MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Organizational meeting · 7:00 p.m.
January 6, 2025
8 recorded votes, 3 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, Leo Choquette, Maria E. Giesta, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Linda M. Morad, Shawn Oliver, Ryan J. Pereira
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, notifying of Organizational Meeting of City Council to be held on Monday, January 06, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., in City Council Chambers, for the following purpose: a. Organization of the City Council for the year 2025 - Election of President. b.…
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #0001).”
Election of officers
Election of the 2025 City Council President (nominees: Councillor Burgo, nominated by Giesta and seconded by Pereira; Councillor Oliver, nominated by Choquette and seconded by Lopes)
To elect Councillor Burgo as 2025 City Council President (first roll call)
Yes: Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Morad, PereiraNo: Abreu, Choquette, Lopes, OliverThe minutes call this the election of the “2024” City Council President; it was the 2025 election. We have asked the City Clerk to confirm (Oct. 1, 2026).
From the minutes
“Election of the Councillor Burgo as 2024 City Council President by a roll call vote of Yeas 7, Nays 4. (Councillors Abreu, Choquette, Lopes and Oliver OPPOSED.).” (Motion: Giesta, second: Pereira)
To elect Councillor Oliver as 2025 City Council President
Yes: Abreu, Choquette, Lopes, OliverNo: Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Morad, PereiraThe minutes call this the election of the “2024” City Council President; it was the 2025 election. We have asked the City Clerk to confirm (Oct. 1, 2026).
From the minutes
“Election of the Councillor Oliver as 2024 City Council President by a roll call vote of Yeas 4, Nays 7. (Councillors Abreu, Choquette, Lopes and Oliver IN FAVOR.).” (Motion: Choquette, second: Lopes)
To elect Councillor Burgo as 2025 City Council President (roll call retaken)
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Gomes, Lopes, Morad, PereiraNo: Choquette, Oliver
From the minutes
“A roll call vote was retaken for the Election of Councillor Burgo for City Council President 2025 by a roll call vote of Yeas 9, Nays 2. (Councillors Choquette and Oliver OPPOSED.).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, submitting the Reappointment of Attorney Owen Murphy, Dartmouth, MA as Assistant City Solicitor for a one-year term expiring December 31, 2025.
Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Giesta, Gomes, Lopes, Morad, Oliver, Pereira
From the minutes
“Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0002).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, submitting the Reappointment of Attorney Michael J. Harrington, Little Compton, Ri as Assistant City Solicitor for a one-year term expiring December 31, 2025.
Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Giesta, Gomes, Lopes, Morad, Oliver, Pereira
From the minutes
“Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0003).”
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, submitting the Reappointments of Ian Mcnaught, Lakeville, MA, Zachary Dirocco, Wareham, MA and Joseph Rioux, Fall River, MA as Weighers of Merchandise for a one-year term expiring December 31, 2025, from L & S Industries, Inc.
Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Giesta, Gomes, Lopes, Morad, Oliver, Pereira
From the minutes
“Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 Waived – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0004).”
Written Motion, 2024 Council President Carney, submitting the Reappointment of Attorney David J. Gerwatowski, New Bedford, MA 02745, as Legislative Counsel to the City Council for a one-year term, expiring December 31, 2025.
Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 waived
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Giesta, Gomes, Lopes, Morad, Oliver, Pereira
From the minutes
“Rule 38 Waived, Reappointment Confirmed and Rule 40 waived – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0005).”
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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