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Votes at a glance: New Bedford City Council actions, Jan. 23, 2025
Summary
On Jan. 23 the council approved school roof loan orders, financial transfers, several referrals and appointments, and the appointment of the city auditor; multiple items were referred to committees for further review.
The New Bedford City Council took a series of formal actions on Jan. 23, 2025. Key outcomes:
- Loan orders for school schematic design and feasibility studies (items 2–9): The council granted loan orders of $150,000 each for schematic design and feasibility studies for roof replacement projects at eight schools (Sergeant William Kearny Memorial Academy; Elwin G. Campbell Elementary; Alfred J. Gomes Elementary; Carlos Pacheco Elementary; Ellen R. Hathaway Elementary; Hayden McFadden Elementary; Casimir Pulaski Elementary; Willing City Junior and Senior High). The items passed by roll call (announced 10 to 0).
- Financial orders: The council received and referred M4 (request to increase the Fort Tabor Revolving Fund limit from $110,000 to $200,000 for FY25) to the Committee on Finance. The council also approved two small transfer orders from the mayor (M5: $12,000 transfer for cable access; M6: $2,500 transfer for Commission for Citizens with Disabilities supplies).
- Appointments and reappointments: Quillen Lowney (agenda listed as city auditor) was appointed; the council voted to waive rules and adopt as presented and later swore the appointee. Gordon M. Carr’s reappointment as the Port Authority designee (M7) was granted by roll call (10–0). Several other nominations were referred to committees for vetting (see items M8, M9, M11–M14).
- Committee changes: The council approved motions to dissolve the special committees on the PILOT program and on cannabis regulation and host community agreements and then referred the PILOT-related motion and related reports to the Committee on Finance.
- Other referrals: The mayor’s communications about a draft RFP to redevelop part of the municipally owned Willing City Golf Course as an advanced manufacturing campus (M1/M1A/M2) were received and referred to the Committee on City Property. Ordinances amending city code related to false nuisance fire alarms (M3, M3A–C) were referred to the Committee on Ordinances. A host community agreement proposal application for an adult-use marijuana retail and manufacturing establishment at 301 Herman Melville Boulevard (House of Diesel/THC Connect LLC) was referred to Appointments and Briefings (Item 14).
Several items required roll-call votes; the clerk recorded multiple voice and roll-call results during the meeting.
