City Council Appoints Harbormaster After Some Debate

The City Council appointed a Cape Cod native as the city's first harbormaster since 2012 with an 8-3 vote Thursday night.

David Condon is a 2005 graduate from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and has worked on tanker ships domestically and internationally.

Condon is also a former Falmouth assistant harbormaster and plans on bringing that experience to New Bedford. "Safety, teamwork, leadership; those are all things I've built my career on so far and that's what I'm going to continue doing here."

Ward Five Councilor Kerry WInterson, Ward Six Councilor Joe Lopes, and Councilor at Large Naomi Carney voted against the appointment, but not because of the applicant.

Lopes took issue with Mayor Jon Mitchell willingly hiring Condon weeks before issuing a city-wide hiring freeze for all departments.

Winterson and Carney would have rather seen the position go to a qualified New Bedford resident.

Condon says he isn't taking any of the councilors' comments personally and is looking forward to begin work in the harbor.

A start date has not been announced for Condon to begin serving his three year contract.