New Bedford council confirms appointments, grants licenses and approves budgets; refers $100,000 legal request to mayor

The New Bedford City Council took a series of administrative, licensing and budget actions at its Sept. 25 meeting and unanimously referred a councilor’s request for $100,000 to the mayor’s administration to support independent legal counsel for the Board of Health if South Coast Renewables appeals that board’s decision.

The council received and referred or approved multiple mayoral communications and committee recommendations during the meeting, including a lease referral for the New Bedford Airport Commission, acceptance of donated parcels from Wayland Development Corp., reappointments to board seats, approvals of new livery licenses, and adoption of budget-related orders.

Votes at a glance - M1: Communication from the mayor submitting a proposed lease between the New Bedford Airport Commission and Sandpiper Air, Inc. — received, placed on file and referred to the Committee on Finance. - M2: Mayor’s communication to accept two parcels from Wayland Development Corp. (assessor’s map 132, lots 62 and 6) — received, placed on file and referred to the Committee on Finance. - M3: Reappointment of Shane Trumbell to the Planning Board (term to expire Oct. 2028) — granted; roll-call vote recorded as 11 to 0. - M4: Reappointment of Peter Cruz to the Planning Board (term to expire Aug. 2028) — granted; roll-call vote recorded as 11 to 0. - M5 and related: Reappointments and appointments including Connor Warden to the Conservation Commission and others — referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings as noted in the packet. - M7: Appointment of Maria Ademides as constable — received and referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings. - Items 8–14a: New private livery licenses for multiple applicants — committee recommendation granted, licenses issued through 06/30/2026. - Item 15: Adoption of an order authorizing the Health Department Compliance Programs Revolving Fund under M.G.L. c. 44, §53E1/2 for FY 2026 with an estimated spending limit of $60,000 — council adopted the order. - Item 16: Acceptance of the Community Preservation Act annual budget for FY 2026 administrative expenses and community preservation projects — approved per committee recommendation. - Item 17: Adoption of an order under M.G.L. c. 200A, §9A to provide city authority to dispose of abandoned funds held in custody — adopted (roll-call recorded, passes 10 to 1). - Items 18–22a: Committee recommendation for no further action — council waived readings and accepted the recommendation. - Item 23: Written motion from Councilor Leo Choquette requesting the mayor submit an appropriation of $100,000 to provide the Board of Health funds for independent outside legal counsel in the anticipated appeal by South Coast Renewables — motion to receive and refer to the Mitchell administration passed by roll call, 11 to 0. - Item 24: Communication from the Assistant Attorney General (division of open government) regarding an open meeting law complaint — received and placed on file. - Item 25: Port Authority letter regarding sale of property at 276 MacArthur Drive — referred to the Committee on City Property. - Item 26: Preliminary election warrant for the Oct. 7, 2025 election submitted by the Board of Election Commissioners — received and placed on file; the warrant will be posted as required by M.G.L. c. 43, §44a. - Item 27: Communication from the city clerk submitting the Board of Health’s decision and findings for South Coast Renewables LLC’s application for site suitability at 100 Duchesne Boulevard — received and placed on file.

Councilor Leo Choquette introduced Item 23, asking for unanimous support to set aside $100,000 to ensure the Board of Health can hire outside counsel if South Coast Renewables appeals the board’s site-suitability decision. Choquette said the funds are meant “for the express purpose of hiring independent outside legal counsel in the event that South Coast Renewables appeals the board of health decision.”

Councilor Linda Morad supported the request while noting background from previous actions: “Back in, I believe, 2019, this body appropriated $250,000 of city money that was utilized specifically for, supposedly, outside counsel to help the city, fight the parallel product slash South Coast renewable project in the North End,” she said, and said she will ask the administration and the solicitor to provide a detailed accounting of how those prior funds were spent at a finance committee meeting on Oct. 16. Morad also said there may be additional previously authorized funds the council can allocate.

Several items were approved by unanimous or near-unanimous votes; where the transcript records a roll-call vote the tally is shown above. Many routine items — referrals to committees, receiving communications, and granting livery licenses — were handled on committee recommendation and voice votes.

The council also swore in Heather Haggerty to the New Bedford Port Authority after approving that appointment during the meeting.

What the items mean: the revolving fund and CPA budget approvals permit department and project spending authorized under state law; the Chapter 200A adoption gives the city a mechanism to dispose of abandoned funds in custody; and the referral of the $100,000 request sends the funding ask to the mayor’s office for consideration and possible inclusion in an appropriation before the council.

The council adjourned at 7:37 p.m. and directed follow-up where noted — notably an Oct. 16 finance committee request for detail on prior appropriations related to the South Coast Renewables matter.