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AGENDA ITEMS:
1. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER, that in accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 53E ½, the revolving fund under the control of the Health Department, known as the HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS REVOLVING FUND, whose revenues collected, and amount limited to be spent estimated at $60,000.00 is hereby authorized for FISCAL YEAR 2026. (Matter ID #0861) (Referred – May 22, 2025.) (June 18, 2025 – tabled)
1a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #0862) (Referred – May 22, 2025.) (June 18, 2025 – tabled)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Stephanie Sloan, Director, Health Department
2. COMMUNICATION, Community Preservation Committee, submitting the CPA annual budget for fiscal year 2026, for Committee administrative expenses and Community Preservation Projects in fiscal year 2026. (Matter ID #1041) (Referred – June 12, 2025.)
INVITEES: Jessica Bailey, Community Preservation Act Manager; Janine da Silva, Chairperson, Community Preservation Committee
3. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Lopes and Morad, requesting, that Derek Santos, Executive Director of the New Bedford Economic Development Council, provide to the Committee on Finance the annual program report detailing the status of the City of New Bedford Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Special Tax Assessments (STA) and Tax Increment Exemption (TIE) activity for all active certified projects. (Matter ID #0229) (Referred – February 27, 2025.) (May 12, 2025 – tabled w/ a RELATED MOTION that the Solicitor’s Office provide the Committee with an updated SOP on how TIFs/STAs will be processed based on the changes made by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Office of Business Development.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Derek Santos, Executive Director, Economic Development Council; Ramon Silva, Senior Director, Economic Development Council
4. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER, to accept Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 200A, Section 9A, to provide the City with the tools necessary to dispose of abandoned funds held in the custody of the City. (Matter ID #0988) (Referred – June 12, 2025.)
4a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #0989) (Referred – June 12, 2025.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; John Taxiarchos, Treasurer/Collector
5. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor President Carney, requesting, that the Treasurer’s Office provide a report identifying all tax-exempt properties, including churches, listing their value, property status as active or vacant, and number of years vacant if applicable. (Matter ID #2090) (Referred to the Special Committee on Pilot (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) Program – December 12, 2024.) (Discharged from Special Committee on Pilot Program and Referred – January 23, 2025.) (May 12, 2025 – Remain in Committee)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Sherie Pinzino, Administrative Assistant to the Board of Assessors; John Taxiarchos, Treasurer/Collector
Chair Suggests 'Waive Reading', 'No Further Action' and 'Report Out to the Full City Council'
6. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $45,000.00 from FREE CASH to TOURISM PURCHASE OF SERVICES. (Matter ID #0435) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – Remain in Committee)
6a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #0436) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – VOTE for ADOPTION – FAILS; Remain in Committee)
7. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $28,000.00 from FREE CASH to FACILITIES AND FLEET MANAGEMENT PURCHASE OF SERVICES. (Matter ID #0441) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 –Remain in Committee)
7a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #0442) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – VOTE for ADOPTION – FAILS; Remain in Committee)
8. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $20,500.00 from FREE CASH to RESILIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PURCHASE OF SERVICES. (Matter ID #0443) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – Remain in Committee)
8a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #0444) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – VOTE for ADOPTION – FAILS; Remain in Committee)
9. RELATED MOTION, Councillor Morad, in conjunction with the $3,290,458.00 Charter Ruled item, that the Administration, the School Department and the CFO submit to the Committee on Finance the formula by which they are calculating the FY2026 School Department’s net school spending appropriation, said information shall be submitted to the Committee on Finance within the next 7 days. (Matter ID #1267) (Referred – July 17, 2025.)
9a. COMMUNICATION, Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer, to Linda M. Morad, Finance Committee Chairperson, regarding the FY26 School Department Budget and revised supplemental budget request. (Received – July 25, 2025.)
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