MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Meeting night
September 30, 2024
2 meetings this evening, 10 recorded votes in all, in the order they were held.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Your New Bedford ballot: 15 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →6:04 p.m. · Committee on Finance
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
Committee on Finance: committee votes are recommendations to the full council, which takes the final vote. About this committee
Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Shane A. Burgo, Naomi R. A. Carney, Leo Choquette, Maria E. Giesta, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Linda M. Morad, Shawn Oliver
Absent: Derek Baptiste, Ryan J. Pereira
During the meeting:
- Burgo arrived late (6:42)
- Carney arrived late (6:22)
- Gomes arrived late (6:05)
2 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
Communication, (Matter Id #1434)
To recommend to the City Council Adoption of the Loan Order, appropriating $1,362,200.00 to pay the costs of paving the Runway 5 Perimeter Road at the New Bedford Regional Airport and for the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto.
The minutes record 8 yes votes with 9 councilors present and do not say who did not vote, so individual votes are not shown. We have asked the City Clerk to confirm (Oct. 1, 2026).
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of the LOAN ORDER, appropriating $1,362,200.00 to pay the costs of paving the Runway 5 Perimeter Road at the New Bedford Regional Airport and for the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto. (Matter #1434).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Carney)
Communication, (Matter Id #1431)
To recommend to the City Council Adoption of an Order and Approval of the First Amendment to Lease and Lease Extension, between the New Bedford Regional Airport and Bridgewater State University for premises located at 1852 Shawmut Avenue.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of AN ORDER and APPROVAL of the FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE AND LEASE EXTENSION, between the New Bedford Regional Airport and Bridgewater State University for premises located at 1852 Shawmut Avenue. (Matter #1431).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Gomes)
7:00 p.m. · Committee on Appointments and Briefings
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
Committee on Appointments and Briefings: committee votes are recommendations to the full council, which takes the final vote. About this committee
Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Derek Baptiste, Shane A. Burgo, Naomi R. A. Carney, Leo Choquette, Maria E. Giesta, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Linda M. Morad, Shawn Oliver
Absent: Ryan J. Pereira
During the meeting:
- Baptiste arrived late (7:14)
8 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
Public Hearing, on an Application, Hakim Atkinson, d/b/a A1 Auto Gallery, for a Special Permit for Motor Vehicle Sales and/or Rentals and Light Service, at 832 Rockdale Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02740. (Application Received – August 22, 2024.) (Duly advertised in The Standard-Times on Monday,…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Application, Hakim Atkinson, d/b/a A1 Auto Gallery, for a Special Permit for Motor Vehicle Sales and/or Rentals and Light Service, at 832 Rockdale Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02740.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPLICATION, Hakim Atkinson, d/b/a A1 Auto Gallery, for a SPECIAL PERMIT for Motor Vehicle Sales and/or Rentals and Light Service, at 832 Rockdale Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02740..” (Motion: Burgo, second: Lopes)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Brad Markey, New Bedford, MA to the Airport Commission; Mr. Markey will be replacing Dr. Russell Olson, who resigned on January 30, 2024; this term will expire December 2025. (Referred – September 12, 2024.) (Matter Id…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Appointment of Brad Markey, New Bedford, MA, to the Airport Commission. Mr. Markey will be replacing Dr. Russell Olson, who resigned on January 30, 2024; this term will expire December 2025.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPOINTMENT of BRAD MARKEY, New Bedford, MA, to the AIRPORT COMMISSION. Mr. Markey will be replacing Dr. Russell Olson, who resigned on January 30, 2024; this term will expire December 2025. (Matter #1436).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Carney)
Communication, Amelia Moore, 241 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA, presentation given at an Appointments and Briefings Committee meeting during Citizen’s Input Time regarding her proposed “Grandfather Tax Law”. (Presented – February 15, 2024.) On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by…
To Receive and Place on File the hardcopy of the presentation (Senior Tax Law Proposal) submitted by Amelia Moore.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Baptiste, the Committee VOTED: To Receive and Place on File the hardcopy of the presentation (Senior Tax Law Proposal) submitted by Amelia Moore..” (Motion: Burgo, second: Baptiste)
To Table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To TABLE the matter at this time..” (Motion: Morad, second: Burgo)
Written Motion, Councillor Choquette, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with a Representative of the Department of Public Infrastructure- Water Division, a Representative of the Treasurer’s Office, and Ward One Resident Christine Levasseur of 902 May Street, to…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillor Choquette, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with a Representative of the Department of Public Infrastructure-Water Division, a Representative of the Treasurer’s Office, and Ward One Resident Christine Levasseur of 902 May Street, to discuss the process of water bill payment
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Choquette, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with a Representative of the Department of Public Infrastructure-Water Division, a Representative of the Treasurer’s Office, and Ward One Resident Christine Levasseur of 902 May Street, to discuss the process of water bill payments through LockBox in Boston, MA, and the implementation of a possible alternative for City residents in the payment procedures. (Matter #1444).” (Motion: Morad, second: Gomes)
Written Motion, Councillors Abreu, Pereira and Choquette, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Michele Paul, Director of Environmental Stewardship, to discuss New Bedford's Floodplain Management and explore the possibility of joining FEMA's Community Rating System.…
To recommend that the City Council request that the Administration take immediate action to participate in FEMAs Flood Insurance Community Rating System due to the amount of money collected from New Bedford Properties that are insured under the FEMA Flood Plan.
From the minutes
“The Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council request that the Administration take immediate action to participate in FEMAs Flood Insurance Community Rating System due to the amount of money collected from New Bedford Properties that are insured under the FEMA Flood Plan. (Matter #1217).”
To table the matter for 90 days at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter for 90 days at this time. (Matter #1217).” (Motion: Oliver, second: Carney)
Written Motion, Councillors Gomes and Lopes, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Director of Tourism & Marketing Ashley Payne and Marketing Manager Amy Desrosiers for the purpose of discussing a light pole and banner sponsorship program in the City, primarily in…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillors Gomes and Lopes, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Director of Tourism & Marketing Ashley Payne and Marketing Manager Amy Desrosiers for the purpose of discussing a light pole and banner sponsorship program in the City, primarily in business districts and along Route 1
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes and Lopes, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Director of Tourism & Marketing Ashley Payne and Marketing Manager Amy Desrosiers for the purpose of discussing a light pole and banner sponsorship program in the City, primarily in business districts and along Route 18, which will not only serve to beautify the City, but will also generate revenue and promote local businesses. (Matter #0856).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Burgo)
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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