Chuck, check one, two, check.

Go ahead and change.

Tonight is Tuesday, September fifteenth at six oh three PM.

And I am calling together this special city council meeting.

Tonight we are led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Councillor of Ward Three, Scott Pemberton.

Well, Ward Two, excuse me, I was a typo.

Thank you.

I apologize, Counselor.

I am joined in the chamber by my colleagues, Counselor at Large Ian Abreu, Counselor of Ward Two, Scott Pemberton, Councillor of Ward One, Leo Choquett, Councillor of Ward Five, Joseph Lopes, Counselor at Large, Naomi Carney, Councillor at Large, First Vice President Shane Burgo, and Councillor of Ward Four, Derek Baptiste.

I will ask and I am Councillor of Ward Six, City Council President Ryan Pereira.

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

I'd like to note 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 the clerk to read item number one, please.

Mr.

President, item one is a communication from yourself calling a special city council meeting for Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 at 6 p.m.

with Mayor Jonathan F.

Mitchell for the purpose of discussing the future plans for fire station number nine.

Motion receive and place on file.

Motion to receive in place on file made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Carney on the question.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye oppose the ayes have it.

Colleagues, I would just like to state that um uh well first let me ask uh clerk, have we received any uh communication from the mayor of New Bedford?

No, sir.

Okay.

Any communication from his office?

No, sir.

Okay, thank you.

So I was informed prior to the meeting that the chief is available uh to represent the administration.

Now, in the normal course of our investigative purposes and committees, uh that would be acceptable uh and we could ask the chief questions.

However, I would like to note that I have called a special meeting of the New Bedford City Council to talk directly with the named mayor, Jonathan F.

Mitchell, to discuss such an important issue.

I do not believe it to be appropriate for the chief to be standing up here answering questions on a decision the mayor has made.

So I respect the chief for coming.

I have talked to him already.

I will not allow testimony or questions of the chief.

What I would say is that the given the magnitude of this item, the the A, the respect that our firefighters deserve to know what their futures are for their jobs and and the future of station number nine and the residents of that area.

Uh it is highly, highly uh uh, in my opinion, necessary for uh the mayor to have been here to answer that.

So I'm going to instruct the clerk to send communication to the mayor requesting two dates to have this meeting again to further discuss with the administration his plans.

Um so I will instruct the clerk to do that.

I would like to note we were also joined by counselor at large, uh James Roy.

Thank you, Councillor.

So who had who was uh uh in in having discussions with uh the president of local 841 firefighters uh there he is, Billy Sylvia is here.

He is prepared to answer questions.

So I will allow uh President uh Sylvia to come to the podium if he wants to make a statement and then I can recognize counselors.

So I see counselor Burgo.

Uh I don't know if you want to make an opening statement or do you want me to go right to questions?

Uh sure.

I'll just I'll just make another quick open statement.

Uh first of all, thank you for calling this meeting and counsel for uh your continued support.

Um of course this isn't the first time we've been here for this.

It seems all too commonplace over the years with the administration.

Um it just seems uh lackle in the uh you know um just not a care for public safety and and looking to cut services to the to the city.

Um we see it as a dangerous, uh a dangerous trend.

Um, and some of the information that I have here today shows exactly what happened in the past when we had blackouts and and other cuts from this administration, um, and also the other services that our members have provided and helped this community.

Uh again, unfortunately, you know, it's it's a little bit ridiculous.

Uh uh a budget should not be balanced on public safety's back.

It's a dangerous game to play, plain and simple.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councilor Burgo.