MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods · 7:01 p.m.
February 12, 2020
10 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Derek Baptiste, Naomi R. A. Carney, Hugh Dunn, Maria E. Giesta, Brian K. Gomes, William “Brad” Markey, Linda M. Morad
Absent: Debora Coelho, Scott J. Lima, Joseph P. Lopes
Every vote, in order
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods convene a meeting to address what enforcement mechanisms, laws, regulations, Ordinances or government action may be devised and implemented to prevent/remedy the…
To recommend that the City Council request that Legislative Counsel Attorney David Gerwatowski look into whether or not the City can require all landlords to conduct criminal background checks on potential tenants prior to entering into rental/lease agreements with them; and furthermore, if it is legal to do so, that he submit recommendations for amending the Problem Properties Ordinance according
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Giesta and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council request that Legislative Counsel Attorney David Gerwatowski look into whether or not the City can require all landlords to conduct criminal background checks on potential tenants prior to entering into rental/lease agreements with them; and furthermore, if it is legal to do so, that he submit recommendations for amending the Problem Properties Ordinance accordingly..” (Motion: Giesta, second: Abreu)
To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods convene a meeting to address what enforcement mechanisms, laws, regulations, Ordinances or government action may be devised and implemented to prevent/remedy the problem of local or national gangs occupying and/or controlling apartm
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods convene a meeting to address what enforcement mechanisms, laws, regulations, Ordinances or government action may be devised and implemented to prevent/remedy the problem of local or national gangs occupying and/or controlling apartment buildings and houses in the City and using such buildings for purposes of conducting criminal activity; and further, that the Committee invite Attorney John Flor; the Chief of Police; the Police Gang Unit; the Landlord Association; and the Building Commissioner and others to be determined, to the meeting to provide input with regard to addressing this issue..” (Motion: Morad, second: Giesta)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Mayor and the Chief of Police immediately establish and properly equip a National Gang Task Force Division within the New Bedford Police Department for the purpose of addressing any National gang activity…
To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Mayor and the Chief of Police immediately establish and properly equip a National Gang Task Force Division within the New Bedford Police Department for the purpose of addressing any National gang activity operating within the City of New Bedford; and furthermore, that this Tas
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Markey, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Mayor and the Chief of Police immediately establish and properly equip a National Gang Task Force Division within the New Bedford Police Department for the purpose of addressing any National gang activity operating within the City of New Bedford; and furthermore, that this Task Force work closely with the Police Departments of surrounding Towns, the Offices of the Attorney General and District Attorney as well as State and Local Police throughout the region so that a collaborative effort can be made to rid the City of national gang violence..” (Motion: Morad, second: Markey)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the New Bedford Police Department continue to actively recruit, hire and train qualified individuals so that the ranks of the New Bedford Police Department may be brought to full strength, as budgeted, ensuring…
To recommend that the City Council write to members of our State Legislative Delegation, requesting that they work to secure funding for the establishment & operation of a Police Academy within Bristol County, perhaps on the campus of Bristol Community College or UMass Dartmouth.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: to recommend that the City Council write to members of our State Legislative Delegation, requesting that they work to secure funding for the establishment & operation of a Police Academy within Bristol County, perhaps on the campus of Bristol Community College or UMass Dartmouth..” (Motion: Abreu, second: Giesta)
To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the New Bedford Police Department continue to actively recruit, hire and train qualified individuals so that the ranks of the New Bedford Police Department may be brought to full strength, as budgeted, ensuring the safety and confidence of the public.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Markey, the Committee VOTED: to recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the New Bedford Police Department continue to actively recruit, hire and train qualified individuals so that the ranks of the New Bedford Police Department may be brought to full strength, as budgeted, ensuring the safety and confidence of the public..” (Motion: Morad, second: Markey)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillors Dunn and Lopes, requesting, that Health Department Director Damon Chaplin, provide a briefing to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods regarding any plans to ban the sale of certain tobacco products within the City. (Ref’d…
To table this matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Dunn and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To table this matter at this time..” (Motion: Dunn, second: Abreu)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillor Dunn, requesting, that the Administration, the CFO, the Chief of the Fire Department, and the New Bedford Firefighters Iaff 841, brief the City Council on the current logistics of the rolling blackouts of the fire stations, any plan…
That the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods recommend to the City Council that it ask the Administration to re-consider its decision to close Station 11, or any Fire Station; and furthermore, that the administration fund all 10 Fire Companies in the FY21 Budget.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Dunn and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: that the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods recommend to the City Council that it ask the Administration to re-consider its decision to close Station 11, or any Fire Station; and furthermore, that the administration fund all 10 Fire Companies in the FY21 Budget..” (Motion: Dunn, second: Giesta)
To Table this matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Dunn and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: To Table this matter at this time..” (Motion: Dunn, second: Giesta)
Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion, Councillors Dunn and Coelho, requesting, that the City increase the Police presence around the Carlos Pacheco school due to the risk of children being harmed by vehicle traffic during pick up and drop off times, especially on Mt. Pleasant Street…
To recommend that the City Council request that, in order to prevent children being harmed by vehicle traffic, the New Bedford Police Department increase its presence around the Carlos Pacheco School during pick up and drop off times, especially on the Mt. Pleasant Street and Sawyer Street sides.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Dunn and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council request that, in order to prevent children being harmed by vehicle traffic, the New Bedford Police Department increase its presence around the Carlos Pacheco School during pick up and drop off times, especially on the Mt. Pleasant Street and Sawyer Street sides..” (Motion: Dunn, second: Giesta)
On motion by Councillor Dunn and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee Voted: To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on items eight (8) through twelve (12). This motion passed on a voice vote. They are as follows: Notice, City Clerk of reference of a Written Motion,…
To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on items eight (8) through twelve (12).
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Dunn and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council to take “No Further Action” on items eight (8) through twelve (12)..” (Motion: Dunn, second: Giesta)
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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