[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6548172,"mediaKeyId","3395572-ae90f2253a444c2c7e26d8694da8de5d","parentId",3395572,"title","Committee refers mayoral order to allow higher hiring step for assistant superintendent of water plant","audioSeconds",760,"startMs",6347000,"endMs",7107000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395572-ae90f2253a444c2c7e26d8694da8de5d&start=6347&end=7107","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395572-ae90f2253a444c2c7e26d8694da8de5d/thumbnail_6347000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6548172/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Committee-refers-mayoral-order-to-allow-higher-hiring-step-for-assistant-superintendent-of-water-plant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548172-84a0d17d6423821f18426966cd90f53c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205714&Signature=d4tUsVpr8j~4gEoZnyAknd3p7LCL6ENdY6UE~QLAdHYjdCkTqBBMVkKX9BRVyRnRRj658jPCVi0SA4dz-4q75H8ji8pbAf7ErQJDLaZy9sveQfUrHHTpU8O~wCwrHF2IssgxqvLmO3DAFQsqhnMOG1-IberaSKa5i2qBJHVo-8rKiCQXA68JlNip5Ll3JO9cJ15tY36Zndcye-9RlRSiZnt3--Sr46Y6Gy9riXASj6BQofmCg0TwDDUXh5FF6RNYJfaHZtwmJPVHrJn-r6N9aZ2bYZRvz5A3sNjaSrLCDZxz5vKuVwaMBwA6XeB6WqyZgnlZNZSnsCqKjUUcV5PwLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Bedford","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","The New Bedford Committee on Finance unanimously referred to the full City Council an order authorizing the mayor to negotiate and hire an assistant superintendent/plant manager for the Quitticus water plant at grade M12 up to step 3.

Justin (Department of Public Infrastructure) said the administration has received two applicants — one internal and one external — for the Quitticus superintendent position and is seeking authority to offer up to step 3 of the M12 salary range if necessary to secure a qualified hire. Committee members asked for compensation details; staff provided current M12 figures for FY2025: Step 1 is $76,798 and Step 3 is $84,669. Staff said the position has been difficult to fill and that adjusting the maximum negotiated step is intended to make the hiring package competitive with neighboring municipalities.

Councilors asked whether the internal candidate’s current salary would be affected; staff said they would provide exact current compensation for the internal applicant to the council as a follow-up. Councilors also asked whether nearby towns pay similar ranges; staff said Dartmouth’s pay scale is in the same ballpark. The motion to refer the order to the full City Council was made by Councilor Ryan Perera and seconded by Councilor Abreu and passed 11–0.

Votes at a glance: refer the mayoral order authorizing hiring at M12 up to Step 3 to the full Council (mover: Councilor Ryan Perera; second: Councilor Abreu; outcome: referred to full council, vote 11–0).

The administration said the referral allows them to finalize negotiations quickly and return the proposed hire to council as required by city hiring rules.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Bedford - Finance Committee - May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The finance committee voted 11-0 to refer a mayoral order authorizing the mayor to negotiate and hire an assistant superintendent/plant manager for the Quitticus water plant at up to Grade M12, Step 3, to attract qualified candidates.","taxTitle","New Bedford City, Bristol County, Massachusetts","taxId",5758,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6548176,"Committee discusses using free cash to reduce proposed wastewater rate increase and refers transfer to full council",1815,4525000,6340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395572-ae90f2253a444c2c7e26d8694da8de5d&start=4525&end=6340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395572-ae90f2253a444c2c7e26d8694da8de5d/thumbnail_4525000.jpg","/articles/6548176/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Committee-discusses-using-free-cash-to-reduce-proposed-wastewater-rate-increase-and-refers-transfer-to-full-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548176-72bc98a199ddb0d0e597406aa65ccfb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205714&Signature=Qm-YkVUhwnxrCjmeywN50gUOeQPWW-avUdnVRvstNVODJd~uTaLPZDEal5YjM4-MGrOw1FmqH7ZE-xQ7WOYnQJH-07Byn57xp1tLDcwXVggG2gJNOE7oXXG5sXlGXvTkMBI8nz3AjyMR1vKGLKt09YOCI~P1yvS9H4l-5AyxOOLVyixOGc3uNzYktRjbx8~AkgWcBPFFcjdm2AQbgmBViRspwyCA7z4JcABqhNzNlxvcB-9uFvK3pprfhb9-m50ErGurLt5Vy9scV9GYVprelaaf~HZkM9NB~YKoWZHjy3g7R0V2ekR-0329h-zmlC0pvuSAwcLfbrldRDwkGeGyYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Bedford Committee on Finance received presentations and extensive questions on Monday about whether to use available wastewater retained earnings to lower a proposed FY2026 sewer-rate increase, and voted unanimously to refer a proposed transfer of $3,830,000 to the full City Council.

Attorney David Geratowski reminded the committee of the charter process: the City adopts a wastewater budget and then must set sewer rates within 14 days of that budget adoption to fund the enterprise. Justin (Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure) and finance staff presented budget projections showing a requested wastewater budget of about $35.6 million for FY2026, up from $31.7 million in FY2025, driven by higher consulting/engineering and regulatory compliance costs and some short-term loan interest.

Administration staff offered options for using free cash to reduce the proposed rate increase. The administration said the city has roughly $3.8 million in wastewater-related free cash available. DPI presented three illustrative scenarios: no free-cash infusion (a projected 16.7% rate increase in FY2026), a $1.85 million infusion (reducing the FY2026 increase to below 10 percent), and a $2.35 million infusion (the department’s recommendation, which would lower the FY2026 increase to about 7.8 percent and the FY2027 increase to about 9.8 percent). Staff said eliminating the FY2026 increase entirely would require about $4.3 million in one-time cash.

Councilors asked for additional detail. Questions included: how principal forgiveness and SRF availability affect the enterprise fund; whether general-fund subsidies could be used (legal counsel said a subsidy would require a general-fund appropriation and a pass-through to the enterprise); and the size and timing of reserve funds that will be freed when certain debt service obligations end in FY2027. Finance staff said approximately $2.3M–$3.0M in debt-related reserves will be released when the last bond payment is made, which would ease rate pressure in FY2027.

The committee voted 11-0 to refer the transfer of $3,830,000 from wastewater retained earnings to wastewater special projects funds to the full City Council (mover: Councilor Ryan Perera; second: Councilor Maria Giesta). Geratowski and staff emphasized that final rate-setting will follow the council’s adoption of the wastewater budget, which triggers the 14-day rate-setting window.

Votes at a glance: transfer of $3,830,000 to wastewater special projects fund referred to full council (mover: Councilor Ryan Perera; second: Councilor Maria Giesta; outcome: referred to full council, vote 11–0).

Staff said they would provide further details — including projected five-year burn-rate history and updated SRF/principal-forgiveness estimates — to the council before final rate action.","Committee members discussed a proposed transfer of $3.83 million in wastewater retained earnings to a wastewater special projects/stabilization fund — including options to use a portion to reduce a projected FY2026 sewer rate increase — and referred the item to the full council on an 11-0 vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6548179,"Finance committee refers $32.2 million wastewater appropriation to full council",2783,1728000,4511000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395572-ae90f2253a444c2c7e26d8694da8de5d&start=1728&end=4511","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395572-ae90f2253a444c2c7e26d8694da8de5d/thumbnail_1728000.jpg","/articles/6548179/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Finance-committee-refers-322-million-wastewater-appropriation-to-full-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548179-8c4e79250697c783c89fb260aba31f26/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205714&Signature=X402Htj4y2Iswg2ORWlIDsPRdOV02bvjAVD8cyRUYXL2gycRYC-gvOvN-RiYbLxNbcFAvY6wfzgD-iYnbQuavpfeoP7V04fpkdguGJNfn0UaroWzzvv0hKDX03wcb2sDctPfp0Knbcs5ysv09HCvx9yOU9Z2ripGtQwhpbK1SD70~BAzz8tOlrVq0UTmHDC~OFyds0OMMYj~flmGYEdeJJ7W02VY~srJlq22Xz9OknNK~dU74U~Y5ogy-LIb4TjMMT-7X7CDFXlLM~Dr-lYTHcYGjKWiuqAG3zdnGNNpt4xUbvtAgAZD6YjgHNuLraWB04YKuJD0GxCZyBYoisqeog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","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.","The committee unanimously referred a $32.2 million loan order to fund wastewater and stormwater capital projects including pump station rehabilitation, collection system repairs and Turner's Pond Dam work.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6548182,"Council finance committee refers $38.1 million water infrastructure loan order to full council",1631,73000,1704000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395572-ae90f2253a444c2c7e26d8694da8de5d&start=73&end=1704","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395572-ae90f2253a444c2c7e26d8694da8de5d/thumbnail_73000.jpg","/articles/6548182/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Council-finance-committee-refers-381-million-water-infrastructure-loan-order-to-full-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548182-e15f75d78e3623a0a166387f38090eb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205714&Signature=iUgRKdyGBCUh~AW4-JLMjcrmVev9Ya7FBYZS9it2n3Zkc3wrKAwTvxvolmC--Av6egEM32zARBUiddxlpt4d5DCWNok-RyeLwgPfvD0p~BQ3iD~2hd4aHfij4o2ceAJBEdUY5fV1fR~hhjLnRt3tUMZe7J2RVaaYaKzAv2u~RKt3pFeby-kO7pNrhYCOR8Du2Bp8q07FgrIUjipdvL4TUmZwPFaYLx4xqofpGe9XGzf9w6QevB0suu~M7sifX9O2-0vjoroR3udGNFTxBeX4nAEB4edA8u2uMH5~emTwtfQC0Uw5esFCcwElK0za53GM9Qoiic7NH5CewDalBC3tkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Bedford Committee on Finance voted 11-0 on Monday to refer to the full City Council a loan order seeking $38,100,000 to continue capital planning and construction for the city’s water distribution and treatment systems.

City Engineer Sean Side told the committee the appropriation would fund three program areas: a fourth phase of lead service-line replacement, a transmission main reinforcement program, and a second phase of water distribution improvements. “Before you tonight is an ask for $38,100,000 in an appropriation to continue the city's water infrastructure program,” Side said.

The loan order, submitted by Mayor Mitchell and presented to the committee on April 24, was described as part of a broader multi-year capital effort. Side said the city currently manages roughly $135 million in active water projects since 2018 and about $350 million across water and wastewater. He said the requested $38.1 million is a mix of general obligation (G.O.) and State Revolving Fund (SRF) financing and that SRF availability this year has been limited by a new $15 million-per-community cap in the MassDEP intended-use plan.

According to Side, the appropriation would allocate roughly $25 million for the lead service program (phase 4), with the remainder split between transmission main testing/valving work and distribution system replacements. Side summarized recent and upcoming work: phase 1 replaced about 1,200 services and about 4,000 feet of main; phase 2 (under construction) will replace about 2,200 services and 10,000 feet of main (expected complete December 2025); phase 3 (out to bid) targets roughly 2,400 services; and phase 4 is intended to remove about half of the remaining lead services, roughly 1,100 services after phase 3 is complete.

Committee members pressed administration staff on funding details. Councilor Joseph Lopes and Councilor Ryan Perera asked about SRF interest rates and principal forgiveness; Side said SRF loans remain low — roughly 2 percent over 20 years — and that principal forgiveness varies by project. He said earlier projects received as much as roughly 60 percent principal forgiveness for certain components, but that forgiveness is expected to be lower for this funding cycle and that components of the funding mix may shift from the previous 90/10 (SRF/G.O.) to something closer to 50/50 because of the SRF cap.

Councilors also questioned program capacity and scheduling. Side said construction is not expected to begin until mid-2026 — the appropriation is needed by June 30 for MassDEP scheduling — and that design and permitting will occupy the period between approval and construction. He said the department coordinates water work with the city’s street reconstruction program to avoid multiple dig-ups of the same street and to stretch funding.

The committee’s motion to refer the loan order to the full City Council was made by Councilor Ryan Perera and seconded by Councilor Derek Baptiste. 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 appear on the full City Council agenda later this month for final action.

Votes at a glance: the committee referred the loan order for $38,100,000 (mover: Councilor Ryan Perera; second: Councilor Derek Baptiste; outcome: referred to full council, vote 11–0).

The committee was told the SRF timeline requires an appropriation approved by June 30 for inclusion in the MassDEP intended-use plan; staff said MassDEP is less willing to grant extensions this year than in past cycles. Side said staff will return to council later in the process for loan approval documentation and that construction would not begin until mid-2026 if the schedule proceeds as projected.","The New Bedford Committee on Finance voted 11-0 to refer a mayoral loan order seeking $38.1 million to continue water distribution and treatment system improvements, including lead service replacements and a transmission main inspection program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee refers mayoral order to allow higher hiring step for assistant superintendent of water plant

Committee discusses using free cash to reduce proposed wastewater rate increase and refers transfer to full council

Finance committee refers $32.2 million wastewater appropriation to full council

Council finance committee refers $38.1 million water infrastructure loan order to full council