MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford City Council · 2022–2023 Council · Regular meeting · 7:00 p.m.
May 11, 2023
49 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Present: Ian Abreu, Derek Baptiste, Shane A. Burgo, Naomi R. A. Carney, Maria E. Giesta, Brian K. Gomes, Scott J. Lima, Shawn Oliver, Ryan J. Pereira
Absent: William “Brad” Markey, Linda M. Morad
Every vote, in order
Communication, Council President Morad, to Members of the City Council, informing that she will be unable to attend the City Council Meeting on Thursday, May 11, 2023, due to a personal commitment.
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0833).”
Communication, Councillor Markey, to Members of the City Council, notifying that he will be unable to attend the City Council Meeting on Thursday, May 11, 2023, due to a family commitment.
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0834).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Reappointment of Kimberli Bettencourt, New Bedford, MA, to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities; this term will expire in May 2026.
Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Oliver, PereiraAbsent: Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived – Yeas 9, Nays 0. (Matter #0835).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Reappointment of Marsha F. Fernandes, New Bedford, MA, to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities; this term will expire in May 2026.
Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Oliver, PereiraAbsent: Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived – Yeas 9, Nays 0. (Matter #0836).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Reappointment of Reverend Pamela Cole, New Bedford, MA, to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities; this term will expire in May 2026.
Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Oliver, PereiraAbsent: Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived – Yeas 9, Nays 0. (Matter #0837).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Reappointment of Dr. Elizabeth Blanchard, New Bedford, MA, to the Board of Health; this term will expire in April 2026.
Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Oliver, PereiraAbsent: Markey, Morad
From the minutes
“Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived – Yeas 9, Nays 0. (Matter #0838).”
Written Motion, Councillors Giesta, Pereira, Abreu, Gomes and Baptiste, requesting that the City Council go on record reaffirming their continued support of the MBTA Southcoast Commuter Rail project and that the project remain on the current timeline with service expected to begin later this year.
Referred to the MBTA, Governor Maura Healey, our Local State Delegation and the Administration
From the minutes
“Referred to the MBTA, Governor Maura Healey, our Local State Delegation and the Administration. (Matter #0839).”
Written Motion, Councillors Abreu and Pereira, requesting that New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira come before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to discuss on-going public issues relating to the south end of the City, where residents and business owners alike are growing…
Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira. (Matter #0840).”
Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Christopher Okafor, 27 Maddie Drive, New Bedford, MA 02745 d/b/a Kik Transportation, 27 Maddie Drive, New Bedford, MA 02745, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a Renewal of a Private Livery…
Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings. (Matter #0841).”
Communication, Council President Morad, submitting a letter from Atty. Eric C. Cohen, Executive Director of the New Bedford Retirement Board, regarding the New Bedford Contributory Retirement Board’s vote to approve an additional two percent (2%) Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) retroactive to the…
Referred to the Committee on Finance
From the minutes
“Referred to the Committee on Finance. (Matter #0842).”
Communication, Department of Parks, Recreation and Beaches, submitting a Memorial Park Bench and Tree Dedication Program Application for a Memorial Park Bench and Plaque to be located at Buttonwood Park Zoo (outside of the Zoo facing the Elephant Enclosure) in memory of Beverly A. (Almeida) Souza.…
Referred to the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications
From the minutes
“Referred to the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications. (Matter #0843).”
Communication, Council President Morad, submitting a copy of a letter sent to Arthur Glassman, Chairperson of the Planning Board, in support of Case 22-15, a request submitted by NorthStar Learning Centers, Inc. for a one-year extension of a Special Permit for a reduction in parking (To be Received…
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0844).”
Communication, Councillor Gomes submitting a copy of a letter sent to Ms. Downing of 796 Rockdale Avenue regarding a sidewalk repair in front of said address. (To be Received and Placed on File.)
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0845).”
Citation, Councillor Gomes, honoring Andrea Joy Campbell, Attorney General, in recognition of her commitment and dedication to protecting the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Adopted, to be presented at a later date
From the minutes
“Adopted, to be presented at a later date. (Matter #0846).”
Citations, Councillor Gomes, honoring Catia Andrade, Juniel Jordan, Nathan Pacheco, Cameron Patota, Hector Rivera and Logan St. Louis, in recognition of their Appointments as New Bedford Police Officers.
Adopted, to be presented at a later date
From the minutes
“Adopted, to be presented at a later date. (Matter #0847).”
Written Motion, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, on behalf of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, that the following street(s) be Closed: Johnny Cake Hill, from William Street to Union Street, on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 7:00 A.m. to Monday, July 17, at 12:00 P.m. (Noon), for the purpose of “Under…
Permission Granted
Written Motion, Councillor Giesta, requesting, on behalf of the Global Learning Charter Public School, that the following street(s) be Written Motion, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, on behalf of the Department of Tourism and Marketing, that the following street(s) be Closed: Union Street, from…
Permission Granted
Closed: Nye Street, from Ashley Boulevard to Acushnet Avenue, from 4:00 P.m. to 8:00 P.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2023, for the purpose of the School’s 8th Grade Graduation. Permission Granted.
Permission Granted
Written Motion, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, that the following street(s) be Closed: Acushnet Avenue, from William Street to Union Street; William Street, from Johnny Cake Hill to North Second Street and Barker’s Lane, South Side of Custom House Square (This Closure is needed as a Public Safety…
Permission Granted
Petition/Indemnity Agreement, the Drawing Room, for Permission to Erect and Maintain a 12” x 24” Non-Illuminated Projecting Sign at 22 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified. (Matter #0852).”
Constable Bond, Anthony J. Poente, Jr., Dartmouth, MA 02747, in the amount of $5,000.00 with the Western Surety Company.
Approved
Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to the City Council, notifying that the Office of the City Clerk has received Meeting Minutes from the Board of Health for a meeting held on February 23, 2023; the Library Board for meetings held on June 28, November 29 and December 27, 2022 and…
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0854).”
Application, Massachusetts Design Art & Technology Institute, Inc., for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction at 4 Fish Island, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 02, 2023, 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 #0855).”
Applications, Mike Andrade Excavation, for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on April 28, 2023, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council as follows: 43 Ambergris Lane (#0856) 101 Maxfield Street (#0857)
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified..”
Application, Century Paving, for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction at 756 South Front Street, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on April 28, 2023, 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 #0858).”
Application, Geologic Earth Exploration, Inc., for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction at 195 Viaduct (State, County, Purchase, Cedar Grove and Penniman Streets), provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 01, 2023, 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 #0859).”
Applications, W.c. Smith & Son, Inc., for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 01, 2023, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council as follows: Corner of Brock Avenue and Hudson Street (#0860) 134 Deane Street (#0861)
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified..”
Application, R.j. Canessa Excavating, for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction at 1856 Acushnet Avenue, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 04, 2023, 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 #0862).”
Application, Forgen, LLC, for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction at 740 Belleville Avenue, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 04, 2023, 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 #0863).”
Application, Ponte’s Excavating Company, for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction at Brock Avenue (w.s.) 126’ s x Hudson Street, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 04, 2023, 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 #0864).”
Application, R.j. Canessa Excavating, for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction at 3660 Acushnet Avenue, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 08, 2023, 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 #0865).”
Application, Jlc Construction, for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction at 85 Campbell Street, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 08, 2023, 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 #0866).”
Applications, Mike Andrade Excavation, to Disturb the Surface, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on April 28, 2023, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council as follows: 43 Ambergris Lane (#0867) 101 Maxfield Street (#0868)
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified..”
Application, Century Paving, to Disturb the Surface, of 756 South Front Street, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on April 28, 2023, 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 #0869).”
Application, Geologic Earth Exploration, Inc., to Disturb the Surface, of 195 Viaduct (State, County, Purchase, Cedar Grove and Penniman Streets), provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 01, 2023, 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 #0870).”
Applications, W.c. Smith & Son, Inc., to Disturb the Surface, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 01, 2023, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council as follows: Corner of Brock Avenue and Hudson Street (#0871) 134 Deane Street (#0872)
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified..”
Application, R.j. Canessa Excavating, Co., to Disturb the Surface, of 1856 Acushnet Avenue, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 04, 2023, 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 #0873).”
Application, Forgen, LLC, to Disturb the Surface, of 740 Belleville Avenue, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 04, 2023, 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 #0874).”
Application, Ponte’s Excavating Company, to Disturb the Surface, of Brock Avenue (w.s.) 126’ s x Hudson Street, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 04, 2023, 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 #0875).”
Application, R.j. Canessa Excavating, to Disturb the Surface, of 3660 Acushnet Avenue, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 08, 2023, 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 #0876).”
Application, Jlc Construction, to Disturb the Surface, of 85 Campbell Street, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 08, 2023, 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 #0877).”
Applications, Eversource Gas, to Disturb the Surface, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on April 27, 2023, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council as follows: Church Street, from Nash Road to Park Avenue (including intersections) (#0878) 74 Plymouth Street (#0879) 109 Locust…
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified..”
Application, Eversource Gas, to Disturb the Surface, of 16-18 Madeira Avenue, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 04, 2023, 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 #0882).”
Applications, E.l. Harvey, for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on April 27, 2023, subject to ratification by the Mayor and City Council as follows: 854 Rockdale Avenue (#0883) 65 Forest Street (#0884) 60 Cove Street (#0885) 8 Plymouth Street…
Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified
From the minutes
“Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified..”
Application, Couto Construction, Inc., for permission to maintain a Street Obstruction at 46 Campbell Street, provisionally granted by the City Clerk on May 01, 2023, 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 #0891).”
Petition, Nstar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of two (2) Fo Poles and one (1) Anchor in June Street, to provide electric service to Lot 726 June Street.
RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR MAY 25, 2023
From the minutes
“RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR MAY 25, 2023..”
Petition, Nstar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 54’ of Conduit and Cable and two (2) Handholes in Purchase Street, to provide electric service to 475 Purchase Street.
RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR MAY 25, 2023
From the minutes
“RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR MAY 25, 2023..”
Petition, Nstar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 45’ of Conduit and Cable and one (1) Manhole in River Road, this work is necessary part of the 4k V conversion system improvement project.
RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR MAY 25, 2023
From the minutes
“RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR MAY 25, 2023..”
Petition, Nstar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 75’ of Conduit and Cable in Nash Road, to provide electric service to 40 Edison Street.
RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR MAY 25, 2023
From the minutes
“RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR MAY 25, 2023..”
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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