In a letter to the council, Jon Mitchell wrote that the council’s decisions “were not supported by a labor market analysis or an assessment or their impacts on internal compensation equity — both within and among city departments.”
Author Archives: Arthur Hirsch
Posted inBristol County Sheriff
Heroux gathers early support to study closing ancient Ash Street Jail
“I’m sold on it. When we see the conditions at Ash Street, it’s not ideal for the staff or inmate conditions. It’s time for us to close that … This kind of seals the deal.” — State Sen. Paul R. Feeney.
Posted inWard 3 Special Election
Oliver, Amaral advance; paltry 6.5% turnout in Ward 3 preliminary
Given the time of year and an election in only one ward with no well-known candidate running, a skimpy turnout was predictable, but the outcome was poor even by these low expectations.
Posted inCrime and Jails
New Bristol County sheriff plans to close Ash Street Jail
Paul Heroux said he believes that the immigration detention center on the main campus that was closed in 2021 could be renovated to accommodate inmates now held at Ash Street, a 19th-century building where roughly 75 to 90 inmates are held in custody any given day.
Posted inCity Hall
City Council backs off huge pay raise proposal, caps biggest increases at 25%
An amendment to the salary classification ordinance — apparently prompted by objections to the high raises that councilors acknowledged hearing from their constituents — caps raises at 25% more than current pay.
Posted inCity Hall
High hopes for Hicks-Logan, ‘the most distressed neighborhood in the city’
The ordinance change expected to be approved by the City Council on Thursday “is new policy,” and could help make the area more attractive to potential investors, said Derek Santos, executive director of the New Bedford Economic Development Council.
Posted inWard 3 Special Election
Seven-way scramble in race to replace former Ward 3 Councilor Hugh Dunn
Jan. 24 special election will narrow the field to two
Posted inWard 3 Special Election
John F. Robinson trumpets organization skills and constituent services
The prize for the Least Likely Resume for a City Councilor might go to John F. Robinson, who comes to the race by way of a career as a musician […]
Posted inWard 3 Special Election
Shawn Oliver: Residents feel ignored on traffic jams, golf course plans and other issues
Shawn Oliver said he has knocked on a lot of Ward 3 doors in his first bid for public office. He said about 3,000 of them, and that was mid-December. […]
Posted inWard 3 Special Election
Kathy Dehner: Build tax base with more businesses and use vacant city-owned properties
Kathy Dehner, 66, a real estate agent who lives on Rockdale Avenue, is the one candidate in the field who has held city office before, this very office. After falling […]