MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Finance · 7:01 p.m.
September 18, 2025
6 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Attendance
Present: Derek Baptiste, Naomi R. A. Carney, Leo Choquette, Maria E. Giesta, Joseph P. Lopes, Linda M. Morad, Shawn Oliver, Ryan J. Pereira
Absent: Ian Abreu, Shane A. Burgo, Brian K. Gomes
During the meeting:
- Baptiste arrived late (7:07)
- Giesta arrived late (7:25)
Every vote, in order
Communication (Matter Id #0861)
To recommend to the City Council Adoption of the Order, submitted by Mayor Mitchell, that in accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 53E ½, the revolving fund under the control of the Health Department, known as the Health Department Compliance Programs Revolving Fund, whose revenues collected, and amount limited to be spent estimated at $60,000.00 is hereby authorized for Fi
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of the ORDER, submitted by Mayor Mitchell, that in accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 53E ½, the revolving fund under the control of the Health Department, known as the HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS REVOLVING FUND, whose revenues collected, and amount limited to be spent estimated at $60,000.00 is hereby authorized for FISCAL YEAR 2026. (Matter #0861).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Oliver)
Communication, Community Preservation Committee, submitting the CPA annual budget for fiscal year 2026, for Committee administrative expenses and Community Preservation Projects in fiscal year 2026. (Matter Id #1041) (Referred – June 12, 2025.)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the CPA Annual Budget for fiscal year 2026, for Committee administrative expenses and Community Preservation Projects in fiscal year 2026.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the CPA ANNUAL BUDGET for fiscal year 2026, for Committee administrative expenses and Community Preservation Projects in fiscal year 2026. (Matter #1041).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Lopes)
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 table the matter for 30 days. Communication (Matter Id #0988) and an Order (Matter Id #0989), submitted by Mayor Mitchell, to accept Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 200A, Section 9A, to provide the City with the tools necessary to dispose of abandoned funds held in the custody of the City. (Referred – June 12, 2025.) John Taxiarchos, Treasurer/Collector, was called to the podium by the Chair
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter for 30 days. COMMUNICATION (Matter ID #0988) and AN ORDER (Matter ID #0989), submitted by Mayor Mitchell, to accept Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 200A, Section 9A, to provide the City with the tools necessary to dispose of abandoned funds held in the custody of the City. (Referred – June 12, 2025.) John Taxiarchos, Treasurer/Collector, was called to the podium by the Chair to provide an overview and explanation as to how accepting M.G.L. Chapter 200A, Section 9A, would assist his Office in disposing of abandoned funds in the custody of the City. Mr. Taxiarchos explained that these ‘abandoned funds’ come into play when the City writes and sends checks that are left un-cashed/not deposited. This mostly happens when City vendors do not properly deposit or cash checks made in payment for services rendered or goods provided. (Matter #0229).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Oliver)
To recommend to the City Council Adoption of the Order, submitted by Mayor Mitchell, to accept Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 200A, Section 9A, to provide the City with the tools necessary to dispose of abandoned funds held in the custody of the City.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of the ORDER, submitted by Mayor Mitchell, to accept Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 200A, Section 9A, to provide the City with the tools necessary to dispose of abandoned funds held in the custody of the City. (Matter #0229).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Giesta)
Written Motion, Council President Carney, requesting, that the Treasurer’s Office provide a report identifying all tax-exempt properties, including churches, listing their value, property status as active or vacant, and number of years vacant if applicable. (Matter Id #2090) (Referred to the…
To table the matter for 90 days.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Giesta, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter for 90 days. (Matter #2090).” (Motion: Carney, second: Giesta)
On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee Voted: To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the following matters: Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order for the Transfer of $45,000.00 from Free Cash to Tourism…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the following matters: Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order for the Transfer of $45,000.00 from Free Cash to Tourism Purchase of Services. (Matter Id #0435) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – Remain in Committee) an Order, (Matter Id #0436) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – Vote f
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the following matters: COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $45,000.00 from FREE CASH to TOURISM PURCHASE OF SERVICES. (Matter ID #0435) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – Remain in Committee) AN ORDER, (Matter ID #0436) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – VOTE for ADOPTION – FAILS; Remain in Committee) COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $28,000.00 from FREE CASH to FACILITIES AND FLEET MANAGEMENT PURCHASE OF SERVICES. (Matter ID #0441) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – Remain in Committee) AN ORDER, (Matter ID #0442) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – VOTE for ADOPTION – FAILS; Remain in Committee) COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $20,500.00 from FREE CASH to RESILIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PURCHASE OF SERVICES. (Matter ID #0443) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – Remain in Committee) AN ORDER, (Matter ID #0444) (Referred – March 27, 2025.) (April 16, 2025 – VOTE for ADOPTION – FAILS; Remain in Committee) RELATED MOTION, Councillor Morad, in conjunction with the $3,290,458.00 Charter Ruled item, that the Administration, the School Department and the CFO submit to the Committee on Finance the formula by which they are calculating the FY2026 School Department’s net school spending appropriation, said information shall be submitted to the Committee on Finance within the next 7 days. (Matter ID #1267) (Referred – July 17, 2025.) COMMUNICATION, Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer, to Linda M. Morad, Finance Committee Chairperson, regarding the FY26 School Department Budget and revised supplemental budget request. (Received – July 25, 2025.) (Matter #0435).” (Motion: Pereira, 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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