MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Finance · 6:02 p.m.
May 12, 2025
7 recorded votes, 3 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Attendance
Present: Derek Baptiste, Shane A. Burgo, Leo Choquette, Maria E. Giesta, Joseph P. Lopes, Linda M. Morad, Shawn Oliver, Ryan J. Pereira
Absent: Ian Abreu, Naomi R. A. Carney, Brian K. Gomes
During the meeting:
- Baptiste arrived late (6:09)
- Oliver arrived late (6:38)
Every vote, in order
Communication (Matter Id #0295)
To Amend the Order, by striking the figure $238,000.00 and replacing it with $200,231.00.
The minutes record 4–3 with 8 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 Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To AMEND the ORDER, by striking the figure $238,000.00 and replacing it with $200,231.00. (Matter #0295).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Choquette)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Order, as written.
The minutes record 5–2 with 8 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 Baptiste, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the ORDER, as written. (Matter #0295).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Baptiste)
To Amend the Order, by striking the figure $238,000.00 and replacing it with $200,000.00 and to recommend to the City Council Adoption of the Order, as Amended, Amending the Order Adopted by the City Council on October 10, 2024, and signed by the Mayor on October 18, 2024, which, in accordance with M.g.l., Chapter 44, Section 53E ½, the Revolving Fund under the control of the Department of Facilit
The minutes record 6–1 with 8 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 Giesta, the Committee VOTED: To AMEND the ORDER, by striking the figure $238,000.00 and replacing it with $200,000.00 and to recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of the ORDER, AS AMENDED, Amending the Order Adopted by the City Council on October 10, 2024, and signed by the Mayor on October 18, 2024, which, in accordance with M.G.L., Chapter 44, Section 53E ½, the Revolving Fund under the control of the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management, known as the QUEST CENTER REVOLVING FUND, whose amount limited at $150,231.00, is hereby authorized at $200,000.00 for FISCAL YEAR 2025. (Matter #0295).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Giesta)
Written Motion, Councillors Lopes and Morad, requesting, that Derek Santos, Executive Director of the New Bedford Economic Development Council, provide to the Committee on Finance the annual program report detailing the status of the City of New Bedford Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Special Tax…
To receive and place on file a copy of the 2024 New Bedford Tax Increment Financing Program Annual Report, submitted by the New Bedford Economic Development Council (EDC).
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file a copy of the 2024 New Bedford Tax Increment Financing Program Annual Report, submitted by the New Bedford Economic Development Council (EDC). (Matter #0229).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Giesta)
That a Communication be sent to the Solicitor’s Office requesting that they provide the New Bedford City Council with an updated Sop explaining how TIFs/STAs will be processed based on the changes made by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Office of Business Development.
From the minutes
“The Committee VOTED: That a Communication be sent to the Solicitor’s Office requesting that they provide the New Bedford City Council with an updated SOP explaining how TIFs/STAs will be processed based on the changes made by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Office of Business Development. (Matter #0229).”
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #0229).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Giesta)
The following item was not read: Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council Farias, submitting a Communication from Mayor Mitchell, regarding the appointment of Treasurer/Collector John Taxiarchos as Tax Title Custodian, due to that the former Tax Title Custodian, Sherie Pinzino, has…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council Farias, submitting a Communication from Mayor Mitchell, regarding the appointment of Treasurer/Collector John Taxiarchos as Tax Title Custodian, due to that the former Tax Title Custodian, Sherie Pinzino, has transitioned out of the Treasurer’s Office and can no longer perform tha
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Giesta and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council Farias, submitting a Communication from Mayor Mitchell, regarding the appointment of Treasurer/Collector John Taxiarchos as Tax Title Custodian, due to that the former Tax Title Custodian, Sherie Pinzino, has transitioned out of the Treasurer’s Office and can no longer perform that role. (Matter #0160).” (Motion: Giesta, 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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