PAY: $17.16hr – $23.82hr

Performs skilled repairs of various types of diesel equipment, including electrical, fuel, ejector and ignition problems. Determines repair costs. Disassembles, overhauls, removes and replaces all types of engines. Assembles and disassembles transmissions. Performs other preventive maintenance work such as truck replacements and components, brake jobs and miscellaneous tasks related to the work.

Two years of full-time paid experience in the field of repairing heavy equipment. Knowledge of various hydraulic systems and clutch replacements/components. Knowledge of job hazards, handling of equipment, special tools and test equipment. Must be fully capable of writing detail reports and capable of estimating repair costs. Must have the ability to use sound judgment in applying knowledge and skills in all types of situations. Must have the proper Registry classification for road test repaired equipment and be physically fit to perform the duties of this position.

Possession of a valid Massachusetts driver’s license with good driving record. Possession of or ability to obtain Class B CDL within six months from date of hire. Subject to call for emergency work during any given twenty-four hour work period, as determined by the Commissioner.

For application/complete job description, please visit www.newbedford-ma.gov or contact the Personnel Dept., 133 William St., Room 212, 508-979-1444. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. EEO

New Bedford has a residency requirement.

On Friday, January 26th at 10:45 AM, the Buttonwood Park Zoo will introduce Bernardo, a 16 year-old male sloth, to his new home in the Zoo’s Rainforests, Rivers & Reefs building. Zoo Director, Keith Lovett along with animal care staff have given Bernardo a clean bill of health and are now ready to introduce him to his new home in the building’s Brazil habitat. Rainforests, Rivers & Reefs sponsored by Stoico/FIRSTFED introduces guests to unique species found in the rainforests and rivers of South America through four naturalistic, multi-species habitats representing countries of South America. Bernardo is the first sloth to call the Buttonwood Park Zoo home.

Bernardo arrived at the Zoo in mid-December and has been under quarantine, a process that is implemented in zoos and aquariums worldwide to ensure the health of existing species. All new arrivals to the Zoo undergo a thirty-day quarantine or observation period which includes examinations and diagnostic tests. The quarantine process provides Zoo staff the opportunity to assess the health of the incoming animal and ensure the health and safety of those already residing at the Zoo. It also allows the animal to acclimate to their new home and for animal care staff to observe their behaviors and develop a relationship.

Bernardo joins the Buttonwood Park Zoo as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Species Survival Plan (SSP). Zoo staff will work with AZA to develop a breeding program at the Zoo to ensure a healthy and genetically diverse population both in captivity and in the wild.

New Bedford City Councillor at-Large Brian Gomes filed the following motion to be presented at the New Bedford City Council session scheduled for 25 January, 2018:

Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, meet with a Representative from the Mayor’s Office, Police Chief Cordeiro, the Community Development Director Patrick Sullivan, the President of Neighborhoods United and Chairs from neighborhood crime watch groups from across the City, for the purposes of discussing the creation of new neighborhood crime watch signs; these new signs will be placed in all present areas that have crime watch groups and awarded to new neighborhood crime watch groups that organize and participate in making their neighborhoods safer across the City.

A former Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) clerk was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for her role in a scheme to produce false identification documents.

Annette Gracia, 37, of Boston, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and two years of supervised release. In October 2017, Gracia and co-conspirators Evelyn Medina, 56, of Boston; Kimberly Jordan, 33, of Randolph; David Brimage, 46, of Boston; and Bivian Yohanny Brea, 41, of Boston, agreed to plead guilty to one count of producing without lawful authority an identification document or a false identification document. In December 2017, Angel Miguel Beltre Tejada, 32, a Dominican national illegally residing in Jamaica Plain, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. Tejada will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed.

In October 2015, law enforcement received an anonymous letter alleging that a corrupt RMV employee was providing Massachusetts identifications and drivers’ licenses to individuals who were using false identifications. An investigation revealed that several Haymarket RMV clerks – Medina, Gracia, Jordan, and Brimage – were working with Brea and Tejada to fraudulently provide Massachusetts licenses and identification cards to illegal aliens for cash.

The scheme involved several steps. Tejada and Brea would obtain identification documents belonging to United States citizens in Puerto Rico and sell them to clients who were seeking legitimate identities in Massachusetts. These clients included illegal aliens, individuals who were previously deported, and an individual who admitted to previously facing drug charges. Tejada would receive several hundred dollars in cash each time he sold identification documents. Brea received up to $2,700 per identity for her role in the scheme, which included helping clients obtain the documents and facilitating their acquisition of Massachusetts identity documents.

Typically, Brea and the client brought the stolen identities to the Haymarket RMV, where Medina, Gracia, Jordan, and/or Brimage would accept hundreds of dollars in cash to illegally issue authentic RMV documents, including Massachusetts licenses and ID cards. The clerks also accepted bribes to use the RMV’s system to run queries, including Social Security number audits, to confirm that the identities the clients were stealing actually belonged to verifiable individuals.

On Jan. 17, 2018, Medina was sentenced to 15 months in prison and two years of supervised release.

On Tuesday, January 23, at approximately 5:40 PM, Dartmouth Police Officer Alec Grant attempted to stop a 2002 Kia Optima on Slocum Road near Mary Ann Way for motor vehicle infractions.

In response, the operator of the Kia, later identified as Anthony Terry, 25, of Glen Charlie Road, Wareham, failed to stop and fled from police.

While attempting to elude the police, TERRY struck two (2) vehicles at the intersection of Slocum Road and Allen Street, before crashing into a utility pole, causing a minor localized power outage.

As a result of the incident, TERRY was placed under arrest for numerous charges, that included failure to stop for police, unlicensed operation, negligent operation, failure to stop for red light, marked lanes violation, speed greater than reasonable, passing violation, fail to use a seat belt, and no inspection sticker.

A Guatemalan national was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of fentanyl, worth approximately $1.25 million.

Rene Alejandro Salazar Reyes, 26, was charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl. Salazar was arrested on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, and will remain in custody pending a detention and probable cause hearing on Jan. 25, 2018, in federal court in Boston.

“Fentanyl is devastating communities across Massachusetts,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Just a few milligrams of fentanyl can cause a fatal overdose. Saturday’s seizure of over five kilograms is an important step in our efforts to keep this deadly drug off our streets. This investigation is a testament to our commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue individuals who seek to distribute deadly narcotics, without any regard for human life, throughout our neighborhoods and communities.”

“Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in Massachusetts and across the Northeast,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA remains committed to aggressively pursuing Drug Trafficking Organizations or individuals who distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in Massachusetts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

According to court documents, in November 2017, a cooperating witness informed a federal law enforcement officer that a Guatemalan man was selling heroin and/or fentanyl in the Boston area. After a series of recorded cell phone texts and calls, the Guatemalan man agreed to sell the cooperating witness five kilograms of fentanyl, which he would arrange to be delivered to the cooperating witness in Massachusetts. The cooperating witness agreed to make a partial payment of $70,000 for the drugs. The estimated street value of one kilogram of fentanyl is $250,000; one gram sells for approximately $40-$50.

It is alleged that on Jan. 19, 2018, the Guatemalan man placed a call, which was also recorded, to the cooperating witness informing him that a courier would deliver the fentanyl to him in Massachusetts the next day. Soon after, the cooperating witness received a call from the Guatemalan man’s courier, who law enforcement agents determined to be Salazar, the target of a previous criminal investigation in Maryland.

On Jan. 20, 2018, the cooperating witness called Salazar and asked him where he was and then drove to meet Salazar so that Salazar could then follow the cooperating witness to a location to conduct the transaction. While Salazar was on the phone with the cooperating witness, surveillance officers saw Salazar standing outside his vehicle. Once Salazar got into his car to follow the cooperating witness, agents followed Salazar and directed law enforcement officers to conduct a traffic stop.

According to court documents, when the officer stopped Salazar for failing to stop at a stop sign, Salazar appeared visibly nervous. The officer asked Salazar if he had any drugs or weapons in the car, to which Salazar replied that he did not. The officer then asked if he could search the car, to which Salazar replied, “Yes, go ahead.” According to the complaint affidavit, the officer found a large plastic shopping bag on the rear passenger floorboard that contained 23 individually heat sealed clear plastic bags containing approximately 5.2 kilograms of a white powdery substance. Salazar was then placed under arrest.

Salazar faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of $1 million, and will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Lelling and DEA SAC Ferguson made the announcement. Assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Maryland and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Foley of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Southcoast Health announced today that it has received the 2018 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence from Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. The distinction places Southcoast Health in the top 5 percent for clinical excellence among nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide. This is the third consecutive year that Southcoast Health has received this recognition.

“When you spend time in a Southcoast Health facility, whether as a patient or a visitor, it is clear that the mission of our employees is to deliver both clinical excellence and personalized care that is unmatched,” said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Health. “Southcoast Health physicians, nurses and staff work tirelessly to achieve the very best results for patients, and I am pleased that this award from Healthgrades has further highlighted their tremendous efforts.”

The 250 recipients of the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence stand out among the rest for overall clinical excellence across a broad spectrum of care. During the 2018 study period (2014-2016), these hospitals showed superior performance in clinical outcomes for patients in the Medicare population across at least 21 of 32 of the most common inpatient conditions and procedures —as measured by objective clinical outcomes performance data (risk-adjusted mortality and in-hospital complications).

“We commend hospitals that have achieved Healthgrades 2018 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to high quality care for their patients,” said Brad Bowman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Healthgrades. “Hospitals that meet these high-quality standards will continue to distinguish themselves with consumers making decisions about where to receive care.”

In October, Southcoast Health was honored with 19 additional awards and recognitions from Healthgrades, including being named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care for the seventh year in a row (2012-18). In all, it was recognized for superior cardiovascular services with 11 awards, including the Healthgrades Cardiac Care Excellence Award for the 12th year in a row (2007-18). Southcoast Health also placed in the Top 5% in the Nation for Overall Pulmonary Services (2014-2018).

To learn more about how Healthgrades determines Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence recipients, please visit www.healthgrades.com/quality.

PAY: $15.23hr – $20.61hr

Applies basic accounting principles in maintaining financial accounts and records; may be required to prepare payroll and maintain personnel records; makes general ledger entries; accounts for receipt and disbursement of cash transactions and cash accounts; reconciles cash books; operates adding machines and computers; answers telephones; operates simple calculators in connection with this work. Performs clerical work of ordinary difficulty.

Graduation from a high school or GED equivalent with specialized course work in general office practices such as typing, accounting, data processing, and two years of increasingly responsible related experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Mandatory CORI (Criminal Offender Record Investigation) background check per City Council Ordinance effective May 14, 2013.

For application/complete job description, please visit www.newbedford-ma.gov or contact the Personnel Dept., 133 William St., Room 212, 508-979-1444. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. New Bedford has a residency requirement. EEO

The City of New Bedford will be conducting its annual Point-in-Time Count of persons experiencing homelessness for the year 2018 tomorrow, Wednesday, January 24, from 2:00 p.m. until Thursday, January 25 at 2:00 p.m., a 24-hour count. The Point-in-Time Count is required annually by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and is conducted nationwide during the last 10 days of the January.

The National “Let’s Make Everyone Count” will include dozens of teams of volunteers and community members that will gather with city officials to launch the 2018 homeless census efforts on Wednesday, January 24 at 12:00pm on the front steps of New Bedford’s Main Library.

“The Point-in-Time Count is an important part of ensuring that all homeless individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness are counted in a respectful manner,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “We also use this census-taking event as an important way to raise awareness around the issue of homelessness in our community.”

The Point-in-Time Count (PIT) is conducted in New Bedford through the efforts of the New Bedford Homeless Continuum of Care, known as the Homeless Service Providers Network (HSPN). The HSPN is convened and staffed by the City’s Department of Planning, Housing and Community Development.

The New Bedford PIT Homeless Count helps identify vulnerable groups by conducting surveys that provide demographics characteristics, homeless history, homeless experiences and other vital information. The census counts both sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a given night. The information collected through the PIT Count is used to help measure New Bedford’s progress towards ending homelessness and to help strategically focus future planning efforts toward that end. Typically the data collected through these efforts provides a reliable snapshot of both sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Immediately following the city’s kick-off, volunteers and members of the community will reconvene at this year’s Point-in-Time Coordination Center located at Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction (PAACA) building at 360 Coggeshall Street. At 2:00pm, teams of volunteers will begin the 24 hour count and disperse throughout the city to survey individuals and families currently residing on the streets and in other locations not meant for human habitation within the city.

Building off the success and lessons learned from previous counts, the HSPN’s PIT Committee is holding a resource event for those experiencing homelessness at PAACA on January 24 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Point-In-Time Count and Resource Fair is an opportunity for both those within the homeless community and volunteers to interact. The PIT Resource Fair is a multi-faceted event that includes a variety of resources, food provided by the Sister Rose Shelter, health services by the Wellness Van, foot care, haircuts, music and more. The PIT Resource Fair is more than an opportunity for free services but should be viewed as an awareness campaign and opportunity to build bridges between both communities.

The PIT Committee continues to partner with both Mobile, Loaves & Fishes and Catholic Social Services’ Sister Rose Shelter in order to spread the word among those within the homeless community as to the importance of the count and when it will take place. Instead of only looking for persons experiencing homelessness, both groups have already begun encouraging those whom they serve to participate in the count, directing them to the PIT Coordination Center and other locations throughout the city where volunteers will be stationed. It is anticipated that this approach, coupled with traditional community engagement, will produce the most accurate and robust data.

Both the successful count in 2017 and the anticipated success of this year’s PIT is attributed to extensive planning, volunteer training, and the receipt of donations from the community. In preparation for the Count, the PIT Committee has held weekly planning work sessions since November to plan the overall logistics of the count, identify “hot spots”, gather donation items, and recruit volunteers. As a result of these efforts, the PIT Committee has successfully recruited and trained over 60+ dedicated volunteers for the homeless count. In addition, numerous local business and organizations have graciously donated gift cards, clothing, backpacks, and other essential supplies that will either be placed in backpacks to be donated to those being counted or handed out during the course of the count.

Patrick J. Sullivan, Director of Planning, Housing and Community Development, notes that “the Point-in-Time Count provides an important one day snapshot of those experiencing homelessness in New Bedford’ in a way that helps us understand both general demographics of those being counted as well as specific characteristics of those individuals and families in these situations so that we may strategically act to reduce those numbers and eventually end homelessness in our city.”

For more information about the count, please contact Joseph Maia at (508) 979-1500 or at jose.maia@newbedford-ma.gov; for more information about what the city’s HSPN is doing about homelessness, please go to www.nbhspn.com.

The City develops a five-year capital improvement program (CIP) to coordinate community planning, financial capacity and physical development requirements. A complete CIP facilitates coordination between capital needs and the operating budget, enhances the City’s credit rating, and provides a mechanism to more effectively incorporate capital decisions into ongoing fiscal planning.

Forecasting the City’s highest priority capital projects over a multi-year period provides a roadmap for facility improvement and vehicle replacement needs. The initial version of the CIP covered the five years from FY 2014 through FY 2018, and the plan has been updated annually as projects have been further refined and updated.

Projects are first identified through the biennial Capital Needs Assessment (CNA), submitted by City agencies and the School Department, which helps identify those projects, based on service needs, physical condition and usage requirements that should be considered for funding consideration in the CIP. The CIP helps to prioritize agencies’ requests in relation to demonstrated need and the availability of funding.

The CIP provides a financing plan to meet the City’s facility and equipment needs, taking into account the impact of construction costs on the City’s debt load, as well as the potential effect of project costs on the annual operating budget. Potential projects are evaluated in relation to each other to ensure that the highest priority projects receive public funding, with essential improvements planned in a manner commensurate with the City’s ability to pay. The CIP is funded annually through a capital improvement bond authorized by the City Council, and through project-specific authorizations, grants and lease agreements.

Capital Improvement Plan Summary

The Capital Improvement Program covers General Fund-supported projects from FY 2018 through 2022, and totals $93.6 million. Of this amount, $13.8 million would be allocated for capital asset preservation projects for public safety, road repairs, public use buildings and other government facilities, and approximately $7.6 million would be allocated for ongoing replacement of capital vehicles and general fleet replenishment. $42.9 million would be allocated for major renovations and/or replacements at general government facilities, while $29.3 million would be allocated for school projects.

What follows is a summary of the projects proposed to be funded in this year’s capital improvement bond, and a summary of the projects that would be addressed in the ClP’s lateryears.

The FY 2018 bond, which totals $6,115,000, consists of the following eight projects:

Fleet Maintenance Improvements ($260,000): This project would fund design for the repair and renovation of the fleet maintenance facility located at City Yard. Funding for construction would be requested in FY 2019.

City Hall Elevator ($900,000): Initial funding to design a second elevator in City Hall was included in the FY 2017 capital bond. The existing elevator was constructed in 1906, and is well beyond its service life, requiring frequent repairs. Replacement parts are no longer readily available, and the potential exists for a significant breakdown that would eliminate disabled access to City Hall above the first floor.

Core IT Infrastructure Support ($430,000): This project would replace HVAC equipment utilized to cool the MIS server room. Temperatures in the facility are currently maintained by an array of small units, which are prone to failure, causing great risk to the City’s IT and communications infrastructure.

Main Library Repairs ($775,000): This project would replace windows, doors, and alarm systems at the main library on William Street. The current infrastructure is past its useful life. Additional compact shelving would also be purchased to house reading materials.

West Beach Community Building ($300,000): This project would be utilized in combination with proposed Community Preservation Act funding for the renovation of the community building located at West Beach, to ensure structural stability and to allow for storage and possible waterside recreational activities.

High School Renovations ($1,580,000): This project would provide funding for badly needed repairs at New Bedford High School, including renovation of the auditorium, swimming pool locker rooms and restoration of the campus athletic grounds, all of which have been deteriorating since the construction of the school in the early 1970s. These repairs are ineligible for reimbursement by the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

Buttonwood Park Zoo ($870,000): This project would continue renovations at the Buttonwood Park Zoo. FY 2018 funding would support the construction of a Zoo Education Center, which would utilize the existing domestic animal barn, and new red panda and Asian aviary habitats, along with better viewing opportunities for visitors to the elephant exhibit, and would be matched nearly dollar-for-dollar by $840,000 in committed private donations.

Roads & Infrastructure ($1,000,000): The FY 2018-2022 CIP includes an ongoing infrastructure program intended to augment State-funded and utility-related improvements to roads and sidewalks. Work is assigned based on conditions as assessed through the City’s pavement management program. This program was initiated in FY 2017, and is proposed to continue in FY 2018.

Due to their grant-reimbursement structure, the annual capital bond does not include authorization for MSBA or other state-funded capital projects. A proposal to implement repairs at Carter Brooks Elementary School has been submitted as a separate loan authorization, and the City Council approved a loan order to fund land acquisition and design work on the South Public Safety Center in December 2017.

The Capital Improvement Program includes 21 projects during the five-year planning period.

The following section provides a brief description of each project by category. The complete CIP may be found at the end of this discussion.

General Government Renovations & Replacements

Hillman Street Complex Renovations (FY 2019 & 2021, $1,250,000): This project would continue renovations begun in FY 2014 to the Hillman Street Complex. Activities would include renovation of Building 9, which serves as annex office space, repointing of the exterior walls, and replacement of deteriorated brickwork.

Zeiterion Theater Repairs (FY 2022, $2,000,000): This project serves as a placeholder for the renovation of the 2″”^ floor of the Zeiterion Theater. Efforts will be made to obtain outside funding for the project.

Agnes Braz Accessibility Improvements (FY 2021, $1,200,000): This project would implement accessibility improvements at the Agnes Braz building located on Coggeshall Street. Activities would include installation of wheelchair access ramps and an elevator.

East & West Beach Improvements (FY 2018 & 2019, $800,000): This project would renovate the East Beach bathhouse and the community building at West Beach. The initial appropriation in FY 2018 would be utilized in combination with CPA funding for the renovation of the West Beach facility to ensure structural stability and to allow for storage and possible future retail activity. Funding in FY 2019 would renovate the facility at East Beach.

Zoo Renovations (FY 2018-2020 & 2022, $5,075,000): This project would continue renovations at the Buttonwood Park Zoo. FY 2018 funding would support the construction of a Zoo Education Center, which would utilize the existing domestic animal barn, and new red panda and Asian aviary habitats, along with better viewing opportunities for visitors to the elephant exhibit. Future years would provide for improvements to existing exhibits and educational facilities. The City’s FY 2018 allocation would be matched by $840,000 in private donations as part of the continuing effort to mitigate funding needs.

Fleet Maintenance Improvements (FY 2018 & 2019 & 2022, $3,545,000): This project would provide for the development of an integrated fleet management solution for City vehicles. Initial funding in FY 2018 provide for design of renovations and expansion to the existing facility at City Yard, with construction anticipated for FY 2019. Funding in FY 2022 serves as a placeholder for a future renovation and/or replacement of the City’s secondary facility.

Roads & Infrastructure ($1,000,000): The FY 2018 bond includes the second installment of the commitment to supplement existing road repair funding, consisting largely of Chapter 90 funding from the state, by including $1 million per year in the capital program. Work projects are assigned based on conditions as assessed through the City’s pavement management system.

South End Public Safety Center (FY 2018 & 2019, $15,000,000): Initial funding for a feasibility study and preliminary design of an integrated public safety center to provide fire, EMS and police services currently provided by Fire Stations 6 & 11, and Police Station 2 was included in the FY 2016 Capital Improvement Bond. Consistent with the recommendations of the FACETS study, these outdated facilities would require extensive capital expenditures well in excess of the cost of a single consolidated facility in order to bring them into compliance with modem standards. The new facility would be constructed on a site that would maximize the response capabilities of the public safety personnel who would be deployed from that location.

The City Couneil approved a second appropriation in FY 2018 to fund land acquisition and full design. Funding in FY 2019 serves as a placeholder for construction. Public Safety Communications System (FY 2019-2022, $7,000,000): This project would provide for the replacement of the City’s public safety communications system, which is utilized by the three public safety agencies (Police, Fire and EMS) to dispatch and manage emergency response. The current system, which dates to the mid-1990s, is obsolete and in need of replacement. The project will also address regulatory changes which are requiring public safety agencies nationwide to migrate to a new set of frequencies.

City Hall Elevator (FY 2018, $900,000): Initial funding to design a second elevator in City Hall was included in the FY 2017 capital bond. The FY 2018 bond proposes $900,000 for construction. The existing elevator was constructed in 1906, and is well beyond its service life, requiring frequent repairs.

School Renovations & Replacements

Projects in this category represent major capital improvement needs for the School Department. The City makes use of construction grants from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), when available. The costs reflected in the CIP represent the amounts to be locally financed.

Schools Deferred Maintenance (FY 2018-2022, $2,927,000): This project would provide for renovations to School Department facilities that would not be eligible for reimbursement from the State. Funding in the FY 2018 capital bond would be utilized to renovate locker, auditorium and grounds facilities at New Bedford High School.

MSBA Accelerated Repair Projects (FY 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022, $6,350,904): This project would provide the local share for renovations to Carter Brooks Elementary School in FY 2018, and for planned boiler and roof replacements at Trinity and Parker in FY 2019. Future appropriations would support planned a planned roof replacement at Carter Brooks and renovations to Campbell Elementary School MSBA Core Projects (FY 2020-2021, $20,000,000): This project would provide the local share for a planning study and construction of a future school replacement project.

Capital Vehicle Replacements

The CIP includes a number of projects intended to address ongoing replacement needs for the City’s vehicle fleet. Projects included during this period were limited to those that could be financed through a lease purchase arrangement.

E MS Vehicles (FY 2018-2022, $1,525,798): This project provides for the acquisition and outfitting of six ambulances and three squad vehicles for Emergency Medical Services over the course of the planning period. The City instituted a policy beginning in 2013 of acquiring replacement vehicles through a series of capital leases, which in turn provides sufficient flexibility to finance ongoing replacements.

Fire Apparatus (FY 2018, 2021, & 2022 $2,645,000): This project provides for the ongoing replacement of fire apparatus over the course of the planning period. The Fire Department currently operates ten front-line apparatus, which average about seven years in service.

Acquisition of the replacement vehicles will involve a series of capital leases, providing sufficient flexibility to finance ongoing replacements. The City has purchased four replacement pumpers and one aerial ladder since FY 2013. Decisions regarding the specific apparatus to be replaced in future years will be determined based on operational needs.

Mobile Command Center (FY 2019, $480,000): This project would replace the Police Department’s mobile command center. The existing vehicle, which was initially purchased in 2003, is rapidly becoming outdated and contains obsolete aspects in terms of design and technology that have been repeatedly identified in post-incident reviews. Acquisition of the replacement vehicle would be financed by a capital lease.

Fleet Replenishment (FY 2018-2022, $2,917,795): This project addresses deficiencies identified in the condition of the City’s general use fleet, which averages about 15 years old and requires significant investment of maintenance resources to maintain operability. The City Council approved an initial expenditure of $920,465 in FY 2016, principally to address replacement and improvement needs for snow removal, followed by subsequent appropriations in FY 2017 and 2018. Future allocations will provide for the continued replacement of 10-15 vehicles per year, to ensure that the general fleets are kept in a state of good repair. Financing would be accomplished through a series of capital leases.

Capital Asset Preservation

The Capital Improvement Program includes ongoing funding to address deferred maintenance issues throughout the City’s physical plant. The Capital Needs Assessment process identified about $220 million in deferred maintenance, infrastructure and facility needs for General Fund agencies, largely resulting from a historic insufficiency of resources allocated for that purpose.

As a result, the City’s physical assets have continued to depreciate and the capital requirements needed to bring facilities to proper working order have grown.

The Capital Asset Preservation portion of the CIP is intended to provide resources needed to ensure the continuation of basic operability for the City’s facilities. Funding estimates are based on the Asset Depreciation Method, which uses nationally-promulgated standards as guidelines for the maintenance of aging facilities. For example, the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers and the Intemational Facility Management Association recommend annual capital asset preservation funding ranges that are equivalent to 1.5%-3.0% of the replacement value for an entity’s physical plant. Similarly, the Federal Internal Revenue Service and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue has established depreciation standards of 2.5% per year on fixed assets. As of FY 2016, the City’s outside auditor estimated the City’s physical inventory at $253.2 million.

The CIP includes $13.8 million over the five year planning period for capital asset replacement. In addition, the CIP includes $9.3 million to fund the local share of renovation projects for City schools. Combined, these allocations would average approximately 1.8% annually over the course of the five-year planning period, assuming that the City receives repair grants from the MSBA on a consistent basis. Funding is assigned aceording to four functional project categories:

• Public Safety – Facilities operated by the Police, Fire & EMS departments.
• Public Facilities – Facilities designed principally for public use (parks, community centers. Free Library, Buttonwood Park Zoo).
• Government Facilities – Facilities designed to house general government operations (City Hall, City Yard, and other shared use-type facilities).
• Roads & Infrastructure – The FY 2018-2022 CIP includes an ongoing infrastructure program intended to augment State-funded and utility-related improvements to roads and sidewalks. Work would be assigned based on conditions as assessed through the City’s pavement management program.
• Renovation projects for City schools are included in the Schools Deferred

Maintenance and the MSBA Accelerated Repair Projects categories.

Projects qualifying for capital asset preservation funding are limited to existing facilities in need
of capital-eligible renovation and/or repair. Examples of such projects might include interior and/or exterior renovations, roof replacements, HVAC repairs and measures required to maintain compliance with regulatory and/or licensing requirements, and artificial playing field replacements. The capital asset preservation component constitutes a minimal baseline of funding over the course of the CIP planning period, and specific allocations are determined as part of the annual CIP appropriation.

Energy Management Services Contract

The City issued a Request for Qualifications for a comprehensive energy management contract in May 2013. The intention of this program is to identify physical improvements to existing facilities that could be financed by a combination of utility provider rebates and reduced energy costs. The initial stages of the energy project began with conversion of the City’s street and traffic lights to LED fixtures in 2014. The City Council approved lease financing for the first phase of facility retrofits in October 2015; Phase 1 consisted of upgrades to HVAC, lighting and building envelope improvements at 19 facilities, which resulted in significant reductions to energy consumption and improvements to the existing infrastructure. Phase 2, which was approved by the City Council during FY 2018 and is currently underway, built upon the initial work by implementing energy management at another 19 facilities and continuing work at New Bedford High School and Parker Elementary School.

Project Financing

The CIP will be funded by a combination of general obligation debt for facilities projects, lease purchasing for capital vehicle purchases, and grant funding. The CIP is designed to work within the City’s existing debt profile to the greatest extent possible, although the impact of debt issuance for new facilities such as the South Public Safety Center and school renovation projects will contribute to a projected increase in net outstanding debt from $73.1 million in FY 2018 to $94.7 million in FY 2022, and annual debt service payments would increase by about $0.8 million through the end of the five-year planning period. Capital lease payments would also increase to support the acquisition of fire apparatus and other public safety vehicles identified in the program.

Affordability Indicators

The City Council adopted an organization-wide debt management policy in November 2013. Included in the policy are a series of indicators intended to determine the appropriateness of assuming additional tax-supported general obligation debt:

• Outstanding debt as a percentage of per capita income – The policy target is 6% or less. The projected ratio would increase from 3.4% in FY 2018 to 4.2% in FY 2022.
• Outstanding debt as a percentage of assessed valuation – The policy target is 3% or less. The projected ratio would increase from 1.2% in FY 2018 to 1.4% in FY 2022.
• Annual debt service as a percentage of the General Fund operating budget – The policy target is 10% or less. The projected ratio would decrease from at 3.7% in FY 2018 to 2.8% in FY 2022.