MassVoter.com← New BedfordMunicipal votes · 2018–2019 Council
New Bedford City Council
How the New Bedford City Council voted, from the City Clerk's official minutes. 11 councilors: 5 at-large and 6 ward councilors. Elected November 2017; organizational meeting January 1, 2018. Council President: Linda M. Morad (2018 and 2019). The city’s links to the minutes of six 2018 council meetings (April 12 and 26, June 14 and 28, and July 19 and 23) are broken, and several 2019 meetings have no minutes posted, so those meetings are not here. Covers 40 meetings, January 1 to November 26, 2019.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the City Council do? It is the city’s lawmaking body. It passes local laws (ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The mayor runs the city day to day and proposes the budget.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Your New Bedford ballot: 15 quizzes, about a minute each.
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Coming up
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Councilors
PresidentLinda M. MoradCouncil President (2018 and 2019) · At-large · at 40 of 40 meetings
1st Vice PresidentJoseph P. LopesFirst Vice President (2019) · Ward 5 · at 38 of 40 meetings
2nd Vice PresidentBrian K. GomesSecond Vice President (2019) · At-large · at 39 of 40 meetings
Ian AbreuCity Councilor · At-large · at 40 of 40 meetings
Naomi R. A. CarneyCity Councilor · At-large · at 38 of 40 meetingsDebora CoelhoCity Councilor · At-large · at 35 of 40 meetingsHugh DunnCity Councilor · Ward 3 · at 32 of 40 meetings
Maria E. GiestaCity Councilor · Ward 2 · at 39 of 40 meetingsScott J. LimaCity Councilor · Ward 5 · at 40 of 40 meetingsWilliam “Brad” MarkeyCity Councilor · Ward 1 · at 37 of 40 meetingsDana L. RebeiroCity Councilor · Ward 4 · at 36 of 40 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the roll call at the start of each meeting in this record. Councilors who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Not here yet: the City Clerk has not posted minutes for the February 26, August 25, September 15 and September 24, 2026 meetings, the May 15, 2024 special meeting, or the November 18, 2025 tax classification meeting. For 2022–2023, committee meetings listed on the city calendar without minutes (for example Ordinances on March 16 and December 13, 2022, Finance on December 15, 2022, and Airport on December 14, 2022 and April 20, 2023) are not included. Informal council gatherings and celebration meetings, where no business is voted, are left out. They will be added when posted. On October 7 and 8, 2026 the City Clerk posted corrected minutes for the February 12, March 5, March 12, April 9, April 23, June 11 and June 22, 2026 council meetings, and the February 17, 2026 Appointments and Briefings minutes; those meetings now follow the corrected minutes. A few other minutes have possible errors (noted on those meetings and votes); we have asked the City Clerk to confirm them and will update the record if they are corrected.
Votes where councilors disagreed
Most council votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one councilor voted no or abstained, newest first.
Nov 26City Council Order, Councillors Abreu, Carney, Gomes, Lopes and…Motion: Motion was made to Adopt the Order not withstanding the disapproval…Failed 5–5 · No: Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Markey
November 26, 2019: City Council Order, Councillors Abreu, Carney, Gomes, Lopes and Council President Morad, that all City Departments immediately suspend the issuance of any permits, licenses or other approvals issued by the…
Motion was made to Adopt the Order not withstanding the disapproval of the Mayor FAILED
Yes: Carney, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, MoradNo: Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, MarkeyAbsent: Rebeiro
From the minutes
“Motion was made to Adopt the Order not withstanding the disapproval of the Mayor FAILED - Yeas 5, Nays 5. (Councillors Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta and Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1693).”
Oct 10Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the City Council…Motion: Removed from the Table and AdoptedPassed 6–5 · No: Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Lopes
October 10, 2019: Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the City Council forward a letter of request to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Cannabis Control Commission as to whether the City is following State…
Removed from the Table and Adopted
Yes: Carney, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Morad, RebeiroNo: Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Lopes
From the minutes
“Removed from the Table and Adopted – Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta and Lopes OPPOSED.) (Matter #0029).”
Jul 18Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a One-year…Motion: Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and NeighborhoodsReferred 10–1 · No: Rebeiro
July 18, 2019: Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a One-year Waiver of Residency for Melissa Batchilder, Compliance Officer (Community Relations Specialist) for the New Bedford Police Department, who currently resides in…
Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, MoradNo: Rebeiro
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods – Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Rebeiro OPPOSED.) (Matter #1208).”
Jul 18An Ordinance,Motion: Passed to a Second ReadingPassed 9–2 · No: Coelho, Rebeiro
July 18, 2019: An Ordinance,
Passed to a Second Reading
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, MoradNo: Coelho, Rebeiro
From the minutes
“Passed to a Second Reading – Yeas 9, Nays 2. (Councillor Coelho and Rebeiro OPPOSED.) (Matter #1217).”
Jul 18Report, Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, recommending to…Motion: Recommendation FollowedPassed 10–1 · No: Morad
July 18, 2019: Report, Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, recommending to the City Council that the Administration allocates $250,000 for the construction of a rear entrance to the Pulaski School to alleviate…
Recommendation Followed
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, RebeiroNo: Morad
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed – Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Council President Morad OPPOSED.) (Matter #1220).”
Jul 18Communication/Demolition, New Bedford Historical Commission, to City Council, re:…Motion: Demolition Granted with a Six (6) – month DelayPassed 10–1 · No: Carney
July 18, 2019: Communication/Demolition, New Bedford Historical Commission, to City Council, re: Building Demolition Review of 2405 Acushnet Avenue, (Map 127E/Lot 179), a Circa 1860 wood-framed residence, advising that “the structure has historic…
Demolition Granted with a Six (6) – month Delay
Yes: Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad, RebeiroNo: Carney
From the minutes
“Demolition Granted with a Six (6) – month Delay – Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Carney OPPOSED.) (Matter #1077).”
Jul 18Written Motion, Councillor Coelho, requesting, in the interest of…Motion: Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and NeighborhoodsReferred 7–4 · No: Abreu, Giesta, Morad, Rebeiro
July 18, 2019: Written Motion, Councillor Coelho, requesting, in the interest of public safety, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods address what can be done with the matter of pocket parks…
Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods
Yes: Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, MarkeyNo: Abreu, Giesta, Morad, Rebeiro
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods – Yeas 7, Nays 4. (Councillors Abreu, Giesta, Council President Morad and Councillor Rebeiro OPPOSED.) (Matter #1227).”
Jul 18Written Motion: Councillor Gomes, requesting as Chairman of the…Motion: Motion was made to Refer the Matter to the Department of…Failed 4–7 · No: Carney, Dunn, Giesta, Lima, Markey, Morad, Rebeiro
July 18, 2019: Written Motion: Councillor Gomes, requesting as Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety Neighborhoods, that the Department of Public Infrastructure immediately install No Trespassing signs from dusk to dawn in…
Motion was made to Refer the Matter to the Department of Public Infrastructure and the Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches Mary Rapoza FAILED
Yes: Abreu, Coelho, Gomes, LopesNo: Carney, Dunn, Giesta, Lima, Markey, Morad, Rebeiro
From the minutes
“Motion was made to Refer the Matter to the Department of Public Infrastructure and the Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches Mary Rapoza FAILED – Yeas 4, Nays 7. (Councillors Abreu, Coelho, Gomes and Lopes IN FAVOR.) (Matter #1228).”
Jul 18Written Motion: Councillors Giesta, Abreu, Lopes and Rebeiro, requesting…Motion: Motion was made to Refer the Matter to the Committee on…Failed 4–7 · No: Abreu, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Morad, Rebeiro
July 18, 2019: Written Motion: Councillors Giesta, Abreu, Lopes and Rebeiro, requesting in the interest of public safety that the Department of Public Infrastructure, install signs at all Pocket Parks throughout the City…
Motion was made to Refer the Matter to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods FAILED
Yes: Carney, Coelho, Dunn, MarkeyNo: Abreu, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Morad, Rebeiro
From the minutes
“Motion was made to Refer the Matter to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods FAILED – Yeas 4, Nays 7. (Councillors Carney, Coelho, Dunn and Markey IN FAVOR.) (Matter #1229).”
Jul 18Written Motion: Councillors Giesta, Abreu, Lopes and Rebeiro, requesting…Motion: Referred to the Department of Public InfrastructureReferred 6–5 · No: Carney, Dunn, Lima, Markey, Morad
July 18, 2019: Written Motion: Councillors Giesta, Abreu, Lopes and Rebeiro, requesting in the interest of public safety that the Department of Public Infrastructure, install signs at all Pocket Parks throughout the City…
Referred to the Department of Public Infrastructure
Yes: Abreu, Coelho, Giesta, Gomes, Lopes, RebeiroNo: Carney, Dunn, Lima, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Referred to the Department of Public Infrastructure – Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Carney, Dunn, Lima, Markey and Council President Morad OPPOSED.) (Matter #1229).”
Committees
Much of the council’s work starts in committee. Each committee’s members, meetings and the recommendations it sent to the full council.
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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