Votes at a glance: New Bedford City Council approves leases, fund orders, licenses and street closings

Votes at a glance: New Bedford City Council approves leases, fund orders, licenses and street closings

The New Bedford City Council met June 26 and adopted a series of orders, resolutions and referrals affecting utility work, city finances, licenses and short-term street closures. Most items were approved with voice votes or unanimous roll calls; a few items drew roll-call votes noted below.

Why it matters: The actions authorize infrastructure work, adjust city fiscal authorizations for FY2026, approve business license waivers, and clear street-closure requests tied to demolition and reconstruction projects. Several items change how city funds may be spent (revolving funds) and authorize a large rescission of unissued debt.

Key outcomes (selected items and results)

- Eversource conduit orders (Items 1–3): The council received public hearings and adopted orders allowing Eversource (NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy) to install conduit to serve 1166 Shawmut Avenue and to provide underground service to 278 Union Street (including a proposed manhole and transformer). Motion(s) to receive, open and then adopt the orders passed by voice vote; no opposing votes were recorded.

- Lease at New Bedford Airport (Item 4): The council accepted the Committee on Finance report and adopted the order authorizing the mayor to execute a lease between the New…