New Bedford meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

New Bedford Committees Tackle Cannabis Lounges, Property Sales, and City Code Overhaul

City Property Committee Reviews Major Dispositions

The City Property Committee's July 1 agenda included several significant property matters, though minutes have not yet been published and outcomes remain unconfirmed.

The committee was scheduled to discuss a Port Authority vote to sell 276 MacArthur Drive (Assessors Map 59, Lots 170, 171, 173, 149, and 217). The agenda also listed recommended awards for two former fire stations: Fire Station #3 at 834 Kempton St to South Coast Investments, Inc., and Fire Station #11 at 754 Brock Ave to Gwozdz Development.

A 15-year ground lease of a MacArthur Drive parcel to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center was also on the agenda.

The committee planned to consider requests for proposals for five former city properties: Police Station #2 at 170 Cove St, the Armory at 989 Pleasant St, Phillips Ave School at 249 Phillips Ave, Kempton School at 135 Shawmut Ave, and Taylor School at 620 Brock Ave. Motions to address delays in purchase-and-sale agreements for Fire Stations #3 and #11 and Police Station #2, tied to a reverter clause, were also listed.

Special Permits and Licensing Committee Weighs Cannabis Lounges

The Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing was set to review two license applications and a motion exploring the feasibility of cannabis consumption lounges and social consumption establishments. The committee's task includes examining the legality and implementation of Host Community Agreements for onsite cannabis consumption.

The agenda also included a private livery license application for George Almeida of All Needs Transportation at 32 Liberia Lane, and a residency waiver request for Anna Thomas of All Things with Anna at 127 W. Rodney French Boulevard to deal in junk and secondhand articles.

Ordinance Committee Reviews Broad Code Amendments

The Ordinance Committee was scheduled to discuss multiple proposed ordinance changes submitted by Mayor Mitchell. The proposals would amend city codes across several departments and functions.

Listed items included an amendment to Chapter 2, Section 2-47 regarding the Department of Health and Human Services; amendments to Chapter 2 covering Human Rights, Council on Aging, and Public Infrastructure; a proposed addition of Section 12-11 to Chapter 12 on Health and Sanitation oversight; proposed additions of Sections 15-15 and 15-16 to Chapter 15 relative to the Licensing Board; and amendments to Chapter 18 (Parks and Recreation) and Chapter 25 (Veterans).

All three July 1 meetings are listed as agenda-only, meaning minutes have not yet been published. The items above reflect what was scheduled for discussion; confirmed decisions and vote tallies will depend on the eventual minutes.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should check the city's official meeting calendar for any newly posted sessions.

New Bedford officials weigh $493M budget, property sales, and zoning overhaul in busy late-June stretch

New Bedford's City Council and its committees tackled a packed agenda over the final two weeks of June, with the fiscal year 2027 budget, a $20.4 million sewer loan, and the disposition of multiple city-owned properties among the items scheduled for consideration. All meetings listed below were agenda-only at the time of this report — minutes have not yet been published, so final votes and outcomes are not yet confirmed.

FY27 Budget and Major Borrowing

A special City Council meeting on June 22 took up the full fiscal year 2027 budget. The agenda included an appropriation order of $493,139,486 from ordinary revenue for municipal department expenses, along with several enterprise and special revenue funds: $1,408,557 from Airport Receipts for the Airport Budget, $1,124,735 from Enterprise Fund Receipts for Downtown Parking, $33,789,652 from Wastewater Receipts for DPI/Wastewater, and $23,234,872 from Water Receipts for DPI/Water. All appropriation orders were referred to the Quasi Committee of the Whole.

The June 25 City Council agenda included a $20.4 million loan order for long-term combined sewer overflow (CSO) control and capital improvement projects, a transfer of $2,099,535 from stabilization to snow removal and other services, and proposed wastewater rate changes for FY2027–2028 with new base charges. The council was also scheduled to vote on ordinances suspending step increases and cost-of-living adjustments for management positions in FY2027 and amending paid family leave.

Property Dispositions and Fire Station Awards

The City Property Committee on July 1 discussed several property matters. According to the agenda, the Port Authority voted to sell 276 MacArthur Drive (Assessors Map 59, Lots 170, 171, 173, 149, and 217). The committee also reviewed recommended awards for two former fire stations: Fire Station #3 at 834 Kempton St to South Coast Investments, Inc., and Fire Station #11 at 754 Brock Ave to Gwozdz Development.

RFPs were on the agenda for five former city properties: former Police Station #2 at 170 Cove St, the Armory at 989 Pleasant St, Phillips Ave School at 249 Phillips Ave, Kempton School at 135 Shawmut Ave, and Taylor School at 620 Brock Ave. A proposed 15-year ground lease of a MacArthur Drive parcel to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center was also listed, along with motions addressing delays in purchase-and-sale agreements for Fire Stations #3 and #11 and Police Station #2 due to a reverter clause.

Appointments and Boards

The Appointments & Briefings Committee on June 23 considered four mayoral appointments: the reappointment of Ricard Rezendes to the Licensing Board, Lara Harrington to the Airport Commission, Justin Ohlson to the Water Board, and Kreg R. Espinola to the Steamship Authority Board of Governors. The committee also scheduled discussion of an $800,000 annual agreement between the City and Parallel Products, Inc., and several motions opposing a proposed waste facility by that company.

Zoning, Fees, and Personnel

The Ordinance Committee met June 24 to hold a public hearing on establishing Form-Based Code Districts within Chapter 9 Zoning. Other items included proposed increases for Vital Record Amendments, Junk Collector/Dealer Fees, and Business Certificates/DBA Licenses; an ordinance creating an Assistant Superintendent of Green Space position at pay grade M-11; and a motion to draft a Home Rule Petition for an early retirement incentive program for eligible employees.

A second Ordinance Committee meeting on July 1 covered amendments submitted by Mayor Mitchell affecting city codes on health services, administration, licensing, parks, and veterans' affairs.

Licensing and Cannabis Lounges

The Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing on July 1 reviewed a private livery license application for George Almeida (All Needs Transportation) at 32 Liberia Lane and a residency waiver request for Anna Thomas (All Things with Anna) at 127 W. Rodney French Boulevard to deal in junk and secondhand articles. The committee also took up a motion to explore the feasibility of cannabis consumption lounges and social consumption establishments, including the legality and implementation of Host Community Agreements for onsite consumption.

The June 25 City Council agenda included a motion to create an ordinance regulating electric bikes, scooters, and minibikes on city streets and sidewalks.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings were listed for the next 14 days as of this report.