Category: City Hall

“The requirement has proven a major obstacle to the ability of the administration to successfully attract and hire qualified candidates to several critical department head positions …” — Mayor Jon Mitchell

Two new city councilors were also sworn in Monday night, and Naomi Carney succeeds Linda Morad as council president.

“We focused on investment that would have a long duration and make a big impact,” said Christina Connelly, the city’s chief operating officer. More than $60 million in spending has been approved, with more than $12 million allocated to housing.

“The City Council’s refusal to fully appropriate the funds needed to pay the city’s trash collection contract and other legally mandated expenses has created an entirely self-inflicted problem for city finances, which will hit in the spring when funding runs out.” — Mayor Jon Mitchell

The renovation plan for the 1,200-seat theater — home to the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and the New Bedford Festival Theatre — includes a new facade, a new upper lobby, new small performance space, updated seats and restrooms.

Licensing Board Commissioner Ricard Rezendes said the time allotment was an attempt to strike a balance. A lawyer representing area liquor store owners say they’ll lose $300,000 a year.

The lease, which essentially gives the Zeiterion the benefits and responsibilities of owning the building for a price of one dollar, still has to be approved by a supermajority of eight votes on the City Council, which is expected to take up the question at its regular meeting next Thursday.

Without the 99-year lease, the theater might have to close, Zeiterion CEO Rosemary Gill said.