MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods · 7:04 p.m.
March 11, 2025
9 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Attendance
Present: Derek Baptiste, Shane A. Burgo, Naomi R. A. Carney, Maria E. Giesta, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Linda M. Morad, Shawn Oliver
Absent: Ian Abreu, Leo Choquette, Ryan J. Pereira
During the meeting:
- Baptiste arrived late (7:12)
Every vote, in order
Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting that an amendment to Section 1 of the Home Rule Petition with the State, regarding the Appointment of Special Police Officers in the City of New Bedford, the change of the wording is Chapter 32 of the general law it should read: “No retired Police…
To remove the matter from the table. Deputy Police Chief Derek Belong was recognized, and he provided an update on the discussions that Police Chief Paul Oliveira has been having with the Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association regarding ongoing negotiations.
The minutes spell one name “Oliveira”; the only councilor with a similar name is Councilor Oliver, so it is read as Oliver. We have asked the City Clerk to confirm (Oct. 1, 2026).
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To remove the matter from the table. Deputy Police Chief Derek Belong was recognized, and he provided an update on the discussions that Police Chief Paul Oliveira has been having with the Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association regarding ongoing negotiations. (Matter #1388).” (Motion: Oliver, second: Carney)
To table the matter for ninety days.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter for ninety days. (Matter #1388).” (Motion: Morad, second: Oliver)
Communication, Councillor Gomes, submitting a copy of a letter sent to the New Bedford YMCA relating to two complaints filed with the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities regarding accessibility issues, and a report of the Commission’s subsequent review. (Matter Id #0024) (Referred – January…
To receive and place on file a copy of the presentation given by Mr. Shanklin relative to handicapped parking on and around the YMCA property. Mr. Shanklin noted that they have not yet had the opportunity to meet with the YMCA to address the Commission's concerns, but he provided the Committee with the following recommendations for their consideration.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file a copy of the presentation given by Mr. Shanklin relative to handicapped parking on and around the YMCA property. Mr. Shanklin noted that they have not yet had the opportunity to meet with the YMCA to address the Commission's concerns, but he provided the Committee with the following recommendations for their consideration. (Matter #0024).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Carney)
To table the matter for thirty days.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter for thirty days. (Matter #0024).” (Motion: Morad, second: Oliver)
Written Motion, Councillor Morad, requesting, that Department of Public Infrastructure Commissioner Jamie Ponte and the appropriate representative from Eversource's Roadway Repair Division appear before the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods to review the detailed listing of streets in the…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the matter at this time. (Matter #1215).” (Motion: Morad, second: Burgo)
Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Public Safety & Neighborhoods Committee meet with Police Chief Paul Oliveira, Fire Chief Scott Kruger and Emergency Medical Services (Ems) Director Michael Thomas for the purpose of implementing EpiPens and nasal spray treatments in every…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Morad and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the matter at this time. (Matter #1766).” (Motion: Morad, second: Oliver)
Written Motion, Councillor Oliver, requesting, that Fire Chief Scott Kruger and Fire Safety Educator Anthony Poente appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, to discuss safety protocols and standard operating procedures in anticipation of the new fleet of electric school buses…
To receive and place on file a copy of the presentation given by the Fire Department relative to Lithium-Ion battery fires.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file a copy of the presentation given by the Fire Department relative to Lithium-Ion battery fires. (Matter #0152).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Oliver)
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Morad, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the matter at this time. (Matter #0152).” (Motion: Oliver, second: Morad)
On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee Voted: To follow the Chair’s recommendation to waive the reading and take “No Further Action” on the following items: Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods,…
To follow the Chair’s recommendation to waive the reading and take “No Further Action” on the following items: Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, meet with a Representative from the Mayor’s Office, Police Chief Cordeiro, the Community Development Director Patrick Sullivan, the President of Neighborhoods United, Scott Downing, Execut
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To follow the Chair’s recommendation to waive the reading and take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the following items: WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, meet with a Representative from the Mayor’s Office, Police Chief Cordeiro, the Community Development Director Patrick Sullivan, the President of Neighborhoods United, Scott Downing, Executive Secretary, Traffic Commission, and Chairs from neighborhood crime watch groups from across the City, for the purposes of discussing the creation of new neighborhood crime watch signs; these new signs will be placed in all present areas that have crime watch groups and awarded to new neighborhood crime watch groups that organize and participate in making their neighborhoods safer across the City. (Matter ID #0105) (Referred – January 25, 2018.) (June 26, 2018 – tabled; letters sent to Patrick Sullivan and Ari Sky asking if there are City funds available to create crime watch neighborhood signs to be placed throughout the City.) (March 19, 2024 – tabled 60 days) WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes, Baptiste, Carney, Abreu, Oliver and Lima, requesting, that the Mayor take $100,000 of ARPA monies to purchase 10 to 12 solar radar speed limit signs; this signage is needed throughout the City to reduce speeding. (Matter ID #1431) (Referred – August 17, 2023.) (September 11, 2023 – RETURNED UNSIGNED by the Mayor.) (February 28, 2024 – tabled) (July 15, 2024 – tabled) (August 26, 2024 – tabled) RELATED MOTION, Councillor Pereira, requesting, that the Mayor inform the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods why the original request for the use of ARPA funds to purchase 10 to 12 solar radar speed limit signs was not acted upon. (Referred from Committee – July 15, 2024.) (August 26, 2024 – resend motion to Mayor requesting a response within 30 days; tabled) COMMUNICATION, Councillor Gomes, submitting a letter from MassDOT, District Highway Director, in response to an invitation to the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods meeting that was held on March 19, 2024. (Matter ID #0494) (Referred – April 11, 2024.) (Matter #0105).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Oliver)
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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