Finance committee refers $32.2 million wastewater appropriation to full council

The New Bedford Committee on Finance voted unanimously on Monday to refer to the full City Council a mayoral loan order seeking $32,200,000 to continue the city’s wastewater and stormwater capital improvements program.

City Engineer Sean Side presented the request and described five primary projects: Wamsutta Street pumping station rehabilitation, phase 1 of collection-system improvements (targeting smaller pipes that deliver flows to main interceptors), initial work to address Sassaguan Pond discharges (easement acquisition and design for later construction), Turner's Pond dam replacement, and River Road Sewer phase 2 to increase capacity and abate combined sewer overflows (CSOs).

Side told the committee the city’s wastewater/stormwater program has totaled roughly $220 million since 2016 and that current work is prioritized according to the city’s long-term CSO control and integrated capital improvements plan, which MassDEP and EPA have reviewed. He said MassDEP imposed a $50 million cap on SRF support for wastewater projects this IUP year, and that carryover projects reduced the city’s available SRF capacity for new projects. Side said the city will apply for about $19.5 million in new SRF funding for the projects and that the remaining $12.69 million would be financed via general obligation or other local funding.

Side described the Wamsutta station’s wet well corrosion and the need for odor control; he said collection-system work will use trenchless rehabilitation where possible and that River Road requires a traditional open-cut pipe replacement because the existing pipe is undersized. On Turner's Pond Dam, Side said Office of Dam Safety records list the city as owner and that the structure needs replacement; he added the design is funded by a $100,000 state grant.

Councilors asked about the status of the administrative order with EPA and the overall program timeline. Side said the integrated plan (initially developed in 2017) is being updated and that the appropriation is intended to complete the current tranche of projects tied to the administrative order and then walk the EPA through the next steps. Questions also addressed principal forgiveness; Side said wastewater principal forgiveness is typically smaller than water and was roughly in the 6–12 percent range for recent projects, with 10 percent cited as a representative figure in committee discussion.

The committee’s motion to refer the $32.2 million loan order to the full City Council was made by Councilor Ryan Perera and seconded by Councilor Joseph Lopes; the roll call vote was unanimous (11–0): Councilors Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Giesta, Gomes, Lopes, Morad, Oliver and Perera recorded yes votes. The item will be scheduled for full Council consideration later this month.

Votes at a glance: the committee referred the loan order for $32,200,000 (mover: Councilor Ryan Perera; second: Councilor Joseph Lopes; outcome: referred to full council, vote 11–0).

Side said the city must have an appropriation approved by June 30 for SRF inclusion and that projects will proceed through design and permitting before construction begins in 2026 if state funding and local approvals align.