MassVoter.com← New BedfordMunicipal votes · 2022–2023 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 2021; organizational meeting January 3, 2022. Ward 3: Hugh Dunn resigned effective December 3, 2022; Shawn Oliver won the February 28, 2023 special election and was sworn in March 3, 2023. Covers 66 meetings, January 3 to December 14, 2023.
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.
Start my ballot →Council sessions
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read New Bedford’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Councilors
PresidentIan AbreuCouncil President (2022) · At-large · at 59 of 66 meetings
1st Vice PresidentLinda M. MoradFirst Vice President (2022); Council President (2023) · At-large · at 63 of 66 meetings
2nd Vice PresidentBrian K. GomesSecond Vice President (2022) · At-large · at 60 of 66 meetings
Derek BaptisteCity Councilor · Ward 4 · at 58 of 66 meetings
Shane A. BurgoCity Councilor · At-large · at 63 of 66 meetings
Naomi R. A. CarneyCity Councilor · At-large · at 65 of 66 meetingsHugh DunnCity Councilor · Ward 3 · at 23 of 30 meetings · until Nov 2022
Maria E. GiestaCity Councilor · Ward 2 · at 61 of 66 meetingsScott J. LimaCity Councilor · Ward 5 · at 62 of 66 meetingsWilliam “Brad” MarkeyCity Councilor · Ward 1 · at 63 of 66 meetings
Shawn OliverCity Councilor · Ward 3 · at 28 of 29 meetings · from Mar 2023
Ryan J. PereiraCity Councilor · Ward 6 · at 62 of 66 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.
Dec 14Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order,…Motion: Reconsideration FAILEDFailed 3–7 · No: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey
December 14, 2023: Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order, authorizing the City to enter into a five-year lease with All American Investment Group, LLC for the purchase of eleven vehicles…
Reconsideration FAILED
Yes: Burgo, Morad, OliverNo: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, MarkeyAbsent: Pereira
From the minutes
“Reconsideration FAILED – Yeas 3, Nays 7. (Councillor Burgo, Council President Morad and Councillor Oliver IN FAVOR.) (Matter #2009).”
Dec 14Ordered, that the City of New Bedford is hereby…Motion: RECONSIDERATION FAILEDFailed 3–7 · No: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey
December 14, 2023: Ordered, that the City of New Bedford is hereby authorized to enter into a five-year lease with all American Investment Group, LLC, for the purchase eleven vehicles as follows: Backhoe…
RECONSIDERATION FAILED
Yes: Burgo, Morad, OliverNo: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, MarkeyAbsent: Pereira
From the minutes
“RECONSIDERATION FAILED – Yeas 3, Nays 7. (Councillor Burgo, Council President Morad and Councillor Oliver IN FAVOR.) (Matter #2010).”
Nov 21Ordered, that the sum of Ninety-three Thousand, Six Hundred…Motion: AdoptedPassed 9–2 · No: Giesta, Morad
November 21, 2023: Ordered, that the sum of Ninety-three Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy- Three Dollars ($93,673.00) now standing to the credit of the account from Ordinary Revenue and Municipal Receipts be and the…
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Oliver, PereiraNo: Giesta, Morad
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 9, Nays 2. (Council President Morad and Councillor Giesta OPPOSED.) (Matter #1766).”
Nov 21Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council…Motion: Motion to Amend to $544,391.00 - PassedPassed 8–3 · No: Gomes, Lima, Markey
November 21, 2023: Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council Adoption of the Order as Amended, appropriating $1,544,391.00 from Ordinary Revenue and Municipal Receipts to General Government Unclassified, Charges & Services.
Motion to Amend to $544,391.00 - Passed
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Gomes, Lima, Markey
From the minutes
“Motion to Amend to $544,391.00 - Passed Yeas 8, Nays 3. (Councillors Gomes, Lima and Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1946).”
Nov 21Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council…Motion: Adopted as AmendedPassed 10–1 · No: Markey
November 21, 2023: Report, Committee on Finance, recommending to the City Council Adoption of the Order as Amended, appropriating $1,544,391.00 from Ordinary Revenue and Municipal Receipts to General Government Unclassified, Charges & Services.
Adopted as Amended
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Markey
From the minutes
“Adopted as Amended – Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1946).”
Nov 21Ordered, that the sum of Two Million, One Hundred…Motion: Motion to AMEND to $544,391.00 - PassedPassed 8–3 · No: Gomes, Lima, Markey
November 21, 2023: Ordered, that the sum of Two Million, One Hundred Seventy-two Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-five Dollars ($2,172,445) Five Hundred Forty-four Thousand, Three Ninety-one Dollars ($544,391) now standing to the credit…
Motion to AMEND to $544,391.00 - Passed
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Gomes, Lima, Markey
From the minutes
“Motion to AMEND to $544,391.00 - Passed - Yeas 8, Nays 3 (Councillors Gomes, Lima and Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1768).”
Nov 21Ordered, that the sum of Two Million, One Hundred…Motion: Adopted as AMENDEDPassed 10–1 · No: Markey
November 21, 2023: Ordered, that the sum of Two Million, One Hundred Seventy-two Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-five Dollars ($2,172,445) Five Hundred Forty-four Thousand, Three Ninety-one Dollars ($544,391) now standing to the credit…
Adopted as AMENDED
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Markey
From the minutes
“Adopted as AMENDED – Yeas 10, Nays 1 (Councillor Markey OPPOSED.) (Matter #1768).”
Nov 21Ordered, that the sum of One Million, Four Hundred…Motion: AdoptedPassed 10–1 · No: Baptiste
November 21, 2023: Ordered, that the sum of One Million, Four Hundred Fifty-five Thousand, Six Hundred and Nine Dollars ($1,455,609) ) now standing to the credit of the account from Ordinary Revenue and…
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Baptiste
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 10, Nays 1 (Councillor Baptiste OPPOSED.) (Matter #1770).”
Oct 26An Ordinance, amending Chapter 19, Article II, relating to…Motion: Passed to be OrdainedPassed 10–1 · No: Burgo
October 26, 2023: An Ordinance, amending Chapter 19, Article II, relating to the residency of the Administrative Assistant to the Board of Assessors. (Passed to a Second Reading– September 28, 2023.)
Passed to be Ordained
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Burgo
From the minutes
“Passed to be Ordained – Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Burgo OPPOSED.) (Matter #1265).”
Oct 26Report, Committee on Ordinances, recommending to the City Council…Motion: Recommendation FollowedPassed 10–1 · No: Burgo
October 26, 2023: Report, Committee on Ordinances, recommending to the City Council Adoption of the Home Rule Petition authorizing the Administrative Assistant to the Board of Assessors of the City of New Bedford…
Recommendation Followed
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Morad, Oliver, PereiraNo: Burgo
From the minutes
“Recommendation Followed – Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Burgo OPPOSED.) (Matter #1656).”
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.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →