Finance committee recommends amended $9.32 million capital-improvements package to full council

The New Bedford City Council Finance Committee voted to recommend an amended loan order totaling $9,320,249 for capital improvements to the full City Council following a marathon meeting on Thursday, March 20. The committee approved the package after more than three hours of department-by-department review and line‑by‑line amendments.

The package funds a mix of vehicle replacements, deferred maintenance and smaller capital projects across municipal departments while leaving several larger projects and contested items for further discussion. Committee members repeatedly said they wanted to prioritize roads, public safety equipment and items tied to accreditation or safety. The committee attached an itemized exhibit to its recommendation that restricts how the mayor may spend the appropriation by line item.

Why it matters: The loan order is the finance committee’s formal recommendation to the full council; if adopted, the borrowing will allow the city to pay for repairs and equipment without using pay‑as‑you‑go operating funds. Committee members debated how much of the package to approve now, with some arguing to delay high‑cost projects until the city can identify matching grants or clearer implementation plans.

Key votes and items

- Roads: The committee retained a $3.0 million appropriation for roadway repairs and voted 11–0 to keep that line in the package. Several councilors said they regarded street resurfacing as a top priority.

- EMS vehicles: After discussion about the vehicle replacement cycle, the committee approved a reduced EMS vehicle request of $570,000 (vote 7–4). The approved amount was described by members as sufficient to cover one new ambulance and two support vehicles under the division’s rotation plan.

- Police vehicles and equipment: The police department’s request for several cruisers and one motorcycle remained in the package after exchanges about hybrid vehicles, enforcement priorities and a separate policy debate over youth riding ATVs and dirt bikes in neighborhoods. Committee members pressed the department for a plan to address off‑road motorcycles and public‑safety risks; the committee did not remove the police vehicle funding from the order.

- School projects and Taylor generator: Committee debate on a multi‑year request to repair the PRAB building and a separate generator for Taylor School reflected a wider concern about large, multi‑year commitments. The committee did not fund the PRAB feasibility/repair line in this package and discussed delaying that large item for further study. The funding request for a generator at Taylor School remained in the package at the amount the committee voted to recommend (the committee discussed seeking contributions from Eversource if possible).

- Library HVAC at the Lalor branch: The committee voted 6–5 to remove a $500,000 request for HVAC replacement at the Lalor branch from this loan order, with several members saying they wanted a broader facilities plan and to consider alternative funding sources before bonding for that work.

- Zoo needs and deferred maintenance: The committee trimmed some zoo requests, approving a small vehicle appropriation intended to help with safe animal transports and deferring more costly enclosure projects. Committee members emphasized that some capital requests were design or initial‑funding only and that total project costs were much higher.

- Airport: The committee approved a reduced $125,000 appropriation for airfield painting and authorized a request for conservation‑permitting work tied to potential hangar development. Members noted that some airport items were grant‑funded and adjusted the local share accordingly.

- MIS / radio system towers: The committee approved $250,000 to cover cost overruns and remaining installation work on two radio tower sites. Committee members said delays and permitting changes increased costs and that the appropriation should be sufficient to complete the Hathaway Road site and continue engineering at the Duchesne Boulevard site.

Votes at a glance (selected items)

- Loan order (amended total): Recommend to full council, motion made by Councilor Derek Baptiste, seconded by Councilor Naomi Carney; committee recommendation passed 10–1. - Roads: $3,000,000 retained (vote 11–0). - EMS vehicle line: Approved $570,000 to fund ambulance and support vehicle replacements (vote 7–4). - Library HVAC (Lalor branch): $500,000 request removed (vote to reduce to $0 passed 6–5). - MIS radio towers (cost overrun): $250,000 approved (vote 10–1). - Airport airfield markings: reduced and approved at $125,000 (vote 11–0).

What the committee did not do: The committee pared back or removed several large, contested items (including the PRAB building appropriation) and instructed staff to pursue grant opportunities and cost‑sharing where possible. Multiple members urged the administration to pursue Eversource or other grant funding before bonding for some school and facilities projects.

Next steps: The committee forwarded the amended loan order and an itemized exhibit that ties specific dollar limits to individual projects to the full City Council for final action. The council will review the committee’s recommendation at a subsequent meeting; if the council approves the loan order, the city will proceed with borrowing and project procurement under the restrictions in the attached exhibit.

Context and notable comments: Members repeatedly emphasized that the city must balance urgent maintenance needs with taxpayers’ capacity to carry additional borrowing. Several councilors said they want clearer multi‑year plans for high‑cost facilities work before committing to large appropriations. Department heads present at the meeting provided technical detail and told the committee when items were grant‑funded or contingent on outside approvals.

Ending: The committee’s recommendation sends a narrower, more tightly allocated version of the mayor’s capital plan to the full council; councilors said they expect continued negotiation as staff refine project budgets and pursue outside funding.