MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Ordinances · 7:00 p.m.
November 19, 2024
16 recorded votes, 4 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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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, Ryan J. Pereira
Absent: Derek Baptiste
During the meeting:
- Gomes arrived late (7:17)
Every vote, in order
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order and an Act, relating to Vacancies in the Office of Mayor in the City of New Bedford. (Referred – March 14, 2024.) (Matter Id #0306)
To remove the items from the table.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To remove the items from the table. (Matter #0306).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Abreu)
To receive and place on file copies of the Amendments submitted by Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel, and Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor. Atty. Gerwatowski was recognized and gave a summary of the proposed changes recommended by the Councillors at the July 17, 2024 Ordinance Committee meeting.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file copies of the Amendments submitted by Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel, and Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor. Atty. Gerwatowski was recognized and gave a summary of the proposed changes recommended by the Councillors at the July 17, 2024 Ordinance Committee meeting. (Matter #0306).” (Motion: Morad, second: Lopes)
To Amend the Act, by inserting at the end of the word “thereof” in the first paragraph of Section 1, the following: Upon the mayor’s office becoming vacant before the last 12 months, the city council shall then, forthwith, hold a meeting and elect by majority vote one of its members as mayor to serve until a mayor is elected and sworn as a result of said election.
The minutes record 5–5 with 10 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 Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To AMEND the ACT, by inserting at the end of the word “thereof” in the first paragraph of Section 1, the following: Upon the mayor’s office becoming vacant before the last 12 months, the city council shall then, forthwith, hold a meeting and elect by majority vote one of its members as mayor to serve until a mayor is elected and sworn as a result of said election. (Matter #0306).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Burgo)
To Amend the Act, by striking the language “6 months” in the first and second paragraph of Section 1 and replacing it with the language “12 months”.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Morad, the Committee VOTED: To AMEND the ACT, by striking the language “6 months” in the first and second paragraph of Section 1 and replacing it with the language “12 months”. (Matter #0306).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Morad)
To Amend the Order, by inserting, after the words “…Vacancies in the Office of the Mayor in the City of New Bedford”, the following words: “as hereto attached”.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To AMEND the ORDER, by inserting, after the words “…Vacancies in the Office of the Mayor in the City of New Bedford”, the following words: “as hereto attached”. (Matter #0306).” (Motion: Morad, second: Burgo)
To recommend to the City Council Adoption of the Order, as Amended and Adoption of the Act, as Amended, relating to Vacancies in the Office of Mayor in the City of New Bedford.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of the ORDER, AS AMENDED and ADOPTION of the ACT, AS AMENDED, relating to Vacancies in the Office of Mayor in the City of New Bedford. (Matter #0306).” (Motion: Morad, second: Burgo)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order and an Act, providing for the Recall of Elected Officers in the City of New Bedford. (Referred – March 14, 2024.) (Matter Id #0303)
To remove the items from the table.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To remove the items from the table. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Oliver)
To Amend the Act, by striking the language “Six hundred (600)” in Section 3A and replacing it with “Eighteen hundred (1800)”; and by striking the language “100” in Sections 3A and 3B and replacing it with “300”.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To AMEND the ACT, by striking the language “Six hundred (600)” in Section 3A and replacing it with “Eighteen hundred (1800)”; and by striking the language “100” in Sections 3A and 3B and replacing it with “300”. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Oliver, second: Lopes)
To move the previous question and end debate.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To move the previous question and end debate. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Morad, second: Lopes)
To Amend the Act, by striking the language “3 months” in Section 2 and replacing it with “12 months”; and by striking the language “6 months” in Section 2 and replacing it with “8 months”.
The minutes record 4–6 with 10 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 Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To AMEND the ACT, by striking the language “3 months” in Section 2 and replacing it with “12 months”; and by striking the language “6 months” in Section 2 and replacing it with “8 months”. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Oliver)
To Amend the Act, by striking the language “3 months” in Section 2 and replacing it with “4 months”; and by striking the language “6 months” in Section 2 and replacing it with “8 months”.
The minutes record 6–4 with 10 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 Burgo and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: To AMEND the ACT, by striking the language “3 months” in Section 2 and replacing it with “4 months”; and by striking the language “6 months” in Section 2 and replacing it with “8 months”. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Giesta)
To recommend to the City Council Adoption of the Order, as Amended and Adoption of the Act, as Amended, providing for the Recall of Elected Officers in the City of New Bedford.
The minutes record 4–6 with 10 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 Burgo and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of the ORDER, AS AMENDED and ADOPTION of the ACT, AS AMENDED, providing for the Recall of Elected Officers in the City of New Bedford. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Choquette)
Written Motion, Councillors Lopes and Oliver, requesting, that the Committee on Ordinances meet with the City Planner and Inspectional Services Commissioner to review and discuss the current condo legislation for a possible amendment to include the ability for Resident “A” zoned properties that are…
To remove the items from the table.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To remove the items from the table. (Matter #1008).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Oliver)
To receive and place on file a copy of the proposed Ordinance drafted by Atty. Gerwatowski relative to Condominiums in Residence A Zoned Districts.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file a copy of the proposed Ordinance drafted by Atty. Gerwatowski relative to Condominiums in Residence A Zoned Districts. (Matter #1008).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Gomes)
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Morad, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #1008).” (Motion: Carney, second: Morad)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell to City Council, submitting an Ordinance, amending Chapter 19, Section 19-7 (c) Personnel, inserting the title “Supervisor of Local Building Inspectors” at pay grade M-6. (Referred – September 12, 2024.) (Matter Id #1425)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Ordinance, Amending Chapter 19, Section 19-7 (c) Personnel, inserting the title “Supervisor of Local Building Inspectors” at pay grade M-6.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 19, Section 19-7 (c) PERSONNEL, inserting the title “Supervisor of Local Building Inspectors” at pay grade M-6. (Matter #1425).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Lopes)
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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