MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Ordinances · 7:04 p.m.
February 23, 2016
5 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Henry G. Bousquet, Naomi R. A. Carney, Debora Coelho, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Steven Martins, James D. Oliveira, Dana L. Rebeiro, Kerry M. Winterson
Absent: Linda M. Morad
Every vote, in order
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillors Rebeiro, Lopes, Council President Gomes, Morad and Oliveira, requesting that the Committee on Ordinances, draft an Ordinance that would place an immediate ban on the use of medians are ADA compliant as dividers only, most are only 4…
To table this matter for thirty (30) days and to provide the Committee with copies of the preliminary Ordinance drafted and the case language cited on the Portland, Me Ordinance; also, that the Ordinance language and case file be sent to the City Solicitor’s Office asking that they review and make comments.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Rebeiro and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To table this matter for thirty (30) days and to provide the Committee with copies of the preliminary Ordinance drafted and the case language cited on the Portland, ME Ordinance; also, that the Ordinance language and case file be sent to the City Solicitor’s Office asking that they review and make comments..” (Motion: Rebeiro, second: Abreu)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillors Bousquet, Lopes and Martins, requesting that the Committee on Ordinances and the Board of Health explore the possibilities of placing tobacco, herbal vapor Hookah Bar establishments under The Smoke-Free Workplace Law, M.g.l., Ch.270,…
That the Chairman of the Ordinance Committee establish a Special Committee to work with the Board of Health to establish a permitting process for the creation of a “Smoking Bar” Permit that would allow for the sale and consumption of tobacco products on-site.
Yes: Abreu, Bousquet, Carney, Lopes, Martins, WintersonNo: Coelho, RebeiroAbsent: Gomes, Morad, Oliveira
From the minutes
“The Committee VOTED: That the Chairman of the Ordinance Committee establish a Special Committee to work with the Board of Health to establish a permitting process for the creation of a “Smoking Bar” Permit that would allow for the sale and consumption of tobacco products on-site. This motion passed on a Roll Call Vote of Yeas 6, Nays 2, with Councillors Coelho and Rebeiro opposed and Councillors Gomes and Oliveira not present for the vote..”
To refer this matter to the Special Committee.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Winterson, the Committee VOTED: To refer this matter to the Special Committee..” (Motion: Lopes, second: Winterson)
Councillor Lopes asked that items three (3), four (4) and five (5) be taken up together, without objection. There was no objection. Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillors Abreu, Lopes, Martins, Winterson and Bousquet, requesting that the Health Director, Dr. Brenda Weis,…
To recommend that the City Council requests the Board of Health to use their regulatory authority and enact a regulation banning the sale of synthetic drugs in the City of New Bedford, and that they use the current Wareham and Lowell Ordinances for guidelines; and further, that the Board of Health has the leeway to use other Ordinances as they see fit.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council requests the Board of Health to use their regulatory authority and enact a regulation banning the sale of synthetic drugs in the City of New Bedford, and that they use the current Wareham and Lowell Ordinances for guidelines; and further, that the Board of Health has the leeway to use other Ordinances as they see fit..” (Motion: Abreu, second: Lopes)
On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Coelho, the Committee Voted: To waive the reading and follow the Chair’s recommendation and take “No Further Action” on items 6 and 6a. This motion passed on a voice vote. They are as follows: Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written…
To waive the reading and follow the Chair’s recommendation and take “No Further Action” on items 6 and 6a.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Coelho, the Committee VOTED: To waive the reading and follow the Chair’s recommendation and take “No Further Action” on items 6 and 6a..” (Motion: Carney, second: Coelho)
From the official minutes kept by the New Bedford City Clerk (agendas and minutes). The minutes are text documents; we read every action, check every roll-call count against the councilors named, and quote the exact wording. Most items pass by voice vote, and the minutes record only the result for those; how each councilor voted is shown only for roll calls. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Councilor photos: cropped from the City of New Bedford's official 2026 City Council photo (newbedford-ma.gov). The 2024–2025 group photo, and the photos of Maria E. Giesta and Linda M. Morad cropped from it: City of New Bedford, provided by the City Clerk.
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