“It is time for the Mitchell administration to be more accountable, indeed more transparent, about how it conducts the public’s business.” — Karen Bordeleau, executive editor of the New Bedford Light
Category: City Hall
Posted inCity Hall
Long, hot ‘cut night’ reduces city budget by $10 million
The business of government efficiency raged on for so long in the sauna-like chambers that the winner of the New Bedford Half Marathon could have run the course five more times.
Posted inCity Hall
City Council accidentally eliminates single family zoning
Councilors apparently didn’t know they passed an ordinance allowing duplexes in single-family neighborhoods last year. Now, they’re trying to undo the change.
Posted inCity Hall
New Bedford firefighter with arrest history retires before termination hearing
By retiring, Manuel Mota Jr. protects his right to annual pension payments of tens of thousands of dollars a year.
Posted inCity Hall
City withholds records on $2 million grant
The New Bedford Research & Robotics renovation project had a high risk of failure, an internal city report shows. But the city awarded it $2 million — and, in response to a public records request, it has declined to release memos detailing the high-risk grant.
Posted inEnvironment
$70 million in bonds in pipeline for New Bedford’s water systems
The bonds, which are set for a final council vote on June 12, would continue the cleanup of waterways, improve the sewer system, and get rid of more lead pipes.
Posted inCity Hall
Major rat infestation plagues Shawmut Avenue neighborhood
The infestation may have been caused by a fire and resulting cleanup at EL Harvey Waste & Recycling Services last week.
Posted inCity Hall
The monster lurking in New Bedford’s budget
Pensions are consistently the largest budget item at New Bedford City Hall. Only the city’s 26 public schools cost more. The city now faces a ticking clock to get this cost under control. How did it get this way?
Posted inCity Hall
Mayor Mitchell to seek full inflation-adjusted salary
After declining statutorily approved raises for more than a decade, Mayor Jon Mitchell seeks full salary going forward.
Posted inPolitics
New Bedford City Council changes its mind on expanding mail-in voting window
A majority of City Council members dismissed the advice of elections experts who maintain that the city needs more time to process a growing number of mail-in ballots.