M1.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, advising that the New Bedford Police Union and the New Bedford Fire Union have both petitioned the Massachusetts Joint Labor Management Commission (JLMC) to take jurisdiction over their respective contract negotiations.

M2.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a LOAN ORDER in the amount of $6,499,000 authorizing the borrowing of funds to pay costs of environmental cleanup and remediation projects for the Parker Street Waste Site, including assessment, planning, design, permitting, settlement or remediation projects costs at the New Bedford High School mechanical room, Keith Middle School wetland, Nemasket Streets lots, certain acquired residential properties and private properties and the cost of the EPA settlement.

M2a.    LOAN ORDER,

M3.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDINANCE, amending Chapter 10, FINANCE, by adding Section 10-47 – Departmental Revolving Funds.

M3a.    AN ORDINANCE,

M4.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $400.00 from LICENSING, SALARIES & WAGES, to LICENSING, CHARGES & SERVICES.

M4a.    AN ORDER,

M5.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of RITA RIBEIRO, New Bedford, MA, to the GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE; this term will expire May 2021.

M6.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of ROSS NUNES, New Bedford, MA, to the COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE; this term will expire April 2020.

M7.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of ARTHUR MOTTA, New Bedford, MA, to the COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE; this term will expire April 2020.

M8.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of ELAINE SAFIOLEAS, New Bedford, MA  as the Board of Park Commissioners’ Representative to the COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, replacing Diane Berube, whose term has expired; this term will expire April 2020.

M9.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of SARAH MORRIS, MD, New Bedford, MA to the BOARD OF HEALTH, replacing Dr. Athena Xifaras, whose term has expired; this term will expire April 2020.

1.     REPORT, Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, recommending to the City Council to take "NO FURTHER ACTION" on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Coelho, requesting that Fire Chief Gomes be invited to appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods regarding mechanical issues with the Fire Department’s apparatus, per New Bedford Firefighters Local 841, also be invited: Jason Barker, Safety Committee Chairman and Kevin Cormier, Safety Committee Co-Chairman, New Bedford Firefighters IAFF Local 841.

1a.        WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Coelho, requesting, that Fire Chief Gomes be invited to appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods regarding mechanical issues with the Fire Department’s apparatus, per New Bedford Firefighters Local 841, also to be invited; Jason Barker, Safety Committee Chairman and Kevin Cormier, Safety Committee Co-Chairman, New Bedford Firefighters IAFF Local 841. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods- February 23, 2017.)

2.     REPORT, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of the LOAN ORDER, AS AMENDED, in the amount of $4,113,000.00 for the purpose of making critically needed repairs to City-owned buildings including, but not limited to, projects for repairs and renovations of public safety facilities, recreational facilities, general office space, and roads and infrastructure and all costs incidental and related thereto.

2a.     LOAN ORDER, (To be Passed to a Second Reading, as amended, Referred to the Committee on Finance - January 26, 2017.)

3.     REPORT, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of the Communication of A Host Community Agreement with ARL Healthcare, Inc. of Newton, MA, to operate a Registered Marijuana Dispensary (“RMD”) cultivation and processing facility in New Bedford, to be located at 167 John Vertente Boulevard, New Bedford Industrial Park; ARL Healthcare, Inc. is currently seeking approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to operate a medical marijuana cultivation/production facility at said location.

3a.     COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a copy of A Host Community Agreement with ARL Healthcare, Inc., of Newton, MA, to operate a Registered Marijuana Dispensary (“RMD”) cultivation and processing facility in New Bedford, to be located at 167 John Vertente Boulevard, New Bedford Industrial Park; ARL Healthcare, Inc., is currently seeking approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to operate a medical marijuana cultivation/production facility at said location. (Referred to the Committee on Finance - December 8, 2016.)

4.     REPORT, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of the Communication of a Host Community Agreement with Beacon Compassion Center of Norwood, to operate a medical marijuana dispensary facility at 366 Hathaway Road.

4a.     HOST COMMUNITY AGREEMENT, An Agreement between the City of New Bedford and Beacon Compassion Center to operate a medical marijuana dispensary facility at 366 Hathaway Road. (Referred to the Committee on Finance - February 23, 2017.)

5.     REPORT, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council to take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the Written Motion, Councillors Abreu, Winterson, Bousquet and Oliveira, requesting, that the New Bedford City Council require Beacon Compassion Center, Inc. and the appropriate representatives of the City of New Bedford to enter into negotiation and execution of a Host Agreement prior to the opening of the dispensary; and further, that if after ninety (90) days the parties are unable to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement this matter shall be returned to the City Council for review and additional actions if deemed necessary.

5a.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu, Winterson, Bousquet and Oliveira, requesting, that the New Bedford City Council require Beacon Compassion Center, Inc. and the appropriate representatives of the City of New Bedford to enter into negotiation and execution of a Host Agreement prior to the opening of the dispensary; and further, that if after ninety (90) days the parties are unable to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement this matter shall be returned to the City Council for review and additional actions if deemed necessary. (Referred to the Committee on Finance - August 18, 2016.)

6.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Carney, on behalf Cecelia Brito, owner of Celia’s Boutique, 111 William Street, requesting, that the metered parking space on Pleasant Street located directly in front of said business be removed and that a loading zone be substituted to allow her Designer Reps the ability to off load their merchandise for a buyers trade show and also give the Designers a place to off load the boutique’s merchandise to replenish the boutique’s inventory. (To be Referred to the Traffic Commission.)

7.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Carney, requesting, that the Traffic Commission look into the traffic pattern on Cove Road heading west between County and Crapo Streets, due to the fact that vehicles are getting damaged because of the lane shift; and further, that the City change the traffic pattern to one lane and paint traffic lines to avoid any confusion.  (To be Referred to the Traffic Commission.)

8.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that letters be sent to Police Chief Cordeiro, New Bedford Police Union, the Commanding Staff at all three stations, along with the Detectives, Narcotics and Gang Units, with a strong message of Congratulations for their heads up hard work, commitment and dedication to continuously hitting the streets taking drugs, guns and criminals off the streets throughout the City; and further, that a call out to the citizens of the City of New Bedford to recognize this hard work on their behalf, that the residents work and support the Police Department in their continuing efforts to make neighborhoods across the City safe.

9.     PETITION, Aaron Tetrault, 1282 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720 d/b/a Fall River Pawnbrokers, 268 Union Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 and 1351 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02746, requesting that he be granted a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-18 of the City Code, to obtain a RENEWAL OF A PAWNBROKERS LICENSE TO DEAL IN JUNK, OLD METALS OR ANY OTHER SECOND HAND ARTICLES. (Current Waiver expires April 2017.)

10.     PETITION, Douglas Brown, 3 Heritage Lane, Mansfield, MA 02048 d/b/a AVENUE DEALS, 1602 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02746, requesting that he be granted a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-18 of the City Code, to obtain a RENEWAL OF A LICENSE TO DEAL IN JUNK, OLD METALS OR ANY OTHER SECOND HAND ARTICLES.

13.     COMMUNICATION, City Clerk on behalf of the City Treasurer, requesting that the City Council set the City Treasurer’s Bond at $350,000.00.

03/23/2017          WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Morad, requesting that CFO Ari Sky, brief the Committee on Finance on the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget, before the Mayor’s budget submission in May. (To be Referred to Committee on Finance.)