M1.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to the City Council, submitting AN ORDER supplementing all previous Loan Orders to provide that any premium on bonds and notes, less costs of issuance, may be applied to the project for which such bonds or notes are issued and that the borrowing authority shall be reduced accordingly as permitted by the Municipal Modernization Act.

M1a.    AN ORDER,

M2.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to the City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $40,000.00 from the POLICE DEPARTMENT SALARIES AND WAGES to POLICE DEPARTMENT CAPITAL OUTLAY.

M2a.    AN ORDER,

M3.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to the City Council, submitting a SEWER ABATEMENT for Laura Farley, 191 Doreen Street, New Bedford, MA in the Amount of $453.94.

M4.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to the City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of JEFFREY PELLETIER, New Bedford, MA, to the AIRPORT COMMISSION; replacing Moira Tierney, this term will expire in December 2021.

M5.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to the City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of VIORICA IVONE SILVA, New Bedford, MA, to the COMMISSION FOR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES; replacing Linda Carreiro who has resigned, this term will expire in May 2021.

M6.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to the City Council, submitting the RE-APPOINTMENT of ARTHUR B. TRUNDY, IV, New Bedford, MA as a CONSTABLE.

M6a.    APPLICATION,

1.     REPORT, Committee on Appointments and Briefings, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of the ORDER, that the City of New Bedford is authorized to file an application with the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board and applicable Federal agencies to reorganize Foreign Trade Zone #28 (FTZ 28) to an Alternative Site Framework (ASF) and that the Mayor is authorized to execute all necessary paperwork for the application and any subsequent administrative actions for FTZ 28.

1a.     AN ORDER, (Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings – April 7, 2020.)

2.     REPORT, Committee on Appointments and Briefings, recommending to the City Council APPROVAL, to Grant the Demolition at 23 Robeson Street.

2a.     COMMUNICATION/DEMOLITION, New Bedford Historical Commission, to City Council, re: BUILDING DEMOLITION REVIEW – 23 ROBESON STREET (Map 71/Lot 45) Circa 1903 two-story wood framed residence-partial demolition of east façade bay, the building is a contributing property (NBE.419) within the Acushnet Heights National Register District, this area is characterized by its late 19^th and early 20^th century residences developed on the rise of County Street overlooking the inner harbor; the building is associated with the political and social history of the City, as it was constructed in 1903 by Thomas Desmond, a local leading Attorney and a City Solicitor for several years, the Desmond Family also constructed the abutting properties at 17 and 27 Robeson Street, this house is locally known as the longtime residence of former Senator, Councillor and Mayor George Rogers; the building is architecturally significant as it embodies the distinctive characteristics of the Queen Anne style, the subject building is part of a group of buildings which share identical architectural features including cut shingles, arched openings, swag motifs and full bays with stained glass windows and the property owner has indicated that he will follow the Historical Commission’s recommendations to mitigate the partial demolition of the façade wall; therefore, in light of these findings, the New Bedford Historical Commission has determined that the building at 23 Robeson Street is Historically Significant but the east façade bay is not a Preferably Preserved Historic Structure. (Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings – April 23, 2020.)

3.     REPORT, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council APPROVAL of the CPA ANNUAL BUDGET, the FY21 budget is based on estimated local annual revenues of $1,713,004.00 and estimated State of Massachusetts match of $120,716.00.  

3a.     CPA FY21 BUDGET, (Referred to the Committee on Finance – June 11, 2020.)

4.     REPORT, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of the ORDER, for the TRANSFER of $1,250,000.00 from WATER STABILIZATION FUND to WATER CAPITAL OUTLAY.

4a.     AN ORDER, (Referred to the Committee on Finance – September 24, 2020.)

5.     REPORT, Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods, recommending that the City Council draft a letter to our State Delegation voicing the Council’s position against the proposed Qualified Immunity Proposition.

6.     REPORT, Committee on Appointments and Briefings, recommending to the City Council to take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of BETHANY FAUTEUX, New Bedford, MA to the HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION; this term will expire April 2022.

6a.     COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of BETHANY FAUTEUX, New Bedford, MA to the HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION; this term will expire April 2022. (Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings – April 7, 2020.)

7.     REPORT, Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods, recommending to the City Council to take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the Written Motion, Councillors Dunn and Lopes, requesting, that Health Department Director Damon Chaplin, provide a briefing to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods regarding any plans to ban the sale of certain tobacco products within the City.  

7a.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Dunn and Lopes, requesting, that Health Department Director Damon Chaplin, provide a briefing to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods regarding any plans to ban the sale of certain tobacco products within the City. (Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods – November 26, 2019.)

8.     REPORT, Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods, recommending to the City Council to take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with Police Chief Cordeiro for the purpose of discussing the implementation of using drones to monitor high crime neighborhoods for surveillance across the City, adding another tool in fighting crime; and further requesting, that the drones be used for surveillance and security purposes when the City is holding major events, along with monitoring the City as a whole.

8a.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhood meet with Police Chief Cordeiro for the purpose of discussing the implementation of using drones to monitor high crime neighborhoods for surveillance across the City, adding another tool in fighting crime; and further requesting, that the drones be used for surveillance and security proposes when the City is holding major events, along with monitoring the City as a whole. (Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods – October 27, 2016.)

9.     REPORT, Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods, recommending to the City Council to take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting that Mayor Mitchell and School Superintendent Durkin put together the cost of installing security in all schools throughout the City, which includes panic buttons, cameras, and evacuation plan; and further, consider hiring armed guards possibly using former retirees from the Police Department and/or Veterans; furthermore, that the School Department install a hotline within the school system for students to report unusual activity, threats or even comments about guns or anything that threaten the wellbeing and safety of all faculty and students, title it “YOU HEAR IT, YOU SEE IT, YOU REPORT IT, TOGETHER WE MAKE OUR SCHOOL SAFE.”

9a.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that Mayor Mitchell and School Superintendent Durkin put together the cost of installing security in all schools throughout the City, which includes panic buttons, cameras, and evacuation plan; and further, consider hiring armed guards possibly using former retirees from the Police Department and/or Veterans; furthermore, that the School Department install a hotline within the school system for students to report unusual activity, threats or even comments about guns or anything that threaten the well-being and safety of all faculty and students,  title it “YOU HEAR IT, YOU SEE IT, YOU REPORT IT, TOGETHER WE MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFE.” (Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods – February 22, 2018.)

10.     REPORT, Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods, recommending to the City Council to take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the Written Motion, Councillor Coelho, requesting, in the interest of public safety, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods address what can be done with the matter of pocket parks that are being vandalized by overnight loiterers, the homeless and those engaging in illicit activity, also the trash and debris that is left behind; and further, that representatives from the Police Department and DPI be invited when this matter is heard before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.  

10a.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Coelho, requesting, in the interest of public safety, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods address what can be done with the matter of pocket parks that are being vandalized by overnight loiterers, the homeless and those engaging in illicit activity, also the trash and debris that is left behind; and further, that representatives from the Police Department and DPI be invited when this matter is heard before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods. (Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods – July 18, 2019.)

11.     REPORT, Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods, recommending to the City Council to take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the Written Motion, Councillors Gomes and Giesta, on behalf of the Seniors and over 55 residents at Whalers Place, and Whalers Cove on Riverside Avenue, requesting the following action be taken after meeting with residents on safety and quality of life issues; A) that the Traffic Commission and Department of Public Infrastructure paint the following crosswalks yellow, giving motorists more of a visual of where each crosswalk is located; Coffin Avenue, Phillips Avenue, Collette Street, Davis Street and Manomet Street, all streets running to Riverside Avenue; B) requesting that the Traffic Commission install Stop Signs at the following intersections, Phillips Avenue, Davis Street and Collette Street, south east corner, in an easterly direction approaching Riverside Avenue; and further, that the Traffic Commission make Riverside Avenue a “20 MILES PER HOUR” roadway and install signs from Coffin Avenue, north and south to Belleville Road, this request comes with a large population of Seniors and handicap residents that live in this area; C) requesting that the Department of Public Infrastructure check all newly installed handicap accessible ramps leading to sidewalks on Riverside Avenue to make sure that the sidewalk is meeting the street and there is not a lip causing residents to trip or fall; and further, that they fill in all potholes on Riverside Avenue and replace water shut off metal caps; and further, that the Department of Public Infrastructure fill in all the potholes or large holes located in the back of Whalers Cove, and Whalers Place on the paper street owned by the City; D) requesting that Police Chief Cordeiro and the Commanding Officer from Station 3 do periodic speed radar control checks on Riverside Avenue especially during the 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., when traffic is the heaviest; and further, that the Police Chief implement a D run at least twice a night in the area, early evening and after the midnight hour and that the Chief order regular patrols of the perimeter of the buildings due to criminal activity and prostitution taking place behind the buildings; E) requesting, that a letter be sent to the management at Whalers Place requesting if possible, that they install a surveillance camera on the south east side of the building at Coffin Avenue and Riverside Avenue; and further, evaluate the outside perimeter for additional cameras facing the parking lot on Riverside Avenue and in the back of the building for the safety of their elderly residents; and further, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with management for an update on action taken and the possibilities of sharing the surveillance cameras with the New Bedford Police Department, that would include Whalers Cove, also if not already participating.

11a.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes and Giesta, on behalf of the Seniors and over 55 residents at Whalers Place, and Whalers Cove on Riverside Avenue, requesting the following action be taken after meeting with residents on safety and quality of life issues; A) that the Traffic Commission and Department of Public Infrastructure paint the following crosswalks yellow, giving motorists more of a visual of where each crosswalk is located; Coffin Avenue, Phillips Avenue, Collette Street, Davis Street and Manomet Street, all streets running to Riverside Avenue; B) requesting that the Traffic Commission install Stop Signs at the following intersections, Phillips Avenue, Davis Street and Collette Street, south east corner, in an easterly direction approaching Riverside Avenue; and further, that the Traffic Commission make Riverside Avenue a “20 MILES PER HOUR” roadway and install signs from Coffin Avenue, north and south to Belleville Road, this request comes with a large population of Seniors and handicap residents that live in this area; C) requesting that the Department of Public Infrastructure check all newly installed handicap accessible ramps leading to sidewalks on Riverside Avenue to make sure that the sidewalk is meeting the street and there is not a lip causing residents to trip or fall; and further, that they fill in all potholes on Riverside Avenue and replace water shut off metal caps; and further, that the Department of Public Infrastructure fill in all the potholes or large holes located in the back of Whalers Cove, and Whalers Place on the paper street owned by the City; D) requesting that Police Chief Cordeiro and the Commanding Officer from Station 3 do periodic speed radar control checks on Riverside Avenue especially during the 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., when traffic is the heaviest; and further, that the Police Chief implement a D run at least twice a night in the area, early evening and after the midnight hour and that the Chief order regular patrols of the perimeter of the buildings due to criminal activity and prostitution taking place behind the buildings; E) requesting, that a letter be sent to the management at Whalers Place requesting if possible, that they install a surveillance camera on the south east side of the building at Coffin Avenue and Riverside Avenue; and further, evaluate the outside perimeter for additional cameras facing the parking lot on Riverside Avenue and in the back of the building for the safety of their elderly residents; and further, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with management for an update on action taken and the possibilities of sharing the surveillance cameras with the New Bedford Police Department, that would include Whalers Cove, also if not already participating. (Referred Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods - January 10, 2019.)