MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods · 7:00 p.m.
April 23, 2025
4 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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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, Ryan J. Pereira
Absent: None
During the meeting:
- Burgo arrived late (7:15)
Every vote, in order
Written Motion, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, on behalf of D.f. Pray, that the following street(s) be Closed: A Portion of Eighth Street, from 13 Eighth Street to the corner of Spring Street, from Monday, May 5, 2025, at 7:00 A.m. to Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 5:00 P.m., for the purpose of…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Written Motion, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, on behalf of D.f. Pray, that the following street(s) be Closed: A Portion of Eighth Street, from 13 Eighth Street to the corner of Spring Street, from Monday, May 5, 2025, at 7:00 A.m. to Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 5:00 P.m., for the purpose of construction and renovation at 278 Union Street.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Baptiste and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, on behalf of D.F. PRAY, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: A PORTION OF EIGHTH STREET, from 13 Eighth Street to the corner of Spring Street, FROM MONDAY, MAY 5, 2025, AT 7:00 A.M. TO WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2025, AT 5:00 P.M., for the purpose of construction and renovation at 278 Union Street. (Matter #0320).” (Motion: Baptiste, second: Abreu)
Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods meet with downtown merchants, property owners and business owners to discuss their concerns and ideas on improvements in the downtown and historical areas, and use this discussion as an opportunity to…
To receive and place on file the letter submitted by Jenny Newman-Arruda. Jess Morgado also offered her own comments, calling for restrooms in the Downtown area.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file the letter submitted by Jenny Newman-Arruda. Jess Morgado also offered her own comments, calling for restrooms in the Downtown area. (Matter #1356).” (Motion: Oliver, second: Lopes)
To recommend that the City Council convene a roundtable discussion at the Downtown Library, to include the Mayor, at his earliest convenience, to further discuss the issues of Downtown business owners and residents.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Giesta, Gomes, Lopes, Morad, Oliver, Pereira
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Baptiste and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council convene a roundtable discussion at the Downtown Library, to include the Mayor, at his earliest convenience, to further discuss the issues of Downtown business owners and residents. (Matter #1356).” (Motion: Baptiste, second: Choquette)
The following matter was not read: Written Motion, Councillors Morad and Gomes, requesting that Chief Financial Officer Robert Ekstrom and Department of Facilities and Fleet Management Director Jennifer Vieira appear before the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods to review operational…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillors Morad and Gomes, requesting that Chief Financial Officer Robert Ekstrom and Department of Facilities and Fleet Management Director Jennifer Vieira appear before the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods to review operational provisions within the Capitol Waste Services contract that are alleged to h
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Morad and Gomes, requesting that Chief Financial Officer Robert Ekstrom and Department of Facilities and Fleet Management Director Jennifer Vieira appear before the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods to review operational provisions within the Capitol Waste Services contract that are alleged to have been disregarded by the contractor and pose significant safety concerns for the company's employees and the residents of the City of New Bedford. (Matter #0849).” (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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