CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
7:00 PM

1.   HEARING, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 102’ of Conduit and one Handhole in front of existing Lightning Control Cabinet in WILLIS STREET, this conduit is necessary to provide service to 25 Willis Street.

1a. AN ORDER,

2.   HEARING, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 50’ of Conduit from existing Handhole to Customer Installed Lightning Control Cabinet in MAXFIELD STREET.

2a.  AN ORDER,

3.   HEARING, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 59’ of Conduit and one Handhole in PLEASANT STREET and TOWER DRIVE, this conduit is necessary to provide service to the intersection of Pleasant Street and North Street.

3a.   AN ORDER,

4.   HEARING, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 51’ of Conduit and two Handholes in BELLEVILLE AVENUE, this work is necessary to provide upgraded underground service and increase system reliability on Belleville Avenue.

4a.   AN ORDER,

M1.  COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting for approval an amendment to a Lease-Purchase Agreement and Ground Landlord Estoppel and Agreement, for the City-owned property located at 32 Madison Street, that is occupied by PACE, the amendment would allow PACE to borrow against its leasehold interest to obtain funding for capital improvements to the building.

M1a.  AMENDMENT LEASE & GROUND LANDLORD ESTOPPEL AND AGREEMENT,

M2.   COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDINANCE, amending Chapter 9, RELATIVE TO DEFINITION AND USE CLASSIFICATION OF DATA CENTERS.

M2a.  AN ORDINANCE,

M3.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of ALYSSA DACUNHA, Assistant Director of the Board of Health, of Dartmouth, MA as the Executive Director of the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities; this term will expire April 2028.

M4.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of JOANA GONCALVES, Community Relations Specialist of New Bedford, MA as the Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission; this term will expire September 2029.

M5.   COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of YMANE GALOTTI, New Bedford to the ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, replacing Guelmie Santiago, who no longer resides in New Bedford; this term will expire December 2028.

M6.   COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of IAN DALEY, Taunton, MA as a CONSTABLE.

M6a. AN APPLICATION,

M7.   COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of RICKY NUNEZ, New Bedford, as a CONSTABLE.

M7a.   AN APPLICATION,

5.   REPORT, the Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of the ORDER, for the TRANSFER of $157,791.00 from SCHOOL GENERAL EXPENSE to SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION. 

5a.  AN ORDER, (Referred to the Committee on Finance - July 16, 2026.)

6.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lopes, requesting, that all future Budget Book submissions to the New Bedford City Council provide a line-by-line breakdown of all dues and subscriptions as part of each department’s submission. (To be Referred to Mayor Mitchell, the CFO’s Office and the Committee on Finance.)

7.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Abreu, requesting that the Committee on Finance and the Administration, through either the City’s public safety departments or the Department of Health and Human Services, identify and appropriate available funds to establish a program providing bicycle safety flags at no cost to eligible City residents for use by their children; bicycle safety flags are a relatively inexpensive safety device that can be purchased at a low cost while providing an added measure of visibility for young riders, helping motorists more easily identify children on bicycles, particularly along roadways, at intersections, and around parked vehicles; given the minimal cost of these flags compared with the potential benefit of increasing a child’s visibility to motorists, the City should explore this simple, affordable investment in bicycle safety and injury prevention. (To be Referred to the Committee on Finance, CFO Robert Ekstrom, and the Administration.)

8.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Burgo, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods review the lack of public trash receptacles throughout the City of New Bedford and make recommendations for increasing the availability and accessibility of trash receptacles in neighborhoods and public spaces.

9.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Burgo, requesting that the Committee on Audit review the Mayor’s new staff hire, including the position, compensation, funding source, and hiring process, and report its findings and recommendations to the full City Council.

10.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Abreu and Council President Pereira, requesting that DPI and any other applicable City department provide the Committee on Environmental Affairs a list of all logged calls regarding odor complaints in the South End and surrounding the Sewage Treatment Plant.

11.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Pereira, requesting that the Committee on Audit review the City of New Bedford's Health Insurance brokers' fees, consultants' fees, and any other information surrounding this matter that the Committee deems relevant; and further, that the Committee review all commissions paid out for the last three fiscal years.

12.   COMMUNICATION, Councillor Gomes, submitting a request on behalf of the New Bedford Veterans’ Advisory Board, for permission to place two plaques at two existing memorial trees, located at Clasky Common Park, that were planted and dedicated in 1951, in honor of GOLD STAR MOTHERS and GOLD STAR WIVES.

13.   COMMUNICATION, Anne Louro, Preservation Planner, to City Council, re: BUILDING DEMOLITION REVIEW: 262 CARROLL STREET, (MAP 38/LOT 172), a Circa 1927, Wood Frame Structure – Partial Demolition, advising that “the structure is not located within a National Register Historic District; the structure is constructed in the Dutch Colonial style with a gambrel roof; the roof is to be demolished for the purpose of raising the height and to modify its pitch to a hip roof style; the structure is of no notable historic significance either recorded or found with the existing condition of the structure “in light of these findings, the Preservation Planner has determined that the wood-frame structure located at 262 Carroll Street is neither a Historically Significant nor a Preferably Preserved Structure.”

03/12/2026    COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of KENDRA PARKER, as ACTING ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS.

03/12/2026    COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a request for a waiver for the education and experience requirements for the position of Administrative Assistant to the Board of Assessors.

C1.   CITATIONS, Councillor Gomes, honoring, RICHARD MCCUE, STEVEN BEAULIEU, DAVID ARRUDA, MICHAEL DANDURAND, JORGE MELO, ANGEL MARTIN, STEVE LAVOIE, ROBERT KIRBY, ANTHONY POENTE, LANCE BRIGHTMAN, RICHARD SPOOR, DWAYNE FERREIRA, STEVEN SILVA, MATTHEW OSTIGUY, PETER KATSOULES, KENNETH LETOURNEAU, MARC COELHO, NORMAN CHARBONNEAU and JAMES TEIXEIRA, in recognition of their many years of commitment, dedication and service to the people of the City of New Bedford.

Adopted, to be presented at a later date.

C2.   CITATION, Councillor Gomes, honoring, HECTOR VELEZ, Legacy Barbers, in recognition of his generosity to the schoolchildren of New Bedford by volunteering his time and staff to the Annual “Cuts for School” Event. 

Adopted, to be presented at a later date.

C3.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, on behalf of CSL Consulting, that the following street(s) BE CLOSED: BETHEL STREET, from Elm Street to the Intersection of Johnny Cake Hill, on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2026 AT 7:00 A.M. THROUGH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2026, AT 5:00 P.M., one side of the sidewalk will remain open to pedestrian traffic throughout the closure period, given the nature of the one-way roads adjacent to this work, this closure also impacts Johnny Cake Hill and the block of William Street between N. 2^nd Street and Bethel Street, signage will be posted for abutter residences/businesses that will be impacted on William Street (between N. 2^nd St. and Bethel St.) and Johnny Cake Hill, indicating the sidewalks will remain open for pedestrian access, but the streets will be closed for non-resident parking and vehicle activity.  This Closure is necessary to accommodate construction activities associated with the New Bedford Whaling Museum Exhibition Center project and requirements. PLEASE NOTE: Emergency access will be available on Johnny Cake Hill via Union Street, and to William St. via N. Second St.  

GRANTED PROVISIONALLY BY THE 2026 CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT RYAN J. PEREIRA ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026, TO BE RATIFIED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026.

Received and Action of the City Council President Ratified.

C4.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: SYCAMORE STREET, from Ash Street to Cedar Street, ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026, FROM 1:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M., for the purpose of a Neighborhood Block Party. 

Permission Granted.

C5.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lopes, requesting, on behalf of Madalena Sebastiao, owner of 149 Washington Street, New Bedford, MA, that a Handicap Parking space be installed at said address. (Copy of Handicap Placard enclosed.) (To be Referred to the Traffic Commission.) 

Referred to the Traffic Commission.

C6.   PETITION/INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, Brandon Sadek d/b/a SMASHED BURGER LLC, for Permission to Erect and Maintain a 4ft. x 6ft. Illuminated three-sided freestanding sign at 102 Rockdale Avenue, New Bedford, MA  02740. Provisionally Granted, subject to approval of the Building Commissioner and subject to ratification by Mayor and City Council. 

Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified.

C7.   COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to the City Council, notifying that the Office of the City Clerk has received Meeting Minutes from the Board of Assessors for a meeting held on August 13, 2026; the Planning Board for meetings held on June 10 and July 8, 2026; the Public Health Excellence Collaborative for meetings held on August 19 and September 2, 2026; the Regional Refuse Management District for a meeting held on June 11, 2026; the School Committee/Academic Achievement Sub Committee for a meeting held on May 12, 2026; the School Committee/Ashley School Building Committee for a meeting held on June 17, 2026; the Water Board for a meeting held on September 25, 2024; and the Zoning Board of Appeals for a meeting held on July 23, 2026.

Received and Placed on File.

C8.      71 Eighth Street

C9.      864 Acushnet Avenue, X Washburn Street and Hicks Street to Howe Street

C10.    198 Arnold Street

C11.    377 Bedford Street

C12.    123 County Street

C13.    922 Tradewind Street

C14.    152 Pitman Street

C15.    490 Bedford Street

C16.    516-518 Rockdale Avenue

C17.    520 Rockdale Avenue

C18.    517 Rockdale Avenue

C19.    116-118 Howard Avenue

C20.    65 Ryan Street

C21.    22 Bream Street

C22.    142 Armsby Street

C23.    198 Arnold Street

C24.    377 Bedford Street

C25.    123 County Street

C26.    922 Tradewind Street

C27.    152 Pitman Street

C28.    490 Bedford Street

C29.    516-518 Rockdale Avenue

C30.    520 Rockdale Avenue

C31.    517 Rockdale Avenue

C32.    116-118 Howard Avenue

C33.    65 Ryan Street

C34.    22 Bream Street

C35.    142 Armsby Street

C36.    Hathaway Street, North Front Street – 158 Hathaway Street, including intersections

C37.    Collette Street, Church Street – Acushnet Avenue, including intersections

C38.    37 Orchard Street

C39.    2286-2288 Acushnet Avenue

C40.    Clinton Place, from East Clinton Street to Dead End

C41.    East Clinton Street, County Street to Orchard Street, including intersections

C42.    Belleville Ave, starting at 53 Belleville Ave. to Washburn Street, including all Intersections

C43.    Babbitt Street, from Dartmouth Street to Field Street

C44     Maxfield Street, Pleasant Street – County Street

C45.    152 Tarkiln Hill Road

C46     Pleasant Street, Willis Street – Maxfield Street

C47.    82 Cottage Street

C48.    13 Spruce Street

C49.    25 Fairmount Street

C50.    114 Division Street

C51.    1200 Acushnet Avenue, corner property with Sawyer Street

C52.    Intersection of Elm Street and County Street

C53.    335 Rockdale Avenue

C54.    NS Pitman Street, Corner property Lancaster Street

C55.    350 Elm Street

C56.    118 Division Street

C57.    508-510 Brock Avenue

C58.    1112 Acushnet Avenue

C59.   771-777 Purchase Street

C60.    PETITION, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy & Verizon New England, Inc for joint location of two jointly owned Poles, one Anchor and one guy on ACUSHNET AVENUE, this work is necessary to provide system improvements and increased reliability to Acushnet Avenue.

RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026.

C61.    PETITION, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy & Verizon New England, Inc for joint location of one jointly owned Pole on ASHLEY BOULEVARD, this work is necessary to provide service to 297 Ashley Boulevard.

RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026.

C62.    PETITION, NSTAR Electric Company for location of approximately 53’ Conduit on PURCHASE STREET and approximately 200’ of Conduit and one Manhole on MAXFIELD STREET, this work is necessary to provide service to 1204 Purchase Street.

RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026.

C63.   PETITION, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 126’ of Conduit and one Handhole in COUNTY STREET, this work is necessary to provide upgraded underground service and increase system reliability on County Street.

RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026.