CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
Thursday, April 22, 2021
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NOTE:
THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD REMOTELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS' MARCH 12, 2020 ORDER SUSPENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW G.L.C. 30A, SECTION 20 AND THE CITY COUNCIL'S VOTE TO WAIVE RULE 21A ON APRIL 7, 2020 AND AMENDED ON AUGUST 20, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020, JANUARY 14 AND APRIL 8, 2021 -- THIS MEETING WILL BE LIVE STREAMED ON NB CABLE ACCESS FACEBOOK PAGE
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OPENING OF SESSION BY
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOSEPH P. LOPES
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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MAYORS PAPERS

M1. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell to City Council submitting a copy of the Final Fiscal Year 2021 Department of Planning, Housing, and Community Development Action Plan, which sets forth activities to be funded through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the Home Investment Partnership (HOME) Program and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program for the period July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022 and requesting Council approve and authorize the submission of the Fiscal Year 2021 Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

 

M1a. RESOLUTION,

 

M1b. BOOKLET,

M2. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell to the City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of AUDRA DEPINA, New Bedford, MA, to the COMMISSION FOR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITES, replacing Susan J. Brewster who has resigned. This term will expire in May 2022.

M3. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell to the City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of JAY J. LEWIS, New Bedford, MA, 02740, as a CONSTABLE.

 

M3a. APPLICATION,

M4. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell to the City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of ROMEO DEMETRIUS BRITTO, New Bedford, MA, 02744, as a CONSTABLE.

 

M4a. APPLICATION,

NEW BUSINESS

1.     REPORT, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of AN ORDER, authorizing the City to enter into a five-year capital lease purchase agreement for replacement vehicles assigned to the Departments of Facilities and Fleet Management and the Fire Department in the amount of $1,853,076 (1,087,050 from the General Fund and $766,026 from Wastewater Fund). 

 

1a.     AN ORDER, (Referred to the Committee on Finance - March 25, 2021.)

2.     REPORT, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of the LOAN ORDER, appropriating $1,500,000 to pay the costs of improvements, maintenance and implementations of remediation methods at Sassaquin Pond and the surrounding watershed area; this year’s project for the FY 2021-2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). 

 

2a.     LOAN ORDER, (Referred to the Committee on Finance - March 25, 2021; To be Passed to a Second Reading.)

3.     REPORT, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of the LOAN ORDER, appropriating $3,700,000.00 to pay costs of reconstruction, expansion and renovation of the City Yard Campus including the City’s Central Garage, Truck Shed and Wastewater Garage, Police Garage, and Fire Garage; this year’s project for the FY 2021-2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). 

 

3a.     LOAN ORDER, (Referred to the Committee on Finance - March 25, 2021; To be Passed to a Second Reading.)

4.     REPORT, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of the LOAN ORDER, appropriating $5,585,000.00 for the purpose of making critically-needed repairs and renovation of public safety facilities, recreational facilities, general office space and road and infrastructure; this year’s project for the FY 2021-2025 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). 

 

4a.     LOAN ORDER, (Referred to the Committee on Finance - March 25, 2021; To be Passed to a Second Reading.)

5.     REPORT, Committee on Audit, recommending to the City Council to take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lima and Council President Lopes, requesting, that the FY20 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) be referred to the Committee on Audit; and further, that CFO Ari Sky and City Auditor Robert Ekstrom be invited to a Committee meeting to present and discuss the CAFR findings; and on a COMMUNICATION, Councillor Lima, submitting the FY20 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. 

 

5a.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lima and Council President Lopes, requesting, that the FY20 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) be referred to the Committee on Audit; and further, that CFO Ari Sky and City Auditor Robert Ekstrom be invited to a Committee meeting to present and discuss the CAFR findings. (Referred to the Committee on Audit - April 08, 2021.)

 

5b.  COMMUNICATION, Councillor Lima, submitting the FY20 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. (Referred to the Committee on Audit - April 08, 2021.)

6.     REPORT, Committee on Audit, recommending to the City Council to take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the a WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lima and Council President Lopes, requesting, that the June 30, 2020 Actuarial Valuation Report of Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) prepared by Sherman Actuarial Services, LLC, be referred to the Committee on Audit; and further, that CFO Ari Sky and City Auditor Robert Ekstrom be invited to a Committee meeting to discuss the OPEB Actuarial Valuation Report findings and on a COMMUNICATION, Councillor Lima, submitting the June 30, 2020 Actuarial Valuation Report of Other Post-Employment Benefits. 

 

6a.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lima and Council President Lopes, requesting the June 30, 2020 Valuation Report of Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) prepared by Sherman Actuarial Services, LLC be referred to the Committee on Audit; and further, that CFO Ari Sky and City Auditor Robert Ekstrom be invited to a Committee meeting to discuss the OPEB Actuarial Valuation Report findings. (Referred to the Committee on Audit - April 08, 2021.)

 

6b.     COMMUNICATION, Councillor Lima, submitting the June 30, 2020 Actuarial Valuation Report of Other Post-Employment Benefits. (To be Referred to the Committee on Audit.) (Referred to the Committee on Audit - April 08, 2021.)

7.     AN ORDINANCE, amending Chapter 9 ZONING, Section 2110 (District) by inserting “Advanced Manufacturing Campus” (AMC).  (Passed to a Second Reading – March 25, 2021.)

8.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes, Giesta, Council President Lopes and Councillor Morad, requesting that the Committee on City Property, meet with the members of the Cemetery Board for the purpose of discussing the rules and regulations governing Cemetery plots and clarifying what can and cannot be placed on those plots at City Cemeteries; and further that the Board discuss updating those rules and regulations on how family and friends care for their love ones plots. (Pictures Enclosed and To be Referred to the Committee on City Property.)
9.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Dunn, requesting, that the Administration make public the set of steps by which the Chief of Police will be replaced, the schedule and process, community input measures, role of the Council in the selection, and estimated date by which the new Chief is to be in place.
10.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, Council President Lopes, Councillors Markey and Carney requesting, that the City Council go on record in opposition and condemnation of the Boston Globe’s article along with the report done by Citizens For Juvenile Justice, titled, “We Are The Prey”; and further, that the New Bedford City Council also go on record in support of the men and women of the New Bedford Police Department as this report was not fairly done, and does not fit the image, the profile and the mission of our law-enforcement in the City, this report condemned our Police Department for racial profiling of minority groups of juveniles; and further, that the department continues to enforce law and order and justice for all Citizens of the City of New Bedford; and further, that Acting Police Chief Paul Oliveira reassure the people of the City that his leadership and New Bedford Police Department will mirror an image and commitment that all Citizens of the City of New Bedford will be treated fairly with no bias, only law and order and protection of all City residents.
11.     COMMUNICATION, Council President Lopes, submitting a copy of a memo notifying the Councillors that the Special Committee on Budget Review and Waiver of Residency Committee have been dissolved and any matters pending have been officially disposed of.

12.     COMMUNICATIONS, Council President Lopes, submitting a copy of the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s letter inviting the “Statement of Interest – SOI” for the John Devalles Elementary School and a copy of the Initial Compliance Certification for the John B. Devalles Elementary School. (Copy all Councillors via email April 14, 2021.)

TABLED BUSINESS

03/11/2021           WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, as the State and City continue to ease social restrictions on dealing with the COVID 19 pandemic, that the City consider the reopening of City Hall until 4 PM along with all its offices and departments of service with safety precautions being in place in the building; and further, that the City Council President consider the City Council going back into the Chambers by the end of the month of April for the start of the budget session. (To be Referred to Special COVID 19 Business Committee, the Mayor, and the City Council President for consideration.)

03/25/2021     COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, resubmitting a proposed Order approving the New Bedford Waterfront Redevelopment Plan: Focus Area North and the New Bedford Waterfront Redevelopment Plan: Focus Area South, along with financial plans for these areas and amendments to current zoning.

 

03/25/2021     AN ORDER, New Bedford Waterfront Redevelopment Plan: Focus Area North

 

03/25/2021     AN ORDER, New Bedford Waterfront Redevelopment Plan: Focus Area South

 

03/25/2021      AN ORDINANCE, amending Chapter 9, Section 2110