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.
1. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER to provide for the payment of unpaid bills of a previous Fiscal Year of the City of New Bedford, the sum set against the WATER ENTERPRISE FUND PURCHASE OF SERVICES is hereby approved to be expended in FISCAL YEAR 2027 in the amount of $25,388.75. (Matter ID #1535) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
1a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1536) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Quillan Lowney, City Auditor; Jamie Ponte, Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure
2. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER to provide for the payment of unpaid bills of a previous Fiscal Year of the City of New Bedford, the sum set against the WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND PURCHASE OF SERVICES is hereby approved to be expended in FISCAL YEAR 2027 in the amount of $1,011.96. (Matter ID #1537) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
2a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1538) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Quillan Lowney, City Auditor; Jamie Ponte, Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure
3. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER to provide for the payment of unpaid bills of a previous Fiscal Year of the City of New Bedford, the sum set against the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PURCHASE OF SERVICES is hereby approved to be expended in FISCAL YEAR 2027 in the amount of $3,593.00. (Matter ID #1539) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
3a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1540) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Quillan Lowney, City Auditor; Jamie Ponte, Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure
4. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER to provide for the payment of unpaid bills of a previous Fiscal Year of the City of New Bedford, the sum set against the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPLIES is hereby approved to be expended in FISCAL YEAR 2027 in the amount of $2,360.43. (Matter ID #1541) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
4a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1542) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Quillan Lowney, City Auditor; Jamie Ponte, Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure
5. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER to provide for the payment of unpaid bills of a previous Fiscal Year of the City of New Bedford, the sum set against the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPLIES is hereby approved to be expended in FISCAL YEAR 2027 in the amount of $148.30. (Matter ID #1543) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
5a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1544) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Quillan Lowney, City Auditor; Jamie Ponte, Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure
6. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER to provide for the payment of unpaid bills of a previous Fiscal Year of the City of New Bedford, the sum set against the ZOO PURCHASE OF SERVICES is hereby approved to be expended in FISCAL YEAR 2027 in the amount of $833.53. (Matter ID #1545) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
6a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1546) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Quillan Lowney, City Auditor; Shara Rapoza, Director of Zoological Services
7. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER to provide for the payment of unpaid bills of a previous Fiscal Year of the City of New Bedford, the sum set against the LIBRARY SUPPLIES is hereby approved to be expended in FISCAL YEAR 2027 in the amount of $469.26. (Matter ID #1547) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
7a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1548) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Quillan Lowney, City Auditor; Olivia Melo, Library Director
8. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER to provide for the payment of unpaid bills of a previous Fiscal Year of the City of New Bedford, the sum set against the CABLE ACCESS ENTERPRISE FUND PURCHASE OF SERVICES is hereby approved to be expended in FISCAL YEAR 2027 in the amount of $110.23. (Matter ID #1549) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
8a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1550) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Quillan Lowney, City Auditor; James Marshall, Station Manager
9. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER to provide for the payment of unpaid bills of a previous Fiscal Year of the City of New Bedford, the sum set against the AIRPORT ENTERPRISE FUND SUPPLIES is hereby approved to be expended in FISCAL YEAR 2027 in the amount of $103.84. (Matter ID #1551) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
9a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1552) (Referred – September 24, 2026.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Quillan Lowney, City Auditor; Scot Servis, Airport Manager
Chair Suggests 'Waive Reading', 'No Further Action' and 'Report Out to the Full City Council'
10. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu 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 $713,441.91 received through the Commonwealth's Winter Recovery Assistance Program (WRAP), awarded to New Bedford based on its 269.48 miles of locally owned roadway; and further, that the Administration indicate whether these funds will be utilized to offset FY2026 snow and ice expenditures, reduce any existing snow and ice deficit, replenish previously appropriated municipal funds, support 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 FY2027 budget and tax rate. (To be Referred to the Committee on Finance, the Mitchell Administration and Chief Financial Officer Ekstrom). (Matter ID #1219) (Referred – July 16, 2026.)
11. COMMUNICATION, Councillor Abreu, submitting a communication from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue/Division of Local Services, regarding the FY2026 Snow and Ice Removal Deficit and Special Accounting Treatment for Commonwealth Reimbursement. (Matter ID #1220) (Referred – July 16, 2026.)
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if any accommodations are needed, please contact the City Council Office at 508-979-1455. Requests should be made as soon as possible but at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.