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Votes at a glance: New Bedford City Council actions on May 8, 2025
Summary
A roundup of council votes and referrals from the May 8 meeting, including adoption of the FY25 consolidated plan resolution, multiple budget transfers, appointments, and referrals to committees and the mayor’s office.
The New Bedford City Council acted on multiple communications and motions during its May 8 meeting. Major outcomes included adoption of a federal funding resolution, several intra-departmental transfers, appointments, and referrals to committee or the mayor’s office.
Key votes and actions
- Consolidated Plan FY25–29 and FY25 Annual Action Plan (M3): Council adopted the consolidated plan and a resolution authorizing application for federal financial assistance. Roll call passed 10–1 (Councilor Linda Morad recorded a no vote).
- Transfer, Inspectional Services to Workers' Comp, $45,000 (M4): Adopted by roll call, passes 11–0.
- Transfer, Inspectional Services to Licensing, $5,000 (M5): Adopted by roll call, passes 11–0.
- Transfer, Treasurer purchases of services to Auditors personal services, $40,000 (M6): Adopted by roll call, passes 11–0.
- Transfer, Wastewater retained earnings to Wastewater special projects, $3,851,210 (M7): Motion referred to Committee on Finance.
- Transfer, Airport personal services/purchase of services to Airport supplies, $10,000 (M8): Adopted by roll call, passes 11–0.
- Reappointment of Audra Dapena to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities (M9): Motion to waive Rule 38 and approve carried 11–0.
- Assistant superintendent of water / plant manager hiring authorization (M1): Communication from the mayor to authorize the mayor to negotiate and hire the position at Grade M12 up to Step 3; the council referred the matter to the Committee on Finance and agreed to a modified schedule for the finance committee to hear the item on May 19 and the full council on May 22.
- Lease agreement between the New Bedford Airport Commission and trustees of the 5 Hangar Trust (M2): Received, placed on file and referred to Committee on Finance.
Other items and referrals
- Street closing for construction and renovation at a portion of Eighth Street and the area around 278 Union Street (Item 6): Approved as amended; council approved a revised start date of May 12, 2025 and granted the closure.
- Roundtable on downtown business/resident issues (Item 7): Motion received and placed on file and referred to the mayor’s office for scheduling at the downtown library with the mayor.
- Request to clean state-owned property along commuter rail tracks and to ask MassDOT/MBTA and state delegation to clear trash/debris (Item 12): Motion received, placed on file and referred to the named state and agency officials; motion was amended to also request cutting back vegetation at the Purchase Street wall.
- Home Rule petition to consider recall provisions for municipal elected officials (Item 13): Referred to the Ordinance Committee on an 8–3 roll-call vote.
- Appointment of Tiago Henrik Lopes as constable (Item 10): Motion to grant the appointment carried 11–0.
- License renewals for private livery operators (Items 14–16): Renewals granted as presented.
- Department of Public Infrastructure reports and CDBG project listing (Items 17–18): Received and placed on file; CDBG projects referred to the Committee on Finance.
Several items were referred to the Committee on Finance for more detailed review and scheduling before final action; recorded roll-call votes are noted where the transcript recorded them.
