate charges.

Pass to be ordained.

Move to pass to be ordained, made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question?

I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abrew.

Yes.

Council Baptiste.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Burgo?

Yes.

Yes.

Council Carney.

No.

No.

Council Shoket.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Roy.

Yeah.

Yes.

Passes A to 1, Mr.

President.

Item pass.

Sorry.

Item passes A to 1.

I will ask the clerk to read item number 4, please.

Mr.

President, item 5.

Do you want to do these two by 45 six?

I can swim announcement.

Yeah.

Yes, that's fine.

You want to announce it or no?

Oh, sorry.

Uh without objection, the chair will take items four through six eight together.

Mr.

President Item 4 is a report from the Committee on Appointments and Briefings recommending the City Council approval of the reappointment of Ricard Rosendis of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the licensing board.

Item five is a report from the committee on appointments and briefings recommending the City Council approval of the appointment of Lara Harrington of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the Airport Commission.

And item six is a report from the committee on appointments and briefings recommending to the council approval of the appointment of Craig Espanola to the Steamship Authority Board of Governors.

Your pleasure, colleagues.

Motion to uh receive clear final grant the appointment.

Motion waive rule 40.

Motion to grant the appointment by Council Oliver and waive Rule 40, made by Councillor Oliver, seconded by Council of Burgo.

Anyone on the question?

I will ask the clerk to call the roll on waiving Rule 40 and granting the appointments.

Councilor Abreu.

Yes, Council Baptiste.

Yes.

Council Burgo?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Shokett?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Council Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Pass 9 to 0.

Item passes 9 to 0.

I will ask the clerk to swear in our members.

I see Ricard.

Rosende is here.

If he wants to go first, he's up first.

Aye, require the resendings.

I recommend solemnly swear.

Solemnly swear.

Faithfully and impartially.

Faithfully and impartially.

As a member of the license board.

In accordance with the laws.

In accordance with the laws.

Constitution of the United States.

And the Constitution of the United States.

Commonwealth, Massachusetts.

Commonwealth, Massachusetts.

Chatterer ordinances of the City.

So I'll be going.

So help me go.

Aye, stage 4 name.

Aye, Lara Harrington.

Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

Then I will faithfully and impartially.

Then I will faithfully impartially.

Perform my duties.

Perform my duties.

As a member of the airport commission.

As a member of the airport commission.

In accordance with the laws.

And according to the laws.

And the Constitution of the United States.

And the Constitution of the United States.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

And the Charter and Ordinances.

The Chair would just like to uh congratulate Craig Gaspanola.

He is not here, but wish him good luck on behalf of the body.

He will be sworn in at a later time in the clerk's office.

I'll ask the clerk to read item number seven, please.

Mr.

President, item seven is a report from the Committee on Finance recommending the City Council approval of the CPA annual budget for the FY27 for Committee Administrative Expenses and Community Preservation Projects in FY27.

7A is the communication.

Motion receive and placement file and adopt.

Motion to adopt the budget made by Council of Burgo.

Second.

Seconded by Councillor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

The ayes have it.

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

Mr.

President, item eight is a report from the committee on ordinances recommended to the city council approval approval of an ordinance amending chapter 9 zoning, establishing form-based uh code districts.

8A is the ordinance.

Pass to a second reading.

Second.

Council.

To just clarify.

So we'll have a motion to pass to a second reading in the new version that was received by the clerk's office.

Okay.

Which included the changes the committee requested.

Just to make the general public aware, this report includes the new version that took a few days to get to this body.

So it is before us, has been passed to a second re uh passed to a second reading made by Council of Burgo.

It was seconded by Councillor Carney, I believe.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor of passing to a second reading say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

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

Mr.

President, item nine is a report from the committee on ordinances recommended to the council adoption adoption of an order increasing the administrative and recording fees for vital record amendments from 40 to 50 dollars and for business certificates, DBA licenses from 40 to 50.

9A is the order.

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

Second.

Motion to adopt the order made by Council of Burgo, seconded by Councillor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number 10.

Mr.

President, item 10 is a report from the committee on city property recommended the city council approval of the proposal submitted by South Coast Investments Incorporated for the development of fire station number three, located at 834 Kempin Street, and approval of the proposals submitted by Gavush Development for the development of fire station number 11, located at 754 Brock Avenue.

10A is the order.

10B and 10 C are the proposals.

Motion to refer to the Committee on City Property.

Motion to refer to the Committee on City Property made by Council of Burgo.

Second.

Second by Council Roy.

All those in favor say aye.

Oppose the Ice Have it.

Mr.

President.

Yes.

Waive the reading of items 11 through 25A and take no further action.

Motion to waive the readings on 11th and 25A and take no further action made by Council of Burgo.

Seconded by Councillor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Pose the Ice Habit.

No, thank you.

I will ask the clerk to read item number 26, please.

Mr.

President, item 26 is a written motion from Councillors Abrew and Lopes requesting that Chief Financial Officer Bob Ekstrom and representatives of the Mitchell administration provide the City Council with a detailed accounting of the city's planned allocation and use of the $713,441 and 91 cents received through the Commonwealth's winter recovery assistance program awarded to New Bedford based on its 269.448 miles of locally owned roadway.

And further that the administration indicate whether these funds will be utilized to offset FY26 snow and ice expenditures, reduce any existing snow and ice deficit, replenish previously appropriated municipal funds, support the amortization efforts authorized under Chapter 101 of the Acts of 2026, or be allocated for another authorized purpose and provide the anticipated fiscal impact on the city's FY27 budget.

Excuse me, and tax rate.

Two ways the communication.

Second.

Motion to follow the recommendation made by Councillor Abreu, seconded by Councillor Burgo.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Abro.

Thanks a bunch, Mr.

President.

So again, I rise to support this motion.

I want to thank Councillor Lopes, this year's finance chairman, for co-sponsoring, and I hope that my colleagues will join me in securing the passage of this motion to go to the Finance Committee for a discussion.

I mean, we're talking about $713,441.91 that the Commonwealth during the winter recovery assistance program known as RAP, they have allocated to the City of New Bedford.

We all know and remember, we asked this question of the administration a few months ago to both our CFO and the Mayor's Chief of Staff.

They weren't even aware that we would be receiving this tranche of money.

I had to let them know through the Mass Municipal Association that this was coming down the pike.

So I'm glad we're getting this money.

As we remember, this past winter presented extraordinary challenges for this community.

We experienced historic snowfall, prolonged winter events, schools were shut down, and it put a significant demand on our DPI, our DFFM, our public school employees, and those who had to try to navigate these streets and go to work for that week plus during the storm and the blizzard of 2026, which brought in some places 41 to 44 inches of snow based off of the drifts.

So the Commonwealth, to their credit, I'll stand up here sometimes.

We talk about Beacon Hill and bureaucrats, but I'll also be fair.

I'll give credit where it's due.

The Commonwealth recognize those challenges, and if our delegation had a role in that, thank you to them as well.

They recognize those challenges, awarded New Bedford more than 713,000 based on, as I said in the motion.

We own over 270 miles of roadway.

So this money could provide some nice financial relief to us, some of the expenses that were already laid out, and we'll see where this goes.

I mean, I think the purpose of this motion is pretty pretty straightforward.

Um so let's find out what our plan is for this.

Uh rather large tranche of money.

I mean, will these monies that we're going to receive?

Will this reduce or eliminate any snow ice deficit or will it replenish municipal funds?

Where is it going to go?

What are we going to do with it?

So it's worth a discussion.

It's worth the dialogue, and I would appreciate and respectfully ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this very important item to order the finance committee.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councillor.

Anyone else?

Motion has been made in second to refer to the Committee on Finance, Mitchell Administration and Chief Financial Officer Extram.

All those in favor say aye.

Oppose the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 27.

Mr.

President, item 27 is a written motion from Councillor Lopes requesting that the City of New Bedford Election Commission and Mitchell Administration provide the committee on appointments and briefings with an update regarding the city's compliance with the requirements of Mass General Law Chapter 51, Section 6, pertaining to the preparation and maintenance of the annual census and street lists.

Motion to refer to the committee on appointments and briefings, the election commission and the Mitchell administration.

Motion refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, Elections Commission and Mitchell administration made by Council of Burgo.

Second by Councillor Oliver.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 28, please.

Mr.

President, item 28 is a written motion from Councillor Burgo requesting that the committee on finance be discharged for further consideration of the following matters of the communication and order and easement submitted by the mayor that the city accept a grant of easement from the Mass Department of Transportation for the new pedestrian bridge over Route 18.

28A is communication, 28B is the order, and 28C is the easement.

Motion to discharge from committee.

Motion to discharge the committee made by Councillor Burgo.

Second.

Seconded by Councillor Baptiste on the question of discharging.

Chair recognizes Councillor Burgo.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

So I am asking to have this discharge in this way, mainly because this has been in committee for quite some time.

We know for some of the reasons, uh very uh understandable reasons, but in this case, it's been there for quite some time.

I'll speak more so on why we should approve it once it's properly before us.

But in this case, uh time is of the essence.

Um I would, I guess, selfishly like to have this discharge because I'd like it approved in July, so we can have the bridge dedicated during uh as we know Cabo Verde and Heritage Month, which is council approved uh during last year.

So I would ask my colleagues to support uh this discharge so it can be properly before us, and then during uh the motion to adopt, um, I can discuss the uh the reasons at that time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

And uh Councillor Oliver, sorry.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um I stand in support of discharging it, and I understand the reasons why that my colleagues spoke before me about the dedication of the bridge.

Um this is in committee because uh we had some concerns with the easement and who was going to pay for maintenance and and whatnot.

And I'll speak more to that um when it comes time um to uh to to vote on that properly.

So I I recognize uh why this why the motion is in front of us to discharge it.

I support that.

I don't support the overall adoption of the bridge because we still have some overall concerns about the maintenance.

And uh every uh there's not a day that I drive by that bridge that a new light isn't burnt out or something is going on.

And uh I just think that we are uh caught holding the bag here.

Um and uh I still would like to see uh have uh discussions with the state delegation as far as what they can do, if anything, to continue to help us with that bridge.

The bridge is great, it's beautiful, it's pretty, uh, but now we're left uh holding the bag.

But I do understand the importance of rededicating that bridge, especially in the month of July.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else on discharging?

Okay.

I will ask the clerk to call the role of discharging the committee.

Council Abrew.

On discharging the count uh the committee.

Yes, yes, Council Baptist.

Yes, yes, Council Burgo.

Yes, yes, Council Carney.

Now, Council Schuquet.

Yes.

Yes, Council Gomes.

Yes, Council Oliver.

Yes.

Yes, Council Pereira.

Yes, yes, Council Roy.

Yes.

Yes, passes eight to one, Mr.

President.

Item passes eight to one.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt the order and grant the easement made by Councillor Burgo.

Seconded by Councillor Um Abru, sorry.

Chair recognized Council of Burgo.

Thank you.

Um I appreciate my colleagues for supporting this discharge.

Um again.

Um the reasons for supporting this.

I do agree with my colleague from Ward 3.

Um we know that a maintenance of a bridge, especially uh one that has two elevators is costly.

I do agree with our colleague, uh former counselor uh Morad at the time and the chairman of finance, um Joseph Lopes.

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry.

Uh he's gonna be mad.

I always do that.

Uh they both were concerned at the time when we sued uh the state to get more money for this bridge.

And at the time we were hoping that a special fund would have been created, and I am in full support of that.

We had attempted to work with this administration, but as we know, this administration only works with himself.

Um and he denied that.

And so unfortunately, it was bottled up in committee all this time.

It continues to, and that's why I'm thankful that we were we got it out of committee because it is wasteful to sit there because as we know, the city has been responsible for the maintenance of this bridge, even with it being bottled up.

Our DFFM budget has already budgeted uh for maintenance of this bridge.

Uh I've gotten phone calls.

I don't know if any of my other colleagues have uh when unhoused individuals have used the elevators to as a bathroom because we know this administration has closed bathrooms uh downtown.

So unfortunately, people have used the elevators to defecate or urinate, and the state's not cleaning it up.

Our personnel are cleaning it up.

So even trying to keep it in committee has not stopped the city from footing the bill.

Um the only thing that this has stopped is the family, the Andre Andre Lopes family, um, which is who the bridge is named after from having their dedication and granting the easement.

So that's why today I'm asking my colleagues to support this adoption so that way again Andre Lopes, who is of Cape Verdean uh Heritage, can celebrate with well, not him.

I apologize, he's passed, but his family can celebrate this honor, and we can finally have that dedication.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

Chair recognized Councillor Carney.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um I will not be supporting this bridge easement at this time.

I do believe there's a lot more discussion to be had by that state delegation.

It's not only the elevators, it's the lights, it's the maintenance of the entire bridge.

It's a big ticket item.

I know we've been maintaining that elevator.

DFFM has been doing that, but there's lights on there, there's lights that have to be replaced.

There's all kinds of other issues that come with that bridge.

So I would like to have some more discussion before any easement is granted with our state delegation to find out if they're going to chip in, because technically that part of Route 18 belongs to the state.

We own from Union Street down to Cove Road, but that part is state property, so I think that they should be chipping in and helping us with the main maintenance.

We do not have money.

Am I going to ask my taxpayers for more money for lights that are out in that bridge to be fixed?

Am I going to ask the taxpayers for any girders or or boats or something that happens in that bridge?

Yes, they're cleaning the elevator, but that's all they're doing right now.

But there's going to be a lot more done to make um bridge maintenance down the road.

So I'm hoping my colleagues keep it.

Do not do that until we actually talk with our state delegation.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chair.

Mr.

President.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Chairman Council Oliver.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I uh agree with both my colleagues who spoke before me.

Um, but I cannot support the the uh adoption of the easement uh because of the concerns uh that I had as far as overall maintenance.

Uh 22 million dollar bridge for the MBTA communal rail um or intercity rail or whatever uh they they want to call it.

Um and we're left holding the bag as far as uh maintenance.

Now I can't speak for other uh councils before me, um, but I can speak for the one that the the body that I'm on right now.

I believe that we should continue having the conversations uh with our state delegation, even though that every time that we um either um contact them or invite them um we get nowhere.

Uh but I'm I'm committed to continuing to bang the drum to see if we can get additional aid for this bridge because like I said, with with it comes great maintenance, and with that comes great cost to the ratepayers of the city of New Bedford.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Baptiste.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um I'm gonna agree with uh the good counselor from Purchase Street.

Um in Cape Verdean Heritage Month, we would like to dedicate this bridge.

And I know everybody's worried about the taxpayers and what they say and about you know this this easement is gonna be on the taxpayer shoulders.

FYI, it's already on the taxpayer shoulders.

It was on the it was in D F FM's budget.

So if you read the budget, you would know that the bridge and all the maintenance at the bridge was in the budget.

So it's already on the tax paypayers um shoulders right now.

So now what we have to do is just we're eating it anyway, you know.

So we might as well, you know, give this family what they what they just do, right?

And continue, and like like you said, uh the counselor from War 3 says we keep on inviting the state, and we're gonna keep on inviting the state, and they're the they're gonna keep on not coming.

And we're gonna drag this out and drag this out, and they're not gonna show up, and we're still gonna hold the bag.

So no matter what's gonna happen, we're still gonna hold the bag.

So if we're gonna hold the bag for it anyway, we might as well own it, dedicate it, and um work on what we have to do to keep it up and make sure that we're keeping the taxes down so that it don't hurt us, right?

Because it's already here.

So let's make sure it don't hurt us.

Thank you, and I yield the floor.

Thank you, Councillor.

All right, seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Opposed.

The ayes have it.

Roll call.

I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abreu.

Yes, yes, Council Baptist.

Yes, yes, Council Burgo.

Yes, yes, Council Carney.

No.

No, Council Shoket.

Yes.

Yes, Council Gomes.

Yes.

Yes, Council Oliver.

No.

No, Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes, Council Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Item passes seven to two.

All right.

Item number 29 is before us.

Mr.

President, item 29 is a written motion from Councillor Gomes requesting the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with the Whaling City Festival President Michael Sylvia, along with the Democratic Police Chief Thody and his command staff for the purposes of discussing future security procedures during the four-day festival.

Motion or neighborhoods.

Second.

Motion referred to the committee on public safety and neighborhoods made by Councillor Gomes, seconded by Councillor Roy.

On the question, the Chairman is Councillor Gomes.

Good evening, Mr.

President, and thank you for the opportunity.

And because of the selected few of people that decided on Saturday night to create a disturbance outside of the Wheeling City Festival, the Whaling City Festival now suffers again.

We've already backed the time down from nine o'clock.

Many of you that sit in this room remember when the festival was open till eleven o'clock at night, when we sat hundreds of thousands and thousands of people on the green on Rock Hill Avenue to watch a laser light show.

Not only that, but bringing in tracked acts from Lizette Mendez to Marky Mox and the Funky Bunch.

If you've heard me talk about it here before, parking cars in the gully on 140.

That's what we created.

And it was a good thing for the people of this city.

The Whaling City Festival is a good thing for the middle class people.

And some people that don't have five, seven thousand dollars to go off to Disney.

They can take their kids for a couple of hundred dollars and enjoy a night of activity and fun.

And the most important thing about this is we keep trying to bang the Wheeling City Festival.

This is this problem has come from society.

From our young people who choose to go to these things and create a disturbance.

Should we look at the security of this?

Yes.

Should we cage the park in?

No.

That atmosphere is not going to look good.

Should we match it up to what's going on with the uh um the Portuguese feast?

Totally different animals you're dealing with.

This is family-oriented.

It's been going on for nearly 50 years, and I'm glad to have been a part of it.

And I'm glad to, as I said in the beginning, and I'm not patting myself on the shoulder, but I created the monster.

I created Monster with $1,000 from the committee.

Getting ABC 6, Channel 10, all of them involved.

They were actually fighting at times who was going to bring in a celebrity, who wasn't going to bring this.

It's a success story, and it's one that should remain for the good of the city of New Bedford, for the people of the city of New Bedford.

I understand the concerns of the neighborhood.

The Whaling City Festival has tried to address that issue.

Excuse me, has tried to address that issue, taking every avenue to clean the neighborhood after the changing of streets or whatever.

And you I remember uh and I still see it, is many people take the opportunity in that neighborhood to have their family and friends over during the Whaling City Festival.

They also take the opportunity to run yard sales.

They also take the opportunity to just enjoy what is going on in their neighborhood.

And it's only three nights.

It used to be four.

We used to kick that thing off on Thursday night, Thursday, Friday, Saturday night.

And remember, Mr.

President, um you're younger than me, but I can close my eyes and I can still see the lighting throughout the park and see the families having a good time and see us not having a problem.

There's a problem with society.

If we're shutting down things because these young people are disturbing it, it's out of control.

Look what's happening at the mall.

I'm a farmer employee up at the mall.

I worked loss prevention up at the mall for many years.

And actually one year after I was elected, but I was afraid after a while that somebody would say that I was violating somebody's rights or something, because we had arrested rights, worked with Jeff LeClair, many others that came um went on to be police officers, and I decided to run for political office.

And let me tell you that was the place to be.

But you you you had standards, you had a foundation that you came from, and your parents dropped you off at six o'clock, you were told see the movie, whatever, pick you up at ten at Sears.

That it's affecting everything.

And if you look at this, you blame the Wheeling City Festival.

Look at what has happened in the past few weeks at different things that are going on.

It's a matter of putting up security.

You don't want to scare the hell out of people, but I can already solve this problem, and I told you in this body before, and maybe uh Councillor Carney is the only one remaining to understand.

Um the Sheriff's Department used to assist us with the Winnebago setting the camera up so that we can we now have portable cameras in this city that we can put up.

I've talked about drones in this city.

I'm glad to see that some people now are coming over to the drones because you see the light, and when you see the light, you gotta jump on the flight.

So come on, I'm gonna be the pilot.

Um we can use drones.

I don't want to scare the heck out of people, and I don't want to cage a festival in a beautiful, beautiful park that should look like we're putting people in jail.

People should still be able to get out of their cars down on Arnold Street, Maple Street, walk into the park, enjoy the festivities that are going on there.

I appreciate you giving me the time to speak, but I want to speak on behalf of the Wheeling City Festival, and I hope my colleagues will support me.

The mayor has an idea of moving the festival.

That's not a good idea, Mr.

Pr President.

The mayor has an idea of cutting down the time.

That's not a good idea, Mr.

President.

The mayor has an idea of he'd been wanting to choke this thing for a long time for some reason, because this doesn't fit into the mayor.

And I I'm sorry to say this.

This doesn't fit into the mayor's category.

Let me ask the mayor something, and let him tell the public next Wednesday when he's on the radio.

When was the last time he walked around the Wheeling City Festival?

When was the last time he joined the people of this city at the Wheeling City Festival and walked around?

That answer will be no.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you, Councilor.

Chair Ignist Counselor Abrew.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um I do support this motion and to answer one question.

Uh I was there all four days.

Uh I didn't see him once, the mayor.

So um opened that Thursday at three o'clock, went all the way through Sunday night.

I was off and on throughout the weekend visiting, supporting.

I didn't see him.

But um bad people are gonna do bad things no matter what.

Um, and it seems like certain folks were looking for a reason to sort of fix the hours of this festival.

Certain people were looking for a reason to use the wet festival as a scapegoat for issues that might be happening in the community.

I mean, remember, this didn't even happen at the festival.

This happened on Rockdale and Arnold and then the basketball courts.

They may have been at the festival at one point, but again, it was a wide open festival, it's a wide open event.

The reality is that I was there off and on for four different days and nights.

I brought my children there.

If I feel it's safe for my kids, I feel it's safe for anyone else's kids, and I really believe that.

I put my money where my mouth was.

I brought my children there.

We spent hours and hours there.

The wrestling, the vendors, the carnival, and uh the the council spoke before me.

He you're absolutely correct, counselor.

I think uh the the uh saying things that we we might have to add more police detail.

We have to change and amend the hours.

That's just all the way to choke this thing out.

It's all it is.

Um we know police details aren't cheap.

They get no they receive no assistance from this municipality from this city, no grants, no budget line item in the mayor's office, DPI and DFFM don't eat any of the costs.

It all gets passed on to the Whaling City Festival folks.

And somebody might say, well, fixing it going from nine to eight, it's only one hour, it isn't a big deal.

Trust me, it's a huge deal.

Anyone who's been in business that's run a business, that owns a business, they will tell you that hour is everything, okay.

You talk to the folks at Fiesta Shows, the Dean family, E.J.

Dean, Gene Dean, father and son team who run it, they run a first class operation all over the Eastern Seaboard.

They said that one hour that makes or breaks them as far as uh getting it either at a net loss, a net neutral, or getting a little bit of a profit.

Think of the staff, think of the overhead, think of what they have to pay.

This is business, but they're providing a great service.

We have to be cognizant of that.

So, yeah, I mean, I I definitely think we have to do something about this.

We have to have the conversation.

If I had my druthers, I'd like it to stay on Buttonwood Park too.

That's where it belongs.

It's a great event.

And um unfortunately, there's always gonna be bad actors in life, but to always tie it in to one singular event isn't fair, isn't right.

Um, because these people, these board members, they're volunteers, no one's getting paid.

These are good men and women who are just doing the best they can for this community.

Is it perfect?

No.

Nothing is perfect, but they're trying their best.

I speak with Mike and his team often.

I know others in here do.

They give me updates, they're trying their best.

And I and one last thing I'll say.

What the feast does, and I've been involved with the feast for a while.

I think you know many of you know that, is what they did is they had the police department at the table.

They were partners with the feast on the entire security apparatus, the security plan.

That's what Mike, and I believe Councillor Gomes said the same thing on the radio, and I think that's what many others believe, and that's what I believe.

I believe that um and even Mike acknowledges it, and I think he'll say it when he comes to committee.

He wants the police department at the table.

Let's figure out the plan together.

Let's kind of create a synergy here.

So hopefully good things will come in the future for this festival based on some plans.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councillor Abreu.

Chair Ignance, Councillor Baptiste.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um we do not want to see the Wheel and City Festival go.

Right.

And we don't like to see things blamed for occurrences happening outside of the venue.

Right.

I wish I wish this outrage happened when they blame the Cape Verdean festival for somebody throwing a firecracker three hours after the festival three blocks down the street.

That was nowhere near the festival, but you know, it that was quiet as kept and it was blamed on the Cape Verdean festival.

Unfortunately, this is what's going to happen at the Whalen City Festival.

Being at the hospital Saturday night after three people got stabbed, I was at the hospital Saturday night, which I which I often am if there's violence in my in my ward.

So and um talking with the people at Shannon, talking with police officers and talking with um residents around the area that I know that live there.

The unfortunate part about it is there was fights Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night stabbing.

So that was an occurrence this year, and that was the same thing that happened last year.

Talking to police officers at the hospital that night, they said they only had nine cops detailed for the park that night.

Nine cops detailed for the park.

All them people, them vendors, everybody going there.

There was nine cops of detailed for that night.

So I don't think that the problem is the festival.

I think the problem is we need more detail.

More people spread out, more people in different areas, and maybe it's you know, and and just having checkpoints of whatever they have to do.

I think that you know we have to keep our festivals in this city, our festivals, right?

But we have to keep them safe and we have to keep people safe.

And I don't think having all them c all them people in that park that night.

Uh our good counselor at Lodge lives right across the street.

There was tons of people in the park that night, nine cops.

That's unexpected that's unacceptable.

I don't know if they had to get the detail when that was the detail that they had to get.

But that was the word I got from police officers at St.

Luke's Hospital.

They said there's more cops here right now, protected, making sure nobody gets into this building than there was at Barnwood Park, and that's a problem that we have.

So I yield the floor on that, and hopefully we can get more safety and we can stop blaming people's individual actions on great festivals that we have in this city that have nothing to do with the festival.

I yield.

Thank you, Counselor.

Uh Councillor Carney.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I stand up to support my colleagues and the Swelling City Festival.

Don't make me laugh.

So, anyways.

Um, I have been living there, I've been with that festival for 35 years.

I lived six houses from the park.

I've been dealing with the Wheeling City City Festival for 35 years.

My kids enjoyed it.

I've enjoyed it.

I didn't enjoy it Saturday night when I went Sunday night when I went there and stood in line for 15 minutes and get my Friday dough because they closed at 8 o'clock.

So it was the next one over, but it was not in the festival.

So anybody would hear that?

It's not in the festival.

It happened at the basketball courts.

The reggae festival, there was a big brawl there of what 150 kids that on the South End on the on the pier.

I've got pictures of that.

There was a big brawl down there a month and a half ago.

Then close down the beach.

Beach is still there.

What my problem is that we had that festival running for a very long time with the original festival people.

That was packed.

There was rows and rows of vendors, everything was there.

Then all of a sudden, when the mayor shut it down, vendors didn't come, the original people left, and thank God that the police department, the police association took it over because we didn't have that, and it was very small.

Now it's getting back to the festival that I remember where now they're parking.

They I didn't have a problem parking the last couple years on my street.

Now they're parking on all the individual streets, meaning there are more and more people coming to the festival.

The incident happened should not be a reason to close down early to coordinate off the s the festival.

It happened at the basketball courts.

It happened further down at the end of the park.

It didn't happen inside the festival grounds where people were and the kids were.

So I do not say discussion with the police department.

Do we need more details?

Fine.

But inside that park area, I was there Saturday night.

I didn't leave there till quarter past eight with my my daughter-in-law and my one-year-old granddaughter getting some food, getting dinner there.

So counselor Abreu there.

I saw many people there walking around.

In fact, Councilor Abrew was handing out tickets every had a slew of tickets given it to families that couldn't afford rides.

He was just walking around with his family handing things out, which was I commend him for doing that because a lot of people can't afford as many rides to go on.

But I snare with my colleagues, let's have some discussion on it.

But let's not move the location.

Listen, I live to it sometimes it's a pain.

I park my car, I know it's coming, I'm there.

And so does everybody in the neighborhood.

We're so used to it, let's keep it going.

I want to keep it at the park.

I want to keep it there for the four days.

I don't want to crowd it in and let's keep the hours of operation.

Let's just meet with the police officer and see what we can we can do to make it better.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Anyone else in there first?

Okay.

Counselor Gomes on the second.

Thank you very much.

First, let me thank my colleagues for their support this evening on this issue and and the um continued support on behalf of Mike Sylvia and his staff who, as it's been said here tonight, do a lot of volunteer work.

Um can the police uh can we have more police?

Yes, we can.

But this is also very costly to these organizations.

When I first got here in part of the city uh uh council, we used to have a mayor, and I want to say Mayor Tierney, Mayor Keeless.

There might have been a little from Mayor Lang, I'm not sure, but there was a a lot of money in their budget that they spread it around to these festivals throughout the city.

We had a North End and South End Business Association.

If they gave five to seven thousand dollars to the Wheel and City Festival, I know for a fact that that goes would go would have gone to security.

What I'm saying is that we also have to support these.

We there is support that comes from the city um departments, with laying down the water, all them other things.

But we also should have that kitty that we used to have that supports this.

It's good money spent for on behalf of the taxpayers that could add to those nine offices.

As I talked to Mike this morning, um and and we had a discussion.

I said I just asked him, what would $5,000 have done as far as security was concerned?

He said I could have put six more cops on.

So with Councillor Baptiste telling me about nine cops, um that that's fifteen now that we have.

And again, i i you do you want people to enjoy themselves and you want people to be in fear that if they go somewhere something is going to happen.

But we want to put the best forward security policies forward.

And that's why I want to bring them in.

I want to talk.

I don't think this is a brain surgeon to go through this.

We've been through this a hundred times, and uh I for the many years that I was part of that festival.

Again, we took security measures.

There's certain things that can be done, as they discussed earlier today.

Um, from the walking around the monument, that we not we didn't allow that.

That was a a cut through that was to go east, west, north, and south to wherever you were going, eat, rides, whatever.

There was no congregation.

And um that that's something that we we may we also should consider.

Again, I thank my colleagues for supporting tonight.

Um Mike Sylvia and his group does a wonderful job.

And let me just remind you something else because I want to.

When I was part of that Wellington City Festival, do you know that we were part of the Wheeling City Festival was part of what saved the zoo?

Guy Shepard, anybody recognize that name?

George Manese, anybody recognize that name?

The zoo was in trouble.

You know who took gave money to the zoo?

Welling City Festival at the time.

When things were just not the same.

So and the contributions that the Wheeling City Festival has not only made with scholarships, just like many other organizations, they have contributed to things that people are not aware of in this room, or they publicize.

We don't have to publicize every time we do good for people, we do good for people out of our hearts.

Not to get recognition, not to get the we do it because we're supposed to do it.

The City of New Bedford is supposed to work with these uh festivals to try to make them say uh continue to have them be successful, and if that means a little bit extra money for security, so be it.

You gotta understand where the middle class in this city are coming from and why these festivals are so important.

Thank you for the opportunity, Mr.

President, and thank you for your support, those who have stood up this evening.

Thank you, Councillor Gomes.

Chair recognized Councillor Abreu on a second.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'll just be brief.

I listening to my colleagues and some certain other things were coming up in my head about how this all kind of went down and some of the banter or conjecture you see out there on social media or on talk radio, and you know, you see things like well, and I'm not quoting verbatim, but well, the city is trash.

The city has nothing for the kids, the city is no good.

And uh the festival is this, the festival is that, and the city doesn't do anything for the kids.

At what point, first of all, that's categorically false and wrong on both accounts, factually wrong on both accounts, not even open for opinion.

But number two, at what point are we gonna blame bad parenting, honestly?

There's bad parents out there, and they're not raising their young men and women to do right in their community.

If that were the case, they wouldn't be out doing what they're doing, like we saw on Saturday, like we saw a few weeks ago.

Bad parents are bad parents no matter what.

And that's the unfortunate reality that we have, and I know we can't legislate good parenting or bad parenting, but we have to address the elephant in the room.

At some point we have to start blaming people for their behavior.

Like, I don't know, uh, over the weekend when I see a post on Facebook, maybe you saw it, uh, Mr.

President.

You live in the South End like me, maybe Councillor Gomes.

Somebody tagged a post and said, Ian Abrew, do better.

Someone trashed Hazelwood Park over Saturday night.

How the heck is that our fault?

Someone did something bad overnight and trashed the park, but again, tag a counselor, tag the mayor.

It's the city, it's not.

We we find out about these things, we take care of it.

We clean these things up, we're on it.

But again, there is unfortunately in life, there's bad people who are gonna do bad things, and we have to call it out and expose it and tell some parents who aren't maybe as engaged in the homes as they should be, do better.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Counselor Baptiste on a second.

Thank you.

Um like I said, um being at um please please respect your counselor.

Thank you.

Um next.

No.

Uming the parents, right?

Being at being at the hospital at night.

Like, like I said, right?

Sometimes we can't help the neighborhoods we come from and the things that we do.

Sometimes the parents do their best jobs, right?

As they can, and when their kids leave the house, you don't know what decisions they make.

Sometimes they're good decision makers and sometimes they're bad decision makers.

The problems that we're having right now is you know, even good parents that are trying their hardest are having a tough time with their kids because of the influence of other people.

You understand what I'm saying?

So there's a lot of there's a lot of parents out there that are good parents that their kids are wilding out right now.

And I see it firsthand all over the place, all over the city, right?

And there's a lot of kids that are really doing good out here.

And we're turning three or four, ten or twenty, fifty hundred uh against, I don't know, there's what, how many, what, thousand kids in high school?

700 kids in each middle school, right?

And not to mention the elementary schools and you know, post-teens, like with we're throwing everybody in that bad badge, right?

And we can't do that.

And I think that being in our position is we have to stop being more leaders as far as how we um get out there too and and talk to people and talk to parents and make sure that when we see something, we're getting old school and calling something out instead of allowing bad behavior to happen.

What happened is everybody can act any way they want because everybody wants to be their parents' friend and nobody wants to be a parent.

And that's what we're dealing with at the festival.

And it's not the festival's fault that they have to deal with parents like that.

You understand what I'm saying?

Or kids like that.

Maybe they should have kids at a certain age have to be with parents.

Maybe they should do what them all does.

You know what I'm saying?

Little precautions to make things safe for other people, right?

And then we can hold people responsible for their children, right?

And then we can hold the kids accountable and accountability comes always.

But I yield the floor, and I just don't want all the parents to get a bad rap because not all parents are bad.

Um, but even good parents make bad kids.

So thank you.

I yield.

Thank you, counselor.

Anyone else?

Tough kids, not bad kids, there's no bad kids, right, James?

Anyone else?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 30.

Mr.

President, item 30 is a communication from Ryan A.

Paveo, first assistant city solicitor, submitting orders for the layout and taking of Hillman Street, variable width from station 72 plus 32.80 at the terminus of Pleasant Street, 41.74 feet, easterly determinants at station 72 plus 74.52 at Purchase Street, for the purpose of realigning Hillman Street to the west so that a new signalized intersection can be built.

30 A is registered land, 30 B is recorded land.

So, colleagues, before this item is decided, attorney Garatowski informed me that his only concern with this is that there isn't some sort of appropriation order attached to this in res in response to the takings.

Um I don't know if um there should I I I don't know what the body is comfortable approving the takings without seeing the appropriations, if that is something you would like to refer to the committee to discuss.

Um or uh I I know solicitors solicitor Jake oh first solicitor Paveo was here.

In if we were to refer it to the committee, would that screw things up?

Sure.

Good evening, counselors.

Um Mr.

President, uh not to pass the buck, but um Sean Sides here, the city engineer, and it's my understanding that there's um a timeline on the start of construction that might get affected by this.

So I think he can better answer that particular question as far as kicking this over to committee, whether that would delay the project.

Essentially, uh I I would have further discussions with my colleagues.

We would be able to get this back by August 20th, uh, more than likely.

Is that acceptable or do you does it need to be decided tonight?

For your in the best interest of your responsibility.

Uh the body still might refer to the committee, but I'm just I just would like to get all of the information.

I have concerns that there is no appropriation amount here, but continue.

August 20th would be acceptable, but that would be like the latest.

Because the contractor is the project is going to start in September.

So August 20th would be okay.

Yes.

All right.

Yes.

Thank you.

Um I will colleagues, I will speak with our finance chair.

If I imagine we're going to send us to the committee on finance, I will speak with our finance chair to put this on an agenda and get it back to the 20th.

Uh I would imagine he would be acceptable in in in assisting the council on that.

So you have pleasure calls.

Motion referred to the committee on finance.

Okay.

Motion referred to the committee on finance made by Councillor Burgo.

Seconded by Councillor Abreu on the question.

Chairman is Councillor Roy.

Thank you.

Uh I'm just I know there's no appropriation attached to this, but I'm curious if anybody knows what the appropriation might be.

So we could decide.

What I would say is I I'll allow this answer right now.

Normally we don't.

I was just getting information for this, but I open that I will allow an answer if there was an appropriation.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

You're welcome.

All right.

Is there an appropriation?

How much the city received a five million dollar grant from the state for this project?

So the money would be coming from that part of money.

Okay.

So but we don't have a figure.

For the up takings.

Um it was a good question.

I think that was Councillor Roy's question.

How much discussion is the question?

It was.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

So uh sorry, uh uh Mr.

Paveo.

Um this is on speaking on referral to the committee on finance.

Uh the chair's a the chair's allowing it.

I know.

So we can also discuss this in the committee on finance.

Yeah, so what I would say is that what's happening?

Okay.

I understand.

You have the figure for appropriation?

Not with you.

You have that?

No, we we do.

It's in it's in the order, and I can I can I can tell the the keyboard.

We don't have it on our record.

That is why it's going to get referred, though.

I'm sorry.

We don't have it on our record, that's why it is going to get referred.

Okay.

Okay.

But we'll be in timeline and we there is an appropriation.

So I think that satisfies the question.

No, I didn't get an answer.

I was wondering how much the appropriation was going to cost.

That's more of a qu that is more of a question for the case.

You said we could answer it.

I was wondering if he was going to be able to do that.

But I the general idea was if there is an appropriation.

I believe was the question.

I'm sorry.

No, I wanted to know how much it was going to cost.

That is a question for committee.

If there was an appropriation.

They don't have an answer right now?

Uh the Chair won't allow that question right now.

Oh, okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Anyone else on referral to committee?

Chair recognized counselor burgo.

Yes.

So the reason why I'm asking this to go to committee is because there are questions that we need to find, and that is the appropriate course of action when you have questions about something is to send it to committee to ask those questions, not during a council meeting.

Um also the other reason is because this administration is known to rush things and not be prepared.

We've seen that with a previous order that we sent to the committee on finance in the budget.

There was four items that we sent because of Scriver's errors.

Um this administration is sloppy, and we need to make sure that we're doing this appropriately.

So we should send this to the committee on finance.

We will do our due diligence to make sure that the timeline is followed, like the council always does to save this administration and the city from ruin.

Um but I I think it's important that we send this to finance, make sure all the T's are crossed and the I's are dotted.

Uh but we shouldn't rush this and ask all the appropriate questions that we need to in committee where the work is done.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor.

Anyone else?

Okay.

All those in favor of referral to the committee say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 31.

Mr.

President Item 31 is a communication from Councillor Gomes submitting an act admitting Chapter 418 of the Acts of 2018 authorizing the appointment of special police officers in the city of New Bedford.

Refer to the state legislative delegation made by Councillor Gomes, second by Councillor Burgo.

Counselor Gomes on the question.

Mr.

President, very briefly.

This has been passed in many other communities.

It would assist our police department as the numbers are down in assisting with details throughout the city.

So uh again, uh we've been through excuse me.

Uh here at the Whaling City Festival.

Um again, this is this I think is needed by the Department.

It has the support from the police chief.

Talk to the Department.

We can move forward on this, and um I'm glad that this is moving forward that we will be able to utilize those retired police officers for this purpose as we continue to work in the City of New Bedford to bring that police department up to what it should be.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

Anyone else?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 32.

Mr.

President, item 32 is a communication from the City of Clerk to the Council submittee.

An application for the renewal of a private liberty license on behalf of Khalil B.

Arsanios, doing business as International Transportation LLC of 1220 Pleasant Street in New Bedford.

This license term is from July 1st to 26 to June 30th, the 27th.

Second.

Motion to grant the renewal made by Councillor Abreu, second by Councillor Carney.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 33.

Mr.

President, item 33 is communication from Manuel De Brito, Board of Election Commissioners through the Council.

Submitting the primary election warrant for Tuesday, September 1st of 2026.

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 Master General Law, Chapter 43, Section 44A.

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

Motion receive and place on file.

Motion to receive in place on file made by Council of Burgo.

Second.

Seconded by Councillor Oliver.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Mr.

President, item 34 is communication with the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Beaches.

Submitting a Memorial Park Bench and Tree Dedication Program application for a bench and plaque to be located along the new pathway on Brownell Avenue at the foot of Sheldon Street in honor of Freddie Mellow.

Refer to the memorial to committee on memorials and dedications.

Second.

Refer to memorials and dedications made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Roy.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

Item 35.

Mr.

President, item 35 is a communication from City Clerk Dennis Farius, submitting a copy of a letter sent to the Office of the Attorney General pertaining to ordinances recently adopted regarding Chapter 9 of the Code of Ordinances.

Motion receive and place on file.

Motion to receive and place on file made by Council of Burgo.

Second.

Second by Councillor Carney.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Oppose the ayes have it.

Mr.

President, um I forgot to make a related motion earlier under M1 for Mayor's Papers to receive and place on file the press release that the office put out earlier, which is on record.

To the response to the mayor's veto.

So at this time I uh receive and place on file that into the record.

Okay.

Motion to receive and place on file that item uh the response to the veto made by Councillor Burgo.

Second.

Second by Council Oliver.

All those in favor say aye.

Oppose the ayes have it.

Councillor Schockat.

Mr.

President, before we adopt this uh consent, I'd like to make a friendly amendment to item C 14.

Yeah.

Oh let me see.

C 14.

C 14.

Cas my consent.

C Fourteen.

C 14.

Item that's what item number is that, Councilor?

C 14.

Okay.

So the chair will now sever item C 14 from the consent agenda.

I will ask the clerk to read item C 14.

Mr.

President, item C 14 is from written motion sponsored by Councillors Shouquette, Gomes, and Abrew requesting that the traffic commission install signs to lower the speed limit to no more than 20 miles per hour at Cherokee Street and Akush Avenue and Pequot Street and Aquishina Avenue to the City of New Bedford.

Okay.

Councillor, what is your amendment?

Uh motion to amend.

I would like to move to strike the language at Cherokee Street and Acushionate Avenue and Pequot Street and Accusion at Avenue and insert in its place along the length of Cherokee Street and along the length of Pequot Street.

Second.

Okay.

Thank you, Councillor.

Thank you.

The motion has been made to amend C-14 by Councillor Shokat, seconded by Councillor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor of the amendment.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Motion to adopt item C14 would be appropriate.

Motion to adopt item C14.

Motion to adopt item C 14 as amended by Councilor Schoquette.

Second by Councillor Abru.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Colleague, the consent agenda is still before us.

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

Second by Councillor Abreu.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

We are adjourned to 825.

Motion to adjourn.

Oh.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Consent agenda was passed.

Motion to adjourn made by Councillor Virgo.

Second by Councillor Abru.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

I'm getting the clock shoved in my face.

That's why.

Opposed the ayes have it.

We're adjourned at 826 p.m.

All right.

I will put the