State Funding Rescues New Bedford’s Engine 9 From Threatened Closure

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — Mayor Jon Mitchell announced today that he has been informed that Governor Maura Healey intends to have the Commonwealth of Massachusetts provide the $1.3 million needed to keep New Bedford Fire Station 9 open throughout this fiscal year.

According to a press release, Mitchell has been having discussions with the Healey-Driscoll Administration over the past several weeks, and was informed today that Gov. Healey intends to include a $1.3 million item for the New Bedford Fire Department in a supplemental appropriations bill being submitted to the Legislature.

$1.3 Million State Grant Secures Station 9 Operations

If the Legislature approves the bill, the state funds will be provided under the state’s Municipal Public Safety Staffing Program, administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. It would come as additional local aid, which Mayor Mitchell has committed to using to keep Engine 9 in service and the fire station online.

Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) had previously delivered $500,000 in state funding solely for the purpose of keeping Station 9 open through an amendment to the state budget. That money was expected to run out this fall, however, and the station would close as part of Mitchell’s plan to overcome the city’s $32 million budget deficit for the fiscal year.

“Until the Governor’s new commitment, the City of New Bedford had been excluded from eligibility in the MPSS Program since the Program’s inception,” the City said in the release. “The Mayor has argued for many years that New Bedford has been unfairly denied access to this important state assistance for local fire and police departments. In letters dating back to 2018, the Mayor repeatedly argued that New Bedford should be afforded an opportunity for direct grant funding from the MPSS Program.”

READ MORE: Mayor Mitchell's 2018 Letter

READ MORE: Mayor Mitchell's 2026 Letter

Sen. Montigny’s office said in a statement that he had proposed back in May adding New Bedford to the list of communities included in the MPSS Program. That is how he was able to secure the initial $500,000 in funding.

“I am relieved that the Governor has answered our relentless call to give our fire department access to this crucial public safety grant program. Station 9 is vital to the city’s safety, and I am thankful to the union leadership, our city councilors, and the administration for backing this effort, starting with the initial $500,000 set aside in the Senate budget,” Sen. Montigny said in response to today’s announcement.

Courtesy Sen. Montigny's Office

According to the City, not only will these funds allow Station 9 to remain in operation for the rest of this fiscal year, but also “with the promise of continued operation of Engine 9 should MPSS grant funding come to be included annually in future state budgets.”

“Today’s news is a welcome near-term solution that anyone who has been following the issue will recognize, and I am personally grateful for the productive discussions with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and for its recognition that New Bedford has been unfairly denied access to state grant funds enjoyed by other cities,” Mitchell said. “I am also grateful for the advocacy of the International Association of Fire Fighters to include New Bedford in the program.”

READ MORE: Freak Accident Leads to High Praise for New Bedford Fire Department

“To be sure, the long-term financial challenges facing the City, driven by unrestrained pension and employee health insurance costs, remain with us, but my hope is that the additional state aid buys us time for compromise with our local public employee unions, members of the City Council, and Retirement Board," Mitchell said. "Everyone should take advantage of the opportunity this funding creates for putting City finances on a stronger footing.”

Escalating Deficit and the Political Battle Over New Bedford's Engine 9

In the ongoing battle between Mitchell and the City Council over Station 9, New Bedford City Councilor at Large Shane Burgo had taken the step of drafting appropriation orders for the $1.3 million needed to keep the fire station open; normally, the mayor drafts the appropriations and sends them to the council for approval. However, Mitchell returned those appropriation orders to the council unsigned, and did not attend a special meeting at the request of City Council President Ryan Pereira on September 15.

READ MORE: New Bedford City Council Passes Funding to Save Station 9

“I want to thank the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our union leadership for recognizing what should have never been in question: public safety must come first,” Burgo said. “The $1.3 million being discussed is the exact amount I put forward and the City Council approved for the Mayor to appropriate. The funding was already available within our local budget.”

via City of New Bedford live stream

“Our firefighters, their families, and the residents of New Bedford should never have been left in limbo wondering whether Engine 9 would remain open,” Burgo said. “I’m grateful that additional state support may now help secure its future, but we should have never needed to get to this point to protect a fire company our community depends on.”

Council President Pereira acknowledged the collaborative effort to acquire the funding, and said he hopes it is something Mayor Mitchell will see the value in.

“I’m thankful that Gov. Healey has added these funds to a supplemental appropriation bill. I’m confident that this happened due to strong collaboration between the New Bedford City Council, the City’s State Delegation, the IAFF Local 841 and the Healey Administration. I am grateful to Sen. Montigny for his original $500,000 appropriation, as well as Rep. Cabral, Hendricks, Sylvia, Ouellette, and Markey for their support,” he said.

Courtesy Ryan Pereira

“Working and collaborating together works, and I hope that we can build off of this victory for New Bedford," Pereira said. "I am hopeful that Mayor Mitchell will see value in collaborating and join the council in solving more issues in this manner.”

Other New Bedford City Councilors and React to State Rescue

Ward 1 Councilor Leo Choquette, whose ward is covered by Station 9, said Governor Healey was doing Mayor Mitchell’s job for him.

"This allocation by Governor Healey is graciously accepted by the City of New Bedford and the 10,000-plus residents who pay their local and state taxes. We should not have to live in fear of whether or not we will have the basic fire coverage we all pay for,” Choquette said.

Courtesy Leo Choquette Jr./Facebook

“Thank you to the PFFM and the office of the Governor for doing the job of the Office of the Mayor," Choquette said. "As President Kennedy once said, ‘Victory has a thousand fathers, while defeat is an orphan.’ It is important to remember the only fathers in this victory were our firemen and Governor Healey.”

Councilor at Large Brian Gomes, the chair of the council’s Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, called today’s announcement “welcome news,” but cautioned he still has concerns over other cuts that were made due to the budget deficit.

“This sets the stage for continuing fire coverage for the residents and businesses of that area. It will also give some relief to the great men and women who serve at Station 9. This is government action in the best interest of the people that it serves,” Gomes said.

Adam Bass/Townsquare Media

“This is a relief for the city and its residents as we continue to work on the deficit," Gomes said. "I continue to have concerns for other departments and employees that have lost their job and service to the city.”