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 Bedford Airport Commission and the trustees of the 5 Hanger Trust. Motion passed by voice vote.

- Rescission of authorized unissued debt (Item 5): The council adopted an order rescinding authorized but unissued debt in the amount of $118,876,793. The motion passed on a roll-call vote recorded as 7–0.

- Community Preservation funding (Item 6): The council adopted an order restoring $150,000 for the Acushnet River Rowing Center project, bringing the project funding to the requested $2,000,000. Motion passed 7–0 on roll call.

- Special permit for motor-vehicle light service, 366 Hathaway Road (Item 7): The council received and granted the application for a special permit (Hathaway Road Holdings LLC). Motion to grant the permit passed by voice vote.

- License waivers under city code §15-38 (Items 8, 9, 32): The council approved residency waivers for secondhand-dealer licenses: Dionne Reyes (Savers Thrift, Item 8) and Jerome Alferris (Temptations Guitars and Comics, Item 9). Both waivers passed 8–0 on roll call. A separate waiver petition (Item 32) from Justin Williamson (SideQuest Complete LLC) was received and referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.

- Street closings for demolition/reconstruction (Items 10–12): The council granted temporary street closings on William Street, a portion of North Water Street and Bethel Street for planned demolition and sidewalk/road repairs (dates as presented). Motion passed by voice vote.

- Revolving funds and facility accounts (Items 13–20, including 17): The council adopted orders authorizing several revolving funds for FY2026 under Mass. Gen. Laws c.44, §53E½. Most were adopted 7–0; Item 17 (Quest Center Revolving Fund, Dept. of Facilities and Fleet Management, estimated at $208,514) passed 6–1 on roll call.

- Tax increment exemption (TIF) for Kudo Residences (Item 21): The council adopted a resolution approving the TIF housing development incentive agreement for Kudo Residences at 4586 Cushion Avenue. Motion passed 7–0 on roll call.

- Ordinance referral and other referrals (Items 30, 31, 32): The council referred a request to review and revise the body-art ordinance (motion from Councilor Lopes) to the Committee on Ordinances and the Planning Board. A motion from Councilors Oliver and Gomes requesting guardrails at Hathaway Road and Rockdale Avenue was received and referred to the Department of Public Infrastructure and the administration (see separate story on discussion). The council also referred a petition relating to a secondhand-dealer license to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings (Item 32).

- Board of Assessors CPI orders (Item 33): The council received and adopted three orders from the Board of Assessors adjusting exemption and income/asset thresholds based on the FY26 consumer price index, passing 8–0 on roll call.

- Memorial bench application and DEP waterways notice (Items 34–35): The council placed a memorial-bench application on file and referred it to the memorials and dedications committee. The council also received a Department of Environmental Protection notice determining a waterways application (dredge and stormwater work at Washburn Street/Acushnet River) to be water dependent; the notice was received and placed on file.

Votes at a glance (selected vote tallies where recorded)

- Item 5 (Rescind unissued debt): passed 7–0 (roll call) - Item 6 (Restore $150,000 for Acushnet River Rowing Center): passed 7–0 (roll call) - Items 13–16, 18–20 (revolving funds): passed 7–0 (roll call) - Item 17 (Quest Center Revolving Fund): passed 6–1 (roll call) - Item 21 (TIF resolution for Kudo Residences): passed 7–0 (roll call) - Items 8 and 9 (residency waivers): passed 8–0 (roll call) - Items 33 (Assessors orders): passed 8–0 (roll call) - Other items were adopted by voice vote with no recorded opposition in the transcript.

What the council did not decide tonight

- Several items were tabled earlier in the meeting because an eight-vote threshold was required; once a full complement of eight councilors was present, those items were removed from the table and taken up.

The council adjourned at 7:40 p.m.