The New Bedford City Council convened on July 17, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including construction approvals and personnel appointments. The meeting began with a discussion led by Counselor Gomes, who proposed a notification system for businesses affected by upcoming construction work. Gomes emphasized the importance of informing businesses in advance to minimize disruptions, particularly for those reliant on traffic flow. This approach aims to prevent any potential loss of business during construction days.

Following this discussion, the council moved to close the public hearing on the construction projects, with a motion made by Counselor Abreu and seconded by Counselor Giesta. The motion passed unanimously, allowing the council to proceed with the next agenda items.

The council then addressed items 1 through 9a concerning construction approvals. Counselor Morad proposed a motion to adopt these items, which included conditions for the construction process. Morad requested that a police detail be present at each construction site and that road restoration be completed within a two-year timeframe. This motion was seconded by Counselor Lopes and was also passed without opposition.

Additionally, Lopes requested copies of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the city and Eversource for review by council members, which was acknowledged by the council.

The meeting progressed to the mayor's papers, where Mayor Mitchell's communication regarding the appointment of Deputy Chief Bridal Maderas to Fire Chief was presented. Counselor Ferreira made a motion to receive and place the appointment on file while waiving certain procedural rules, which was seconded by Counselor Abreu.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the council's commitment to maintaining communication with local businesses during construction and ensuring proper oversight of city appointments. The next steps will involve the implementation of the discussed construction conditions and the formal appointment of the new fire chief.