MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford City Council · 2020–2021 Council · Regular meeting · 7:01 p.m.
February 25, 2021
22 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Present: Ian Abreu, Derek Baptiste, 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: None
During the meeting:
- Baptiste arrived late ()
Every vote, in order
Petition, Edward W. Bolduc, Westport, MA 02790 d/b/a Cojo’s Toy World, 763 Purchase Street, requesting that he be granted a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-18 of the City Code, to obtain a License to Deal in Junk, Old Metals or Any Other Second Hand Articles. (Referred to the…
Waiver of Residency Granted
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Waiver of Residency Granted – Yeas 9, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. Councillors Baptiste and Giesta not present for vote. Presented to the Mayor for approval March 01, 2021. Approved March 04, 2021. (Matter #0145).”
Petition, Jason J. Aguiar, Swansea, MA 02777-4947 d/b/a Cojo’s Toy World, 763 Purchase Street, requesting that he be granted a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-18 of the City Code, to obtain a License to Deal in Junk, Old Metals or Any Other Second Hand Articles. Referred to the…
Waiver of Residency Granted
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Waiver of Residency Granted – Yeas 10, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors, Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, and Morad. Councillor Baptiste not present for vote. Presented to the Mayor for approval March 1, 2021. Approved March 4, 2021. (Matter #0146).”
Written Motion, Councillor Coelho, requesting, that Will Gardner, Executive Director, Alma Del Mar Charter School be invited to attend a Committee on Appointments and Briefings meeting to update the members on his intent to expand classroom sizes and accept more students. (Referred to the Committee…
NO FURTHER ACTION
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“NO FURTHER ACTION – Yeas 10, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. Councillors Baptiste not present for vote. (Matter #1387).”
Written Motion, Council President Morad, requesting, that Park Board Chairperson Peter Boswell and Suzanne Sullivan, Chairperson of the non-profit Save The Bells, Inc., be invited to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings to provide an update regarding the bell tower project and the proposed…
NO FURTHER ACTION
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“NO FURTHER ACTION – Yeas 10, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. Councillors Baptiste not present for vote. (Matter #0573).”
Written Motion, Councillors Coelho, Lima, Lopes, Council President Morad, and Councillor Giesta, requesting that the Executive Director of the New Bedford Business Park, Derek Santos, come before the Committee on Appointment and Briefings for purpose of briefing the Committee Members, on the…
NO FURTHER ACTION
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“NO FURTHER ACTION – Yeas 10, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. Councillors Baptiste not present for vote. (Matter #0969).”
Written Motion, Councillor Abreu, Council President Lopes, Councillors Giesta, Lima, Baptiste and Carney, requesting, that the City of New Bedford look into establishing a Government Academy, similar to the program in Framingham, a six-week program where Citizens learn about the functions of City…
NO FURTHER ACTION
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“NO FURTHER ACTION – Yeas 10, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. Councillors Baptiste not present for vote. (Matter #0025).”
Written Motion, Councillors Morad, Abreu, Giesta, Council President Lopes, Councillors Carney, Lima and Markey, requesting that Chief Financial Officer Ari Sky appear before the Committee on Finance to discuss the Administration’s intentions concerning another Tax Title sale for properties…
NO FURTHER ACTION
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“NO FURTHER ACTION – Yeas 10, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. Councillors Baptiste not present for vote. (Matter #1636).”
Written Motion, Councillors Giesta, Abreu, Council President Lopes, Councillors Lima and Carney and Coelho, requesting that City Solicitor Mikaela McDermott, DPI Commissioner Jamie Ponte, Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches Mary Rapoza, and the Director of Purchasing Molly Gilfeather, be…
Referred to the Committee on City Property
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on City Property – Yeas 11, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. (Matter #0232).”
Written Motion, Councillors Dunn, Abreu, Giesta, Council President Lopes, Councillors Lima, Carney, Markey, Gomes and Baptiste, requesting, that Police Chief Cordeiro, Public Information Officer Scott Carola and Police Union President Turgeon be invited to a meeting of the Committee on Public…
Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods – Yeas 11, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. (Matter #0233).”
Written Motion, Councillors Dunn, Abreu, Giesta, Council President Lopes, Councillors Morad, Lima, Carney, Markey and Gomes, requesting that New Bedford Police Department conduct an evaluation of the Shot Spotter program, the efficacy of the program, analyze the data the system gathers, and assess…
Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, Police Chief Cordeiro and Police Union President Hank Turgeon
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, Police Chief Cordeiro and Police Union President Hank Turgeon – Yeas 11, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. (Matter #0234).”
Written Motion, Councillors Dunn, Abreu, Giesta, Council President Lopes, Lima, Carney, Markey and Gomes, requesting, that New Bedford Police Chief Cordeiro brief the City Council on the recent shootings at the Brickenwood Housing Development and on Tallman Street. (To be Referred to Committee on…
Referred to the Committee on Public safety and Neighborhoods, Police Chief Cordeiro and Police Union President Hank Turgeon
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Public safety and Neighborhoods, Police Chief Cordeiro and Police Union President Hank Turgeon – Yeas 11, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. (Matter #0235).”
Written Motion, Council President Lopes, Councillors Abreu and Lima, requesting that the Mitchell Administration work with the City’s public safety units (Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Management) in regard to implementing a City-wide after hours and weekend Covid-19…
Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods – Yeas 11, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. (Matter #0236).”
Written Motion Councillors Gomes, Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Lima, Council President Lopes, Councillors Markey and Morad, requesting that the City Council once more go on record and a letter be sent to the Administration of our opposition to the Mayor’s decision to close and…
Referred to the Administration, Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and Rule 40 Waived as Amended
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Referred to the Administration, Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and Rule 40 Waived as Amended – Yeas 11, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. (Matter #0237).”
Related Motion, Councillor Gomes requesting that the Committee on Finance be provided with a Y-t-d expenditure of all salaries and overtime associated with the Fire Department.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 11, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. (Matter #0238).”
Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Karen Maciulewicz, 128 Chipaway Road, East Freetown, MA 02717 d/b/a Project Independence Services, INC., 250 Elm Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a Renewal of a…
) Livery License Renewal Granted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“) Livery License Renewal Granted – Yeas 10, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. Councillor Dunn not present for the vote. Presented to the Mayor for approval March 01, 2021. Approved March 4, 2020. (Matter #0241).”
Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Khalil Arsanios, 1220 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 d/b/a International Transportation LLC, 1220 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a Renewal of A…
) Livery License Renewal Granted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“) Livery License Renewal Granted – Yeas 10, Nays 0. YEAS: Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad. Councillor Dunn not present for the vote. Presented to the Mayor for approval March 01, 2021. Approved March 4, 2020. (Matter #0242).”
Constable Bond, Ronald Russo III, New Bedford, MA 02740 with Western Surety Company in the amount of $5,000.00.
Approved
Application, W.c. Smith & Son, for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction at 126 Clara Street/ Cleveland Street, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on February 10, 2021, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council.
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified. (Matter #0257).”
Application, W.c. Smith & Son, to Disturb the Surface, of 126 Clara Street/Cleveland Street, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on February 14, 2021, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council.
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified. (Matter #0258).”
Applications, Eversource Gas, to Disturb the Surface, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on February 10, 2021, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council as follows: Oaklawn Street working from Brock Avenue to West Rodney French Boulevard (#0259) 267-269 Ashley Boulevard (#0260) 110…
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified..”
Applications, Eversource Gas, to Disturb the Surface, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on February 19, 2021, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council as follows: Nelson Street, working from 94 Nelson Street to South Second Street including intersections (#0278) Scott Street…
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified..”
Applications, Frade’s Disposal, Inc, for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on February 10, 2021, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council as follows: 19 Lang Street
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified. (Matter #0280).”
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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