MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Appointments and Briefings · 7:02 p.m.
October 19, 2017
10 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Naomi R. A. Carney, Debora Coelho, Hugh Dunn, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Steven Martins, Linda M. Morad, Dana L. Rebeiro, Kerry M. Winterson
Absent: James D. Oliveira
During the meeting:
- Martins arrived late (7:29)
- Rebeiro arrived late (7:09)
Every vote, in order
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Joseph M. Tavares, New Bedford, MA to the Harbor Development Commission, Mr. Tavares will be replacing James Boyle whose term has expired; this term will expire December 2019 (Ref’d…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Appointment of Joseph M. Tavares, New Bedford, MA to the Harbor Development Commission, Mr. Tavares will be replacing James Boyle whose term has expired; this term will expire December 2019.
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Gomes, Lopes, Morad, Rebeiro, WintersonAbsent: Martins, Oliveira
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Winterson, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPOINTMENT of JOSEPH M. TAVARES, New Bedford, MA to the HARBOR DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, Mr. Tavares will be replacing James Boyle whose term has expired; this term will expire December 2019. This motion passed on a Roll Call Vote of Yeas 9, Nays 0, with Councillor Martins not present for the vote..” (Motion: Lopes, second: Winterson)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Heather Heffernan, New Bedford, MA to the Election Commission, Ms. Heffernan will be replacing Celeste Paleologos who has resigned from the Commission; this term will expire April 2021…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Appointment of Heather Heffernan, New Bedford, MA to the Election Commission, Ms. Heffernan will be replacing Celeste Paleologos who has resigned from the Commission; this term will expire April 2021.
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Gomes, Lopes, Morad, Rebeiro, WintersonAbsent: Martins, Oliveira
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Winterson and seconded by Councillor Rebeiro, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPOINTMENT of HEATHER HEFFERNAN, New Bedford, MA to the ELECTION COMMISSION, Ms. Heffernan will be replacing Celeste Paleologos who has resigned from the Commission; this term will expire April 2021. This motion passed on a Roll Call Vote of Yeas 9, Nays 0, with Councillor Martins not present for the vote..” (Motion: Winterson, second: Rebeiro)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a One-year Waiver of Residency for Susan Bruce, Plymouth, MA 02360, our selection for Purchasing Director for the City of New Bedford (Ref’d 10/12/17) was received and placed on file by Councillor Morad…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of a One Year Waiver of Residency for Susan Bruce, Plymouth, MA 02360, our selection for Purchasing Director for the City of New Bedford.
Yes: Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Gomes, Lopes, Martins, Morad, WintersonNo: Carney, RebeiroAbsent: Oliveira
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Winterson and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of a ONE YEAR WAIVER OF RESIDENCY for SUSAN BRUCE, Plymouth, MA 02360, our selection for PURCHASING DIRECTOR for the City of New Bedford. This motion passed on a Roll Call Vote of Yeas 8, Nays 2, with Councillors Carney and Rebeiro opposed..” (Motion: Winterson, second: Lopes)
The Chair explained that on items four (4) and five (5) he had received a Communication from Mass Dot regarding the road improvements and that they are working on addressing the Committee’s issues and asked that these items be kept on the table. On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by…
To receive and place on file the Communication from Mass Dot.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file the Communication from MASS DOT..” (Motion: Morad, second: Abreu)
To keep items four (4) and five (5) on the table.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To keep items four (4) and five (5) on the table..” (Motion: Morad, second: Abreu)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillor Martins, requesting, that Attorney Richard Manning, 167 William Street, who represents Empire Loan, be invited to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, to address concerns with the regulatory provisions related to pawnbrokers…
To keep this matter on the table at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Martins and seconded by Councillor Morad, the Committee VOTED: To keep this matter on the table at this time..” (Motion: Martins, second: Morad)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that a letter be sent to the owner of the old Hess Gas Station or Speedway franchise located at the corner of Cove Road and Crapo Street, asking for immediate action as to what their intentions are for this location;…
To table this matter at this time and to send a letter to the Speedway Representative who indicated a plan had been filed with the State and that a copy of that Communication and plan be forwarded to the Committee.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Dunn, the Committee VOTED: To table this matter at this time and to send a letter to the Speedway Representative who indicated a plan had been filed with the State and that a copy of that Communication and plan be forwarded to the Committee..” (Motion: Lopes, second: Dunn)
Item numbers nine (9) and ten (10) were taken out of order and were as follows: Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Council President Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with local banks, mortgage institutions and credit unions, along with all…
To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Council President Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with local banks, mortgage institutions and credit unions, along with all local realtors, for the purpose of putting together a strategic plan of action to maintain and protect any deterioration in the neighborhoods across th
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Dunn, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with local banks, mortgage institutions and credit unions, along with all local realtors, for the purpose of putting together a strategic plan of action to maintain and protect any deterioration in the neighborhoods across the City dealing with the over 1000 bank-owned or homes in foreclosure; and further, more importantly to protect those homes from becoming part of a growing number of properties deteriorating within our neighborhoods across the City..” (Motion: Morad, second: Dunn)
To keep this matter in Committee.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Dunn and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To keep this matter in Committee..” (Motion: Dunn, second: Carney)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Communication, Councillors Dunn, Abreu, Winterson, Gomes, Council President Lopes, Councillors Morad, Oliveira and Martins requesting that Mayor Mitchell provide assistance to any evacuees from Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria (Ref’d 9/28/17) was…
To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the Communication, Councillors Dunn, Abreu, Winterson, Gomes, Council President Lopes, Councillors Morad, Oliveira and Martins requesting that Mayor Mitchell provide assistance to any evacuees from Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Dunn and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the COMMUNICATION, Councillors Dunn, Abreu, Winterson, Gomes, Council President Lopes, Councillors Morad, Oliveira and Martins requesting that Mayor Mitchell provide assistance to any evacuees from Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria..” (Motion: Dunn, second: Carney)
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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