MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford City Council · 2018–2019 Council · Regular meeting · 7:02 p.m.
April 25, 2019
50 recorded votes, 2 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Present: Ian Abreu, Naomi R. A. Carney, Debora Coelho, Hugh Dunn, Maria E. Giesta, Brian K. Gomes, Scott J. Lima, Joseph P. Lopes, William “Brad” Markey, Linda M. Morad
Absent: Dana L. Rebeiro
Every vote, in order
Communication, Councillor Rebeiro to Members of the City Council, notifying that he will be absent for the Special City Council Meeting on Thursday, April 25, 2019, due to a previously scheduled business commitment.
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0731).”
Communication, Jane Medeiros Friedman, First Assistant City Solicitor to City Council, pursuant to an Order of the City Council dated March 28, 2019, enclosed is an Order for the Discontinuance of a portion of John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, variable width, at the northeast corner of its present…
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0732).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order, to execute on behalf of the City a Preservation Restriction for Rural Cemetery; the restriction is given as part of a $50,000.00 grant to be awarded by the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund and matched by Community…
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0734).”
Ordered, that the Mayor is hereby authorized to execute, on behalf of the City of New Bedford, a Preservation restriction (Pr) for the Rural Cemetery, in substantially the same form as the attached draft. A description of the Rural Cemetery location is attached as Exhibit A.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, MoradAbsent: Rebeiro
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 10, Nays 0. (Matter #0735).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Final Fiscal Year 2019 Department of Planning, Housing and Community Development Action Plan for a period July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020; also submitting a Resolution, authorizing the Mayor to Apply for Federal Financial Assistance…
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0736).”
Action Plan 2019,
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0737).”
Resolution of the New Bedford City Council Authorizing the Mayor to Apply for Federal Financial Assistance from the United States of America City of New Bedford in City Council April 25, 2019 Whereas, The City of New Bedford desires to continue its participation in Community Development Block Grant…
Adopted
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order for Transfer of $447,660.00 from Police, Salaries & Wages, to Police, Other Financing Uses.
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0740).”
Ordered, that the sum of Four Hundred Forty–Seven Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Dollars ($447,660) now standing to the credit of the account from Police Salaries and Wages be and the same is hereby transferred and appropriated to as follows: Police Other Financing Uses……………………………………………………$447,660 To…
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0742).”
Ordered, that the sum of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000) now standing to the credit of the account from Tourism Salaries and Wages be and the same is hereby transferred and appropriated to as follows: Tourism Charges and Services……………………………………………………$4,000 To be certified and approved by the…
Adopted
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order for Transfer of $410.00 from Licensing, Salaries & Wages, to Licensing, Charges & Services.
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0744).”
Ordered, that the sum of Four Hundred Ten Dollars ($410) now standing to the credit of the account from Licensing Salaries and Wages be and the same is hereby transferred and appropriated to as follows: Licensing Charges and Services……………………………………………………$410 To be certified and approved by the…
Adopted
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Daniel Higgins, New Bedford, MA, to the Water Board, replacing the late Carl Natho; this term will expire April 2021.
Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings. (Matter #0746).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Application for the Reappointment of Shawn Macfarland, New Bedford, MA as a Special Police Officer.
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0747).”
Application, Shawn Macfarland, New Bedford, MA 02744, for Appointment as a Special Police Officer.
Reappointment made and Confirmed
From the minutes
“Reappointment made and Confirmed. (Matter #0748).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting Draft language for special legislation that would effectuate the agreement between the City, the Alma del Mar Charter School, and the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education to establish a 450-student neighborhood-based charter…
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0640).”
Revised Draft Possible Legislative Language – between the City of New Bedford and the Alma del Mar Charter School, dated April 3, 2019. Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings – Failed – Yeas 5, Nays 6. (Councillors Dunn, Giesta, Lopes, Morad and Rebeiro Opposed.) Charter Ruled by…
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0641).”
Communication, Council President Morad, submitting an Act, Relative to the Operation of Charter Schools in the City of New Bedford, said matter was Charter Ruled at the April 11th City Council Meeting. (To be Referred to Representative Markey to submit on behalf of the city of New Bedford; Copy all…
Adopted
The minutes record 8–2, but that does not match the councilors listed as present and voting, so individual votes are not shown. We will ask the City Clerk to confirm.
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 8, Nays 2. (Matter #0749).”
Report, Committee on Ordinances, recommending to the City Council to Reject the Proposal of the rezoning of 157 – 161 Coggeshall Street, Plot 93, Lot 169, New Bedford, MA, from Mixed-Use Business to Industrial “B”.
Recommended by the Committee on Ordinances
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0750).”
Report, Committee on Ordinances, recommending to the City Council Adoption of the Ordinance, as Amended, amending Chapter 15, Licenses and Permits; Business Regulations, that will allow the City to permit commercial aquaculture in its waters.
Recommended by the Committee on Ordinances
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0751).”
Report, Committee on City Property, recommending to the City Council that the City Property Committee Accepted the Proposal submitted by Pace and Approved the lease and purchase of the property located at 32 Madison Street known as the former T. A. Greene School subject to the City Solicitor’s…
Recommended by the Committee on City Property
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0752).”
Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council Adoption of the Order for the Transfer of $160,000.00 from Downtown Enterprise Fund, Free Cash, to Downtown Enterprise Fund, Charges & Services in the amount of $60,000.00 and Downtown Enterprise Fund, Capital Outlay in the amount of…
Recommended by the Committee on Finance
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0753).”
Ordered, that the sum of One Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($160,000) now standing to the credit of the account from Downtown Enterprise Free Cash be and the same is hereby transferred and appropriated to as follows: Downtown Enterprise Charges and Services………………………………$60,000 Downtown Enterprise…
Adopted
Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council Adoption of the Loan Order, as Amended, in the amount of $3,975,000.00 for the purpose of making critically-needed repairs to City-owned buildings including, but not limited to, projects for the repair and renovations of public safety…
Recommended by the Committee on Finance
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0754).”
Loan Order,
Passed, to a Second Reading, as amended
From the minutes
“Passed, to a Second Reading, as amended. (Matter #1954).”
Report, Committee on Ordinances, recommending to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on a Written Motion, Councillor Abreu, requesting, that the City Council engage in dialogue with our Health Department and the Department of Inspectional Services about implementing mandatory Cpr and…
Recommended by the Committee on Ordinances
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0755).”
Written Motion, Councillor Abreu, requesting, that the City Council engage in dialogue with our Health Department and the Department of Inspectional Services about implementing mandatory Cpr and Heimlich training and certifications for all New Bedford restaurants, bars, food-related cafes and…
NO FURTHER ACTION
Report, Committee on Ordinances, recommending to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on a Written Motion, Councillors Coelho, Lopes and Giesta, requesting, that the Committee on Ordinances look into the possibility of creating an Ordinance, addressing jaywalking in the City of New Bedford,…
Recommended by the Committee on Ordinances
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0756).”
Written Motion, Councillors Coelho, Lopes and Giesta, requesting, that the Committee on Ordinances look into the possibility of creating an Ordinance addressing jaywalking in the City of New Bedford, jaywalking as defined by crossing the street in an illegal or unsafe manner, whereupon Police can…
NO FURTHER ACTION
Report, Committee on Ordinances, recommending to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on a Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Ordinances meet with the Inspectional Services Commissioner to discuss implementing an Ordinance that would give City residents and…
Recommended by the Committee on Ordinances
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0757).”
Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Ordinances meet with the Inspectional Services Commissioner to discuss implementing an Ordinance that would give City residents and Property Owners, with enough footage, an opportunity to put solar panels in their backyards instead…
NO FURTHER ACTION
Report, Committee on City Property, recommending to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillor Giesta, requesting, that the City Council direct the Committee on City Property, prior to taking any votes on any proposals regarding the Phillips Avenue School, hold a…
Recommended by the Committee on City Property
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0758).”
Written Motion, Councillor Giesta, requesting, that the City Council direct the Committee on City Property, prior to taking any votes on any proposals regarding the Phillips Avenue School, hold a public hearing in order to acquire information, thoughts and opinions from the various citizens in and…
NO FURTHER ACTION
Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillor Lopes, requesting that the Committee on Finance meet with the City Treasurer and the Commissioner of the Department of Public Infrastructure to discuss a temporary…
Recommended by the Committee on Finance
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0759).”
Written Motion, Councillor Lopes, requesting that the Committee on Finance meet with the City Treasurer and the Commissioner of the Department of Public Infrastructure to discuss a temporary establishment of an amnesty program for the collection of quarterly Real Estate Tax, Water and Sewer bills…
NO FURTHER ACTION
Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the Communication, Councillor Lopes and Council President Morad, submitting the 2018 New Bedford Economic Development Council Tax Increment Financing Program Annual Report.
Recommended by the Committee on Finance
Recommendation Followed
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0760).”
Communication, Councillor Lopes and Council President Morad, submitting the 2018 New Bedford Economic Development Council Tax Increment Financing Program Annual Report. (Referred to the Committee on Finance – February 14, 2019.)
NO FURTHER ACTION
A Bond Order to Authorize the Borrowing of Funds to Pay Costs of Construction of A South Public Safety Center to Be Located on the Property Located at Brock Avenue and Ruth Street Including the Demolition of the Former St. Anne’s Church and School. Be It Ordered by the City Council of the City of…
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, MoradAbsent: Rebeiro
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 10, Nays 0. (Matter #0318).”
An Order Appropriating $2,266,968 for Accelerated Repair Project at the John Avery Parker Elementary School and Trinity Day Academy Be It Ordered, by the City Council, of the City of New Bedford as Follows: That the City appropriate the amount of Two Million Two Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Nine…
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, MoradAbsent: Rebeiro
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 10, Nays 0. (Matter #0535).”
An Order Appropriating $360,722 for Accelerated Repair Project at the Elizabeth Carter Brooks Elementary School Be It Ordered, by the City Council of the City of New Bedford as Follows: That the City appropriate the amount of Three Hundred Sixty Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty- Two Dollars…
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, MoradAbsent: Rebeiro
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 10, Nays 0. (Matter #0537).”
An Ordinance, amending Chapter 12, Health & Sanitation - Section 12-39.5 Unattended Clothing Donation Containers. (Passed to a Second Reading, as amended March 28, 2019.)
Passed, to be Ordained
From the minutes
“Passed, to be Ordained. (Matter #1730).”
An Ordinance, amending Chapter 17, Section 17-18 Noncriminal disposition of violations of certain Ordinances, rules and regulations - by adding Section 12-39.5 Unattended clothing donation containers. (Passed to a Second Reading - March 28, 2019.)
Passed, to be Ordained
From the minutes
“Passed, to be Ordained. (Matter #1731).”
An Ordinance, amending Chapter 17, Section 17-28 Chapter 40U of the Massachusetts General Laws - by adding Section 12-39.5 Unattended clothing donation containers. (Passed to a Second Reading - March 28, 2019.)
Passed, to be Ordained
From the minutes
“Passed, to be Ordained. (Matter #1732).”
Written Motion, Councillor Lopes, requesting that the Administration establish a Public Arts Fund which will be derived from a yearly transfer, 10% from the Arts and Culture Fund and 1 % on building Loan Orders in excess of ten (10) million dollars. (To be Referred to the Administration and CFO…
Referred to the Administration and CFO Sky
From the minutes
“Referred to the Administration and CFO Sky. (Matter #0761).”
Written Motion, Councillor Lopes, requesting, on behalf of Birgilio Cabral the Owner of Union Fruit Market located at 111 Ruth Street, that the Traffic Commission install a 30-minute parking sign in front of said business. (To be Referred to the Traffic Commission.)
Referred to the Traffic Commission
From the minutes
“Referred to the Traffic Commission. (Matter #0762).”
Written Motion, Councillors Giesta, Coelho and Abreu, requesting that the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management work with Abc Disposal Service, Inc. to make sure that trash, furniture, mattresses, etc., left in front of properties are those of the homeowner before issuing a Citation and if…
Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings. (Matter #0763).”
Written Motion, Councillor Dunn, requesting, that Director of Tourism and Marketing, Dagny Ashley provide an update to the City Council on efforts to leverage the upcoming Plymouth 400 to attract tourism to the City of New Bedford. Referred to the Department of Tourism and Marketing. Councillor…
Referred to the Committee on Appointments on Briefings. `
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Appointments on Briefings. ` (Matter #0764).”
Written Motion, Councillor Markey, requesting, that Airport Director, Scot Servis be invited to attend a Special Committee on the Airport meeting to update the Council on the current status and operation of the New Bedford Regional Airport.
Referred to the Special Committee on the Airport
From the minutes
“Referred to the Special Committee on the Airport. (Matter #0765).”
Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with Hank Turgeon, President of the New Bedford Police Union along with the Executive Board for the purposes of discussing the recent Police survey, morale, and the recent vote by the New…
Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and Police Chief Cordeiro
The minutes record 9–1, but that does not match the councilors listed as present and voting, so individual votes are not shown. We will ask the City Clerk to confirm.
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and Police Chief Cordeiro – Yeas 9, Nays 1. (Matter #0766).”
Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Department of Public Infrastructure do an immediate inventory of all of the City’s street lights and their ground bases, due to the number of deteriorating ground bases throughout the City; and further, that immediate action be taken to replace…
Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods. (Matter #0767).”
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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