Public Meetings - New Bedford, Massachusetts

The New Bedford City Council Committee on Ordinances met on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 7:01 PM. Chaired by Councillor Shane Burgo, the committee addressed a rezoning request at 30 Brigham Street, an ordinance to prohibit data centers, a home rule petition to modernize legal notices, and a framework for ALPR technology. Multiple unanimous votes were taken, and items were referred to the full council or tabled for further research. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM. Consent Calendar - Letters of absence from Councillors Choquette and Gomes were read and placed on file. - The favorable recommendations from the Planning Board for Item 1 (30 Brigham Street Rezoning) and Item 2 (Data Center Prohibition) were received and placed on file. Public Comments & Testimony - Item 1 (30 Brigham Street): Ashton Albanaz, the property owner, spoke in favor of the rezoning. He stated that the split zoning prevented him from leasing the back section of the building, leaving it half empty for six months. - Item 2 (Data Centers): Warren Samuels (235 Portland Street) spoke in favor of the prohibition. He raised potential conflicts with the Hicks-Logan area ordinance and Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40, Section 6 regarding previously approved land uses. He urged the committee to carefully weigh actual tax revenue against other potential uses. Discussion Items - Item 1: Rezoning of 30 Brigham Street: Director Jennifer Carloni confirmed the Planning Board's favorable recommendation. The committee voted unanimously to forward a favorable recommendation to the full City Council. - Item 2: Prohibition of Data Centers: - Director Carloni detailed the negative externalities of modern data centers (noise, water, electricity, heat) using the Lowell example, framing the ordinance as a needed "pause" to allow for proper regulation of the evolving industry. - Councillor Abreu expressed strong support for the pause, emphasizing the need to avoid community impacts seen in Lowell and likening it to the careful zoning approach used for cannabis. He stressed the importance of balancing economic development with neighborhood quality of life. - Councillor Pereira inquired about the timeline for developing new regulations (estimated within one year). He stressed that the Committee on Ordinances should be involved in drafting alongside the Planning Board. He also questioned the city's utility capacity for such facilities. - Councillor Lopes noted the existing Verizon switch center in downtown that could be retrofitted for a micro data center, asking that the Planning Board consider this during due diligence. - The committee voted unanimously to refer the ordinance amendment to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation. - Item 3: Home Rule Petition for Legal Notices: - Chair Burgo introduced the topic, citing $15,000 in legal notice costs for the City Council office alone in the current year and noting the outdated nature of newspaper advertising. He stated that Topsfield, Stowe, and Wayland have already submitted similar home rule petitions. - A letter from City Clerk Dennis Farias was read into the record, expressing full support and noting the effort could save tens of thousands of dollars annually in legal costs. - Councillor Pereira proposed that the primary advertising method be a dedicated page on the city's website and postings in all public libraries, with the local paper of record as an emergency backup. - Atty. David Gerwatowski advised that narrowing the methods to a single primary source was the best approach to avoid public confusion and agreed to draft a revised petition covering all city departments. - Councillor Abreu suggested exploring an official City Council Facebook page for publishing notices. - Two motions passed unanimously: 1) All city departments must report all legal advertising costs and alternative platforms used. 2) Legislative counsel is to draft a home rule petition reflecting the committee's guidance. - Items 4 & 5: ALPR Technology Ordinance Framework: - Chair Burgo reported that Police Chief Jason Thody was at a conference and requested the item be tabled. Deputy Chief Belong was present. - The city's contract with Flock (the ALPR provider) will end on November 12, 2026, and will not be renewed. - The item was tabled to the next regular meeting on November 18, 2026, pending Chief Thody's return from the conference to provide an updated report. Key Outcomes - Item 1 (30 Brigham Street): Unanimous vote to grant a favorable recommendation for the rezoning to the full City Council. - Item 2 (Data Centers): Unanimous vote to refer the prohibition ordinance to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation. - Item 3 (Legal Notices): Unanimous votes to gather data from all departments on legal advertising costs and to instruct legal counsel to draft a home rule petition. The item was subsequently tabled pending the draft. - Items 4 & 5 (ALPR): Unanimous vote to table the discussion to the November 18, 2026 meeting.

The New Bedford City Council Audit Committee met in Council Chambers, Room 214, City Hall, 133 William Street, at 7:01 p.m. Chair Sean Oliver (Ward 3) presided with Councilors Joseph Lopes (Ward 5) and Ryan Pereira (Ward 6). Councillors-at-Large James Roy and Shane Burgo were also present as non-voting participants. City Auditor Quillan Lowney, Chief of Staff Neil Mello, and Director of Personnel Jose Gouveia addressed the committee. The meeting covered three written motions: monthly departmental expenditure reports, the mayor’s new staff hire, and health insurance broker/consultant fees and commissions. Note: the agenda and transcript open with the date October 21, 2026, while the date provided for this summary is October 23, 2026. Discussion Items - Monthly expenditure reports (Matter 1155): The committee removed from the table a motion by Councilors Pereira, Oliver, and Morad requesting monthly reports for expenditures from every department and account. Auditor Lowney said his office is facing challenges from the decentralization of accounts payable, a reduced team, and the retirement of assistant auditors, which delayed the reports. He offered to provide the committee with raw Munis printouts and to publish a cleaner, simplified version without narrative write-ups on the city website. Councilor Pereira asked for an accurate five- or six-month financial lookback by mid-December or early January. Lowney cautioned that figures can change because invoices are now recorded at the effective service date, so prior-period numbers may be revised. Councilor Lopes asked Lowney to highlight any line item exceeding the expected percentage of the year, for example anything over 75 percent in the fourth quarter. The committee then tabled the item. - Review of the mayor’s new staff hire (Matter 1460): Councilor Burgo’s motion asked the committee to review the position, compensation, funding source, and hiring process for the mayor’s newest employee. Chief of Staff Neil Mello explained that the mayor’s office hired a special assistant to the mayor, classified as an administrative manager in the city’s Unit C table at an M9 grade, with a salary of about $66,000. The position replaced Melissa Sears and provides scheduling, logistics, and direct support to the mayor. Mello said the mayor’s office has six staff; the mayor’s proposed budget already reduced personnel costs by about $67,000, and the council cut the mayor’s personnel budget by roughly $245,000, which he called a 35 percent reduction. He said the personnel budget was left at $582,000, with about $356,000 remaining after roughly $225,000 in first-quarter spending, and that the office was not currently projecting a deficit. He argued that council budget reductions limit appropriation authority but do not directly order the elimination of specific positions, citing Department of Revenue guidance, and that the mayor viewed the cut as unfair and targeted because following the council’s stated intent would require laying off an existing employee rather than eliminating a vacant position. Councilor Burgo responded that the council made its cut after Mello presented the administrative manager position as one that would not continue into the new fiscal year, so the council’s intent was to avoid filling a vacancy, not to fire a new hire. He also rejected the claim that the mayor’s office was singled out, citing a similar council cut involving a police department chief-of-staff title. Mello disputed that the position was vacant on July 1, saying Melissa Sears’ departure date was undetermined and that she transitioned out on a part-time basis before the new hire was recruited. Councilor Pereira said he had watched the budget presentation and believed Mello had indicated the position would not be filled on July 1; he expressed disappointment that the explanation had changed. Mello acknowledged possible miscommunication but denied an intent to mislead. Councilor Lopes asked for an actual first-quarter spending breakdown for the mayor’s office, and Mello and Lowney agreed to provide it. Pereira also questioned the informal role of Chief Operating Officer Christina Conley and asked whether the mayor would consider formalizing the COO position through an ordinance with council confirmation. Mello said the mayor would be open to considering it. Pereira said he could not support funding an informal COO or chief-of-staff title without a formal position and council oversight, but would have a different conversation if a formal ordinance were proposed. - Health insurance broker and consultant fees (Matter 1462): Councilor Pereira’s motion requested a review of the city’s health insurance broker fees, consultant fees, and all commissions paid over the last three fiscal years. Personnel Director Jose Gouveia provided an overview of Lockton’s role. He said Lockton has a flat contract fee of $40,000 per year, frozen for three years, with about two more years remaining under the contract. He described additional commissions Lockton receives through other positions, including 1.17 percent on MedEx, a percentage on Boston Mutual based on participants, and 5 percent on stop-loss coverage above the threshold. Gouveia estimated Lockton’s total compensation at roughly $300,000 annually, equal to about 0.5 percent of the overall plan value, and said that is low compared with roughly $300,000 to $400,000 for similar work at comparably sized municipalities. He described Lockton’s services as including market analysis, regulatory compliance, annual RFPs, contract renewals, plan design proposals, and support for Public Employee Committee meetings. Gouveia also outlined cost-saving options that had been discussed with the PEC and administration: raising the family deductible from $875 to $1,000 and the individual deductible from $375 to $500, moving new employees to a 70/30 or 65/35 contribution split rather than the current 75/25 split, and adding an employee-plus-one coverage tier. He said an opt-out program was considered but not recommended because of the age mix of covered employees. He also noted that Fall River offers a dental plan and New Bedford does not, and that implementing a dental/vision benefit would require council follow-through. Councilor Pereira asked for an executive summary explaining how Lockton works on the city’s behalf, all relevant contracts including Trustmark and Boston Mutual, a breakdown of all commissions for the last three years, and information on the Blue Cross Blue Shield relationship. Gouveia said the city has been with Blue Cross Blue Shield since 2015 and that the next RFP process for carriers should begin around mid-year. He agreed to compile the requested information within three weeks, citing open enrollment as the reason for the timeline. Committee members discussed whether a bundled fixed-fee arrangement could be cheaper or more expensive and agreed to review the information at a future meeting. Key Outcomes - Item 1 was tabled; Auditor Lowney agreed to provide raw Munis reports to the committee and simplified public reports, with a target lookback in December or January. - Item 2 was referred to the full City Council for no further action by a voice vote, after a motion by Councilor Pereira seconded by Councilor Lopes. The auditor and chief of staff were asked to provide a detailed first-quarter spending breakdown for the mayor’s office. - Item 3 was tabled; Director Gouveia agreed to provide a comprehensive package on Lockton, carrier contracts, and commission data within three weeks, with further committee discussion planned for the next month. - The committee adjourned at 8:41 p.m.

The New Bedford City Council met on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 7:01 PM in the City Council Chamber. The meeting was led by Council President Ryan J. Pereira, with 11 councilors present. The agenda included five public hearings for Eversource utility work, numerous mayor's papers for unpaid bills, appointments, a sewer abatement, an HDIP agreement, a zoning amendment, and a final reading of an ordinance on automated license plate readers (ALPRs). Hearings - Hearing 1 – Liberty Street (7 FO Poles and Guy Anchor): Jessica Elder (Eversource) presented the petition to install poles and anchor to provide electric service to 230 Hathaway Boulevard (a school). Work estimated 3–5 days with police detail. No public comment. Council adopted the order unanimously. - Hearing 2 – County Street (40' Conduit and Handhole): Work to improve service to 485 County Street. Councilor Baptiste raised concerns about traffic disruption and police detail availability. Ms. Elder confirmed coordination with police and a two-day duration. No public opposition. Adopted unanimously. - Hearing 3 – Maple Street (One Handhole): Work on sidewalk to upgrade service to 69 Maple Street, about one day. Resident John Buck (71 Maple St.) expressed confusion that work may have already been done. Council clarified the hearing is for the permit to obstruct the sidewalk. No opposition. Adopted unanimously. - Hearing 4 – Purchase Street (48' Conduit): Work to improve service to 1265 Purchase Street. Councilor Baptiste asked about coordination with nearby Quest Center work. Resident Mark Parsons (42 Grove St.) thanked the council and stated the work appeared mostly completed. No opposition. Adopted unanimously. - Hearing 5 – Parker Street (35' Conduit for City Streetlight): Work to provide service to a lighting cabinet near Summer Street, about 48 hours. Councilor Baptiste requested work be scheduled after school drop-off hours due to a nearby school. No public comment. Adopted unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - John Buck (71 Maple St.) – Expressed confusion regarding the Maple Street handhole, stating work appeared already done. Council explained the hearing pertained to the right-of-way obstruction permit. - Mark Parsons (42 Grove St.) – Thanked the council and reported that the Purchase Street conduit work seemed mostly completed. Mayor's Papers - M1-M12A – Unpaid Bills from FY2026: M1 (Water Enterprise Fund, $16,314.72 for lime and soda ash) sparked debate. Councilor Burgo moved to refer to the Finance Committee, noting 21 unpaid bills totaling nearly $73,000. After a roll call, referral failed 2–9 (Burgo and Pereira in favor). The order to pay then passed 9–2 (Burgo and Pereira opposed). M2-M12A (totaling $16,314.72 from various funds) were referred to the Finance Committee without objection. - M13 – Sewer Abatement: Request for Vicki Jorge (490 Purchase St., $374.53) was granted unanimously. - M14 – HDIP Tax Increment Exemption for 620 Belleville Ave: Proposed agreement for redevelopment of the Nashawena Mill complex into 47 apartments. Referred to the Finance Committee. - M15 – Zoning Amendment: Ordinance to reduce maximum building height as-of-right in the Mixed-Use Business (MUB) District. Referred to the Committee on Ordinances and the Planning Board. - M16-M19 – Appointments: Donald G. Rei (Housing Authority), Madeline Paiva (Library Trustees), Thomas P. Clark (Water Board), Eric V. LePage (Zoning Board of Appeals, alternate). All referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings. New Business - Item 6 – ALPR Ordinance (Second Reading): Ordinance amending Chapter 2 to regulate automated license plate readers and location-tracking technologies. Councilor Burgo introduced an amendment to the last sentence of Section 1, inserting "inconsistent with the provisions of this section" after "used for any purpose" to correct a drafting error that would otherwise halt all city spending. The amendment was adopted unanimously. The amended ordinance then passed on roll call 8–3 (Carney, Gomes, Oliver opposed). Key Outcomes - All five Eversource hearing orders were adopted unanimously. - M1 (Unpaid Water Bill) was adopted after referral to finance failed; M2-M12A referred to finance. - Sewer abatement (M13) granted. - M14 (HDIP) and M15 (Zoning) referred to respective committees. - Appointments (M16-M19) referred to Appointments Committee. - ALPR ordinance passed 8–3 after a unanimous amendment. - Consent agenda (street obstructions, disturbances, dumpsters, and board minutes) adopted unanimously. - Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM.

[The Audit Committee of the New Bedford City Council met on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 7:01 PM in the Council Chambers. Chair Sean Oliver presided over the meeting, joined by voting members Councilors Joseph Lopes and Ryan Pereira. Councilors-at-Large James Roy and Shane Burgo attended as non-voting members. The committee addressed three items: the status of monthly expenditure reports, the Mayor's recent staff hire, and the City's health insurance broker fees. The meeting concluded at 8:41 PM.] Discussion Items Item 1: Monthly Expenditure Reports (Matter ID 1155) - City Auditor Quillan Lowney reported significant challenges in generating the monthly reports due to recent staffing reductions and the departure of the CFO. He offered to provide the committee with simplified "Munis printouts" and a cleaner version for the public website lacking narrative analysis until the office stabilizes. He also noted a change in invoice recording (using effective dates) could cause the numbers in any report to fluctuate over time. - Councilor Pereira emphasized the transparency value of the reports. He requested a 5–6 month financial look-back for late December or January. - Councilor Lopes requested that the reports highlight any line item exceeding 75% of the annual allocation. - Outcome: Tabled. The City Auditor agreed to continue providing the requested data in simplified formats. Item 2: Review of Mayor's New Staff Hire (Matter ID 1460) - Chief of Staff Neil Mellow attended. He defended the necessity of filling the Special Assistant to the Mayor position, arguing the office requires full staffing despite budget cuts from an original personnel budget of $826,998. He disputed that the Council's cut to the position was binding under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44. Mellow stated the office currently has a spending balance of $356,000 and is not projecting an immediate deficit. - Councilor Burgo, the motion's author, argued the Council specifically targeted this position based on Mellow's representation during budget hearings that the role would be vacant on July 1. He asserted the intent was to capture savings by not filling an already vacant position. - Councilor Pereira echoed this, stating he reviewed the budget video and confirmed Mellow's statements created the impression the position would not be filled. He accused the Administration of misleading the Council. Pereira also raised concerns about the use of the "Chief of Staff" title and requested the Mayor submit an ordinance to formally create a Chief Operating Officer position subject to Council confirmation. - Councilor Lopes noted that Q1 spending ($225,000) appeared to exceed a straight-line quarterly pro-rata of the budget, raising stewardship concerns. - Outcome: The committee voted to refer the matter to the full City Council with a recommendation of no further action. (Voice vote, motion by Pereira/Lopes). Mr. Mellow agreed to relay the request for a formal COO ordinance to the Mayor. Item 3: Health Insurance Brokers' Fees and Commissions (Matter ID 1462) - Director of Personnel Jose Gouveia explained Lockton's compensation structure: a flat $40,000 annual fee (frozen for three years) plus commissions from insurance carriers, totaling approximately $300,000 annually (0.5% of total plan value). He defended the arrangement, stating it is cost-effective. A discrepancy arose regarding the contract length; Director Gouveia initially stated one year remained but later agreed with the Chair's summation that two years remained. - Councilor Pereira requested a detailed three-year accounting of all commissions and contracts. He argued the city's fiscal crisis necessitates scrutinizing every cost, including broker fees, and questioned whether higher expenditure on consulting could yield net savings. He advocated for an open RFP process. - Councilor Lopes questioned whether a fully fixed-fee contract could be cheaper than the existing commission structure. - Director Gouveia committed to providing the requested documentation within three weeks. - Outcome: Tabled. The Personnel Director is to compile a comprehensive report on all commissions and contracts for the committee's review before further discussion. Key Outcomes - Item 1 (Monthly Reports): Tabled. Auditor to provide simplified expenditure reports and a mid-year review. - Item 2 (Mayor's Staff Hire): Referred to full Council with a recommendation of no further action. - Item 3 (Health Insurance Brokers): Tabled. Director of Personnel to provide a full accounting of broker fees and contracts within three weeks for committee review.

The New Bedford City Council’s Appointments & Briefings Committee met at 7:14 PM in Room 214 of City Hall. The meeting covered citizen input on pothole damage and recovery housing, two mayoral appointments (to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities and the Human Rights Commission), updates on employee benefits and prescription drug plans (both tabled), a presentation on the I‑195/Route 18 interchange project, and several routine items referred for no further action. The meeting adjourned at 9:08 PM. Public Comments & Testimony - Ernesto Silva Jr. (49 Ellen Street) spoke as a taxpayer whose claim for vehicle damage caused by a 7‑inch deep pothole was denied. He criticized the city’s policy requiring residents to report potholes before the city acts, calling it “passing responsibility to the taxpayer.” He stated he has filed a small claims lawsuit against the city, scheduled for December 9, 2026. Councillor Pemberton confirmed the proper paperwork had been filed. Councillor Abreu noted the matter is now legal and declined to discuss it further. - Ronald Bush (120 Mill Street) asked the committee to treat adaptive reuse of vacant mills and schools as an opportunity for recovery housing (sober living, mental health services, job training, transitional housing). He urged the city to keep a clear path for code‑compliant proposals and offered to share photographs. - Citizens Catherine Synnott, Brian Santerre, and Victor DeSousa were not present; their items were referred for no further action. Discussion Items Appointments - Alyssa DaCunha (Executive Director, Commission for Citizens with Disabilities): DaCunha, currently Assistant Director of the Board of Health, holds an MPH from Brown University and has experience at Boston Children’s Hospital. She emphasized aligning the commission’s work with public health, the Clear Path program (snow shoveling for eligible residents), and addressing service‑animal complaints. Councillor Burgo expressed concern that the administration had not taken the appointment seriously and indicated he would not support her confirmation on the full Council, though he praised her work at the Health Department. Councillor Baptiste pressed for “boots‑on‑the‑ground” engagement with service providers. The item was referred to the full City Council (November 12 vote). - Joana Goncalves (Executive Director, Human Rights Commission): Goncalves, a Community Relations Specialist, has worked for the city nearly five years. She described her role as a liaison connecting residents to resources, leading neighborhood meetings, and organizing human‑rights events (Human Rights Day Breakfast, MLK Day). Councillor Burgo noted the Human Rights Commission itself requested her appointment, not the mayor, and praised her experience. Councillors Baptiste and Pemberton also voiced support. The appointment was referred to the full Council for approval. Cigar Minimum Pricing Regulation (Items 4 & 5) Two related motions on the Board of Health’s cigar minimum‑pricing regulation (effective January 1, 2025, for 18 months) were pulled from the table. The Health Department representative (Mark Galan) stated they had been told by Councillor Lopes the item would not be discussed and were unprepared. Councillor Abreu, the lead sponsor, moved to table again. The motion carried; the committee pledged a good‑faith effort to address the item in the next month. Voluntary Benefits (Item 6) HR Director José Gouveia updated that the city is moving voluntary life insurance from Boston Mutual to Symetra (eliminating age‑band increases) and continues to offer Trustmark (short‑/long‑term disability, critical illness, hospital indemnity), Flex Spending, and Nationwide deferred compensation. No dental or vision plan is offered, though Gouveia noted Fall River provides two dental options. He stated that adding such plans would require union (PAC) approval and asked for Council direction. The item was tabled. Prescription Drug Plan (Item 7) Gouveia reported that the city will move retiree prescription drug coverage to Benestar, projecting first‑year savings of approximately $700,000 (though subject to utilization). The overall Med‑Ex medical plan increase was reduced to 8.5% (from an initial 10.5%) by removing GLP‑1 drugs (e.g., Ozempic) for weight‑loss purposes, while still covering them for other health reasons. Additional savings of about $54,000 are expected from a new Helscripts program that uses manufacturer coupons. Councillor Choquette asked about pharmacy benefit consultants and long‑term savings. The item was tabled. I‑195/Route 18 Interchange Project (Item 8) MassDOT project manager Valerie Kilduff presented the next phases of the reconstruction. Phase 3 (within a month) will shift westbound traffic onto a new bridge with no ramp closures. Phase 4 (starting late December 2026/early January 2027, lasting through summer 2029) will reconstruct the eastbound viaduct. The eastbound exit 26 off‑ramp to Route 18 southbound (ramp F) will close until spring 2029; the Route 18 southbound off‑ramp to Weld Street will also close. Signed detours will direct drivers via I‑195 east to exit 31B (North Street), then westbound back to exit 26, or via Purchase Street to Weld Street. A public information meeting is scheduled for November 5 (virtual, with multilingual interpretation). City traffic engineer Sean (last name not stated) confirmed weekly coordination with MassDOT, adaptive signal work on Coggeshall Street, and concurrent city sewer/street reconstruction on Hillman, Washburn, and nearby streets. Councillor Baptiste voiced strong concerns about drivers ignoring detours and using side streets (e.g., Maxfield, Sycamore, Pleasant) near schools, parks, and senior housing, and about the lack of police details due to staffing. The project team pledged to monitor traffic and adjust. The item was accepted with no further action. Key Outcomes - Appointments referred: Alyssa DaCunha and Joana Goncalves will go before the full City Council on November 12. Councillor Burgo indicated he will oppose DaCunha’s appointment. - Cigar regulation tabled again; committee aims to discuss next month. - Voluntary benefits and prescription drug plan both tabled; Gouveia will research dental/vision options but needs PAC approval. - I‑195 presentation received with no further action; MassDOT and city will monitor traffic and hold a public meeting November 5. - Citizen input items (1a–1e) and remaining agenda items (9–13) were referred to the full Council for no further action.

The Finance Committee met on Monday, October 19, 2026 at 7:01 PM in Council Chambers to consider nine orders for the payment of unpaid bills from Fiscal Year 2026 totaling approximately $34,019.30, using Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations. Committee members expressed frustration over the recurring nature of these requests, citing a total of 21 outstanding obligations worth nearly $73,000 across the city. The committee also discussed two items related to the Winter Recovery Assistance Program (WRAP) funds but took no further action on them. All unpaid bill items were voted favorably for referral to the full City Council. Discussion Items - Chairman Joseph Lopes voiced concern that the practice of paying prior-year bills from the current budget has become a recurring issue. He noted that many departments received budget cuts in FY2027 and that these requests effectively impose a double cut, as funds must be diverted from current services. He stated that the body was not made aware of these unencumbered obligations during the May budget hearings. - Councillor Shane Burgo criticized the administration for mismanagement, pointing to the failure to encumber purchase orders in time. He stated that this was not a one-time issue but had occurred 21 times, totaling almost $73,000, and argued that the council should not be asked to repeatedly cover such oversights. - City Auditor Quillan Lowney explained that invoices received after July 15, 2026—the statutory deadline for paying prior-year bills without an encumbrance—cannot be paid from FY2026 funds. He clarified that during the May budget hearings, the administration was unaware these invoices would remain unpaid, as the deadline was after those hearings. He noted that outreach was done in January to remind departments of the encumbrance requirement. - Department heads provided specific reasons for each unpaid bill: - Commissioner Jamie Ponte (DPI) cited late vendor invoices, incomplete purchase orders (e.g., work at Quitticus treatment plant where the PO was not increased), and delays in receiving final bills (e.g., John Deere repair, Lemue Heating invoice dropped off at an unstaffed building). - Shara Rapoza (Zoo) explained that a laboratory services invoice for June was sent directly to accounts payable and attached to a statement, so she was unaware of the amount until July 31. She has since arranged for invoices to come to her directly. - Olivia Melo (Library) stated a Boston Globe subscription invoice was misplaced by a new branch manager who thought it was a solicitation. She noted the complexity of newspaper billing (monthly, varying amounts) and that this was the first such rollover in her 11-year tenure. - Jim Marshall (Cable Access) said a trash pickup invoice was delayed due to the July 4th holiday, arriving on July 8 instead of July 7. - Scot Servis (Airport) reported an Amazon invoice for absorbent mats arrived on July 16, one day after the encumbrance deadline. - Councillor Ian Abreu questioned the library director about the specifics of the newspaper subscription and whether a July invoice should have been anticipated in the FY2027 budget. Director Melo clarified that the July invoice covered June services, requiring prior-year funds. Key Outcomes - Items 1–9 (unpaid bill orders) were each approved by voice vote and will be referred to the full City Council with favorable recommendations. The votes were as follows: - Item 1 (Water Enterprise Fund, $25,388.75) – motion by Councillor Pereira, second by Councilor Carney, passed. - Item 2 (Wastewater Enterprise Fund, $1,011.96) – motion by Councillor Abreu, second by Councilor Carney, passed. - Items 3–5 (DPI Purchase of Services and Supplies, $3,593.00, $2,360.43, $148.30) – taken together, motion by Councillor Pereira, second by Councillor Burgo, passed. - Item 6 (Zoo Purchase of Services, $833.53) – motion by Councillor Abreu, second by Councilor Carney, passed. - Item 7 (Library Supplies, $469.26) – motion by Councillor Burgo, second by Councillor Pemberton, passed. - Item 8 (Cable Access Enterprise Fund, $110.23) – motion by Councillor Burgo, second by Councillor Choquette, passed. - Item 9 (Airport Enterprise Fund, $103.84) – motion by Councillor Burgo, second by Councilor Roy, passed. - Items 10 and 11 (WRAP funds) – Councillor Roy moved to waive reading and take no further action; seconded by Councilor Carney. The motion passed by voice vote. No substantive discussion occurred on these items. - The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 PM.

The New Bedford City Council met on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 7:06 PM in the City Council Chamber (Room 214, 133 William St.). Council President Ryan J. Pereira presided. The meeting included three public hearings on Eversource conduit petitions, several mayor's communications regarding personnel and election logistics, and multiple new business motions. The meeting adjourned at 7:43 PM. Consent Calendar - Street Closings for Veterans Day Parade: Approved closing of Rockdale Avenue, Union Street, Pleasant Street, William Street, and County Street on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. - Petition/Indemnity Agreement – Nodak Auto Service, Inc.: Permission granted to erect and maintain non-illuminated panels at 2147 Acushnet Avenue. - Constable Bond – Ian Daley: Approved in the amount of $5,000 with NGM Insurance Company. - Meeting Minutes Received and Placed on File: Minutes from the Board of Assessors (Aug. 20 & Sep. 3, 2026), Licensing Board (Mar. 24, Apr. 28, May 12, 2026), Park Board (Jul. 15, 2026), Planning Board (Aug. 12, 2026), and Public Health Excellence Collaborative (Sep. 16, 2026). - Street Obstructions, Street Disturbances, Dumpsters, and Petitions for Locations (Items C5–C84): All routine approvals and referrals, including four new Eversource petitions set for hearing on October 22, 2026. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition on any agenda item. Only Eversource representative Jessica Elder provided testimony during the three hearings. Discussion Items - Eversource Hearings (Items 1–3): - MacArthur Drive (60’ conduit): Jessica Elder explained the work supports waterfront improvements including Leonard Wharf rehabilitation. No questions or public comment. Hearing closed; order adopted. - Middle Street (65’ conduit): Elder stated the installation supports an affordable housing development at 370 Middle Street. Councillor Lopes requested a police detail due to school routes and neighborhood safety. Councillor Baptiste asked about traffic flow on Ash Street, stressing the need to maintain access for residents and elderly services. Hearing closed; order adopted. - Belleville Avenue (12’ conduit on sidewalk): Elder noted the work is entirely on the sidewalk near Cedar Grove Street. Councillor Oliver requested a police detail due to increased traffic from I-195 construction. Hearing closed; order adopted with police detail condition. - Mayor’s Papers – M1 & M2 (CFO Position): Mayor Mitchell submitted an order to authorize hiring a CFO at up to Step 3 on Unit C salary schedule and an ordinance to add grade M-24 for the CFO position. Councillor Burgo strongly opposed, arguing the city should not increase executive pay while services are reduced, schools defunded, and employee COLAs withheld. He compared salaries with Boston, Lowell, and Dartmouth, stating Boston’s CFO (dual role) makes only 23% more than New Bedford’s current M23 Step 1. Motion to refer to Committee on Ordinances passed. - M3 – Transfer of $2,000 from Election Personal Services to Other Charges: Approved. - M4 – Polling Location Changes: Manny DeBrito (Election Commissioner) explained that the Moose Lodge closed permanently, forcing relocation of Ward 5 Precinct C to St. Teresa of Calcutta School and Ward 6 Precinct F to New Life Southcoast Church. Notifications will be sent to 3,000–4,000 affected voters within the required 20-day window. Approved. - M5 & M6 – Redevelopment Authority Reappointments: Paul Chasse and David Kennedy reappointed to terms expiring July 2031. Approved 10-0. - Item 4 – Phillips Avenue Pocket Park: Councillor Pemberton requested a meeting with DPW and Police to address crime, drug use, and noise, and to explore alternative uses such as an electric vehicle charging station. Referred to Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods. - Item 5 – Home Rule Petition for Legal Notices: Councillor Burgo proposed modernizing the legal notice process to reduce costs (city council office spends $15,000 annually) and delays. Draft petition shared with state legislators. Referred to Committee on Ordinances. - Item 6 – ALPR Court Opinion: Councillor Burgo submitted a federal district court ruling on warrantless retrieval of automatic license plate reader data to inform pending ALPR legislation. Referred to Committee on Ordinances. - Item 7 – I-195 Project Update: MassDOT Project Manager Valerie Kilduff requested to present on the next phase. Referred to Committee on Appointments and Briefings. - Item 8 – Attorney General Zoning Acknowledgment: Letter acknowledging receipt of adopted zoning ordinances received and placed on file. - Item 9 – Letter to Governor on Education Freedom Tax Credit: Councillor Burgo’s letter regarding President Trump’s initiative received and placed on file. Key Outcomes - Three Eversource conduit petitions approved with police detail requirements for Middle Street and Belleville Avenue locations. - CFO salary and grade increase referred to the Committee on Ordinances (no final vote). - Polling location changes approved effective for the upcoming election (26 days away). - Redevelopment Authority reappointments approved unanimously (10-0). - Four new Eversource petitions (Liberty, County, Maple, Purchase, Parker Streets) received and hearing ordered for October 22, 2026. - Consent agenda adopted in its entirety. - Meeting adjourned at 7:43 PM.

The New Bedford City Council convened on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 7:02 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, led by Council President Ryan Pereira. The meeting included four public hearings for utility infrastructure projects, approval of unpaid bills, reappointments, and a contentious debate over an ordinance regulating Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) and mass location-tracking technologies. The session adjourned at approximately 8:17 p.m. Consent Calendar - Items C1–C53 were adopted as a block. These included: - Citations and resolutions honoring Marci Pina Christian (two citations), Dolly Mendes (Miss New Bedford 2026), and Addison Kohler (Miss New Bedford Teen 2026). - Street closing requests for a candlelight vigil (September 11, 2026), a harvest family fun day (October 17, 2026), and the Nice Bike Show (September 26, 2026, rain date October 17, 2026). - Constable bonds for Ricky Nunez and Joseph C. Latimer, each in the amount of $5,000.00 with NGM Insurance Company. - Numerous street obstruction, street disturbance, dumpster, and petition for location items (C10–C53). Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public spoke during the public hearing portions for utility items (1–4). - During the ALPR ordinance debate, a member of the public named Gilly was warned for decorum and later ordered to leave the chamber after repeated outbursts. Discussion Items - Hearings 1–4 (Utility Infrastructure): - Eversource and Verizon proposed pole installations, conduit, and manhole work on Acushnet Avenue, Ashley Boulevard, Purchase Street/Maxfield Street, and County Street. All work included police details and restoration commitments. Councillors requested details to ensure traffic safety and communication with abutters. Each hearing was opened and closed without public comment; orders were adopted unanimously. - Mayor's Papers M1–M9A: - Nine orders to pay unpaid FY2026 bills from various city funds (Water Enterprise, Wastewater, DPI, Zoo, Library, Cable Access, Airport) totaling $33,528.30 were received, placed on file, and referred to the Committee on Finance. - M10 – Southeastern Regional Revolving Fund: - Order authorized a $30,000 revolving fund under the MIS Department for FY2027. Adopted without objection. - M11 – Reappointment of Kathryn Duff to Planning Board: - Reappointment approved by a roll call vote of 10–0 (Councilor Roy later joined). - New Business Items 5–19: - 5–6: Memorial bench/plaque approvals for Arthur C. Burton, Jr. (Fort Taber) and Carl Natho (Buttonwood/Lake St.) granted. - 7 – ALPR Ordinance: The central debate of the evening. Councilor Burgo introduced a substitute ordinance using definitions of ALPR and mass location-tracking technology provided by Police Chief Thhody and the City Solicitor. The substitute was adopted (8–3). Three amendments to add sunset clauses of 6, 9, and 12 months were each defeated (6-month failed 4–6; 9-month failed 3–8; 12-month failed 3–8). The substitute ordinance then passed second reading (8–3). Councilor Burgo then moved to refer Chief Thhody’s September 24, 2026 correspondence to the Committee on Ordinances to draft permanent safeguards; the motion carried by voice vote with no opposition. - 8–9: Appointment of Brian J. Sousa to the Election Commission and Gerald L. Ribeiro as a constable were approved. - 10: Residency waiver for Marc DeCambra (d/b/a Side Quest Complete) for a secondhand articles license was approved 11–0. - 11–14: Four items were closed with “No Further Action” as recommended by committees: memorial bench for Freddie Mello, portrait tribute for Marchand/Charbonneau, development of rooming houses in historic districts, and parking near the Marine Commerce Terminal. - 15: Petition/indemnity from AHA, Inc. to place eight planters on the sidewalk at 715 Purchase Street (Union/Purchase corner) was granted. - 16–18: Three new memorial bench/tree applications (Jean B. Bennett, Ramsey Rafferty, Laurie & John Bullard) were received and referred to the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications. - 19: The State Election Warrant for November 3, 2026 was received and placed on file. - Street Closures and Permits: - Several street closure motions for community events were granted provisionally by the Council President and ratified. - Consent Items: All consent items adopted en bloc. Key Outcomes - Utility Hearings (1–4): Four orders authorizing pole and conduit installations on Acushnet Ave., Ashley Blvd., Purchase/Maxfield Sts., and County St. were adopted without opposition. - ALPR Ordinance (Item 7): A substitute ordinance (using administration-provided definitions) passed second reading 8–3; Chief Thhody’s recommendations were referred to the Committee on Ordinances for development of permanent legislation. All sunset amendments failed. - Appointments: Kathryn Duff reappointed to Planning Board (10–0); Brian J. Sousa appointed to Election Commission; Gerald L. Ribeiro appointed as constable. - Waiver: Marc DeCambra’s residency waiver for a secondhand articles license approved 11–0. - Memorial Items: Benches/plaques for Burton and Natho granted; three new applications referred to committee. - No Further Action: Items 11–14 closed without further action. - Miscellaneous: Nine unpaid bill payments forwarded to Finance Committee; Revolving Fund authorized; AHA Inc. encroachment granted; State Election Warrant filed.

The Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing met on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers, Room 214, New Bedford City Hall, 133 William Street. The committee considered a constable appointment, a residency waiver for a secondhand-articles license, and a previously tabled cigar lounges motion. The meeting was live streamed and recorded and adjourned at 6:41 PM. Discussion Items - Appointment of Gerald L. Ribeiro as Constable - The committee received Mayor Mitchell's communication submitting Gerald L. Ribeiro's appointment as constable for New Bedford, along with his application, referred July 16, 2026. - Ribeiro said he previously served as a constable from 2003 to 2005 but allowed his license to lapse after a serious car accident. He now wants to return to the role. - Councillor Lopes noted that many rules had changed during Ribeiro's absence and asked whether he would work with other constables. Lopes expressed support for the appointment. - Councillor Carney asked whether Ribeiro had other law enforcement experience; Ribeiro replied that he had only previously been a constable. - The committee voted to send a positive recommendation to the full City Council. The final ratification vote is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM. - Residency Waiver Petition - Marc DeCambra d/b/a Side Quest Complete - The committee received a petition from Marc DeCambra, doing business as Side Quest Complete at 127 West Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, requesting a waiver of residency under Section 15-38 of the City Code to obtain a license to deal in junk, old metals, or any other secondhand articles. The matter was referred August 25, 2026. - DeCambra said he and his business partner operate a small secondhand toy shop at the Kilburn Mill and have been open for about one year. He moved his primary residence from Taunton to Somerset, which prompted the new residency waiver request. - He described the store as buying and selling vintage toys, video games, Funko Pops, and similar collectible items. - The committee voted unanimously to send the petition to the full City Council with a positive recommendation. - Cigar Lounges Feasibility Motion - Matter 0179 - The committee placed on file a written communication from New Bedford Police Chief Jason Thody regarding Councillor Lopes's motion to explore permitting onsite tobacco consumption, commonly referred to as cigar lounges. - Chief Thody's letter stated that Police Department representatives could not attend the meeting but remained willing to participate in future discussions. The department asked to review proposed licensing or permitting requirements before implementation and expressed interest in regulations covering hours of operation, occupancy, security, age verification, alcohol service, parking and traffic impacts, and compliance with state and local laws. - Councillor Lopes said he had spoken with Health Department Director Stephanie Sloan and City Solicitor Eric Jaikes. He kept the cigar lounges item on the table because no motion was pending before the committee to authorize indoor cannabis consumption. Lopes stated that if indoor cannabis sales were allowed, the city should also allow indoor tobacco sales with an equal number of licenses, and he noted that the Commonwealth already allows municipalities to permit indoor tobacco licenses, with that authority falling under the Board of Health. - The committee left Matter 0179 on the table rather than taking it up for action. Key Outcomes - The committee unanimously recommended Gerald L. Ribeiro's appointment as constable to the full City Council. The final vote is scheduled for September 24, 2026. - The committee unanimously recommended approval of Marc DeCambra's residency waiver for the secondhand-articles license. - The police chief's communication regarding cigar lounges was received and placed on file. - The cigar lounges feasibility motion remains tabled. - A letter from Councillor Carney explaining that she would be late was received and placed on file. The committee adjourned at 6:41 PM.