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.
AGENDA ITEMS:
1. 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.) (September 18, 2025 – tabled 30 days) (October 16, 2025 – tabled)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Derek Santos, Executive Director, Economic Development Council; Ramon Silva, Senior Director, Economic Development Council; Atty. Peter Winters, Associate City Solicitor
2. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER, that in accordance with Section 19-7(c) of the New Bedford Code of Ordinances, the Mayor is hereby authorized to advertise, negotiate the salary of and hire, between now and March 1, 2026, for the position of Executive Finance and Operation Manager in the Auditor’s Office. (Matter ID #1697) (Referred – October 23, 2025.)
2a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1698) (Referred – October 23, 2025.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; José Gouveia, Director, Personnel Department; Quillan Lowney, City Auditor
3. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER and a LEASE AGREEMENT between the New Bedford Airport Commission and Sandpiper Air, Inc. for the access to a certain tract of land for the operation and servicing of aircraft and related activities. (Matter ID #1546) (Referred – September 25, 2025.)
3a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1547) (Referred – September 25, 2025.)
3b. LEASE AGREEMENT, (Matter ID #1548) (Referred – September 25, 2025.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Scot Servis, Airport Manager
4. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER, for the City of New Bedford to accept a donation of real estate from Wayland Development Corp., consisting of 2 parcels shown on City of New Bedford Assessors Map 132 as Lot 62 and the second on Map 132 as Lot 6. (Matter ID #1549) (Referred – September 25, 2025.)
4a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1550) (Referred – September 25, 2025.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Michele Paul, Director, Resilience and Environmental Stewardship
5. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a LOAN ORDER, appropriating $21,865,465.00 for accelerated repair projects at the Sgt. William Carney Memorial Academy, Hayden-McFadden Elementary School and Casimir Pulaski Elementary School. (Matter ID #1689) (Referred – October 23, 2025.)
5a. LOAN ORDER, (Matter ID #1690) (Referred – October 23, 2025.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; David Flynn, Asst. Superintendent of Finance & Operations, New Bedford Public Schools; Andrew O’Leary, Superintendent, New Bedford Public Schools; Bruce Oliveira, Chairperson, Finance and Operations Subcommittee, New Bedford School Committee; Barry Rabinovitch, School Construction Facilitator, New Bedford Public Schools
6. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a LOAN ORDER, appropriating $7,911,603.00 for accelerated repair projects at the Elwyn G. Campbell Elementary School, Ellen R. Hathaway Elementary School and Carlos Pacheco Elementary School. (Matter ID #1691) (Referred – October 23, 2025.)
6a. LOAN ORDER, (Matter ID #1692) (Referred – October 23, 2025.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; David Flynn, Asst. Superintendent of Finance & Operations, New Bedford Public Schools; Andrew O’Leary, Superintendent, New Bedford Public Schools; Bruce Oliveira, Chairperson, Finance and Operations Subcommittee, New Bedford School Committee; Barry Rabinovitch, School Construction Facilitator, New Bedford Public Schools
7. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a LOAN ORDER, appropriating $200,000.00 to pay the costs of a schematic design/feasibility study as required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority with respect to the proposed accelerated repairs to the Trinity Day Academy. (Matter ID #1693) (Referred – October 23, 2025.)
7a. LOAN ORDER, (Matter ID #1694) (Referred – October 23, 2025.)
INVITEES: Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; David Flynn, Asst. Superintendent of Finance & Operations, New Bedford Public Schools; Andrew O’Leary, Superintendent, New Bedford Public Schools; Bruce Oliveira, Chairperson, Finance and Operations Subcommittee, New Bedford School Committee; Barry Rabinovitch, School Construction Facilitator, New Bedford Public Schools
Chair Suggests 'Waive Reading', 'No Further Action' and 'Report Out to the Full City Council'
8. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPROPRIATION of $175,000.00 from ORDINARY REVENUE AND MUNICIPAL RECEIPTS to WASTE COLLECTION & DISPOSAL, PURCHASE OF SERVICES. (Matter ID #1251) (Referred – July 17, 2025.) (October 16, 2025 – tabled)
8a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1252) (Referred – July 17, 2025.) (October 16, 2025 – tabled)
9. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPROPRIATION of $63,662.00 from ORDINARY REVENUE AND MUNICIPAL RECEIPTS to MIS, PURCHASE OF SERVICES. (Matter ID #1253) (Referred – July 17, 2025.) (October 16, 2025 – VOTE for ADOPTION – FAILS; Remain in Committee)
9a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #1254) (Referred – July 17, 2025.) (October 16, 2025 – VOTE for ADOPTION – FAILS; Remain in Committee)
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.