MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Meeting night
February 19, 2026
2 meetings this evening, 10 recorded votes in all, in the order they were held.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Your New Bedford ballot: 15 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →6:30 p.m. · Special Committee on Environmental Affairs
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
Special Committee on Environmental Affairs: committee votes are recommendations to the full council, which takes the final vote. About this committee
Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Leo Choquette, Brian K. Gomes, Ryan J. Pereira, James Roy
Absent: None
3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
Written Motion, Councillor Choquette, requesting that Jamie Ponte, Commissioner for the Department of Public Infrastructure, and James Costa, Wastewater Superintendent, appear before the Special Committee on Environmental Affairs to discuss the events contributing to the shellfish bed closures in…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Choquette and seconded by Councillor Pereira, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the matter at this time. (Matter #0428).” (Motion: Choquette, second: Pereira)
Written Motion, Councillor Choquette, requesting that Wendy Morrill and Tracy Wallace of South Coast Neighbors United appear before the Special Committee on Environmental Affairs to present community-based waste solutions for Greater New Bedford. (Matter Id #0429) (Referred – March 26, 2024.)
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Choquette and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #0429).” (Motion: Choquette, second: Roy)
On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the Committee Voted: To follow the Chair’s recommendation and take “No Further Action” on the following matters: Written Motion, Councillors Gomes, Dunn, Giesta, Lima, Abreu, Coelho, Carney, Markey and Lopes, requesting, that the…
To follow the Chair’s recommendation and take “No Further Action” on the following matters: Written Motion, Councillors Gomes, Dunn, Giesta, Lima, Abreu, Coelho, Carney, Markey and Lopes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with officials from the Department of Inspectional Services, the Department of Public Infrastructure, the Fire Department, the Health Departm
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the Committee VOTED: To follow the Chair’s recommendation and take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the following matters: WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes, Dunn, Giesta, Lima, Abreu, Coelho, Carney, Markey and Lopes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with officials from the Department of Inspectional Services, the Department of Public Infrastructure, the Fire Department, the Health Department and the owner of Bob’s Tire Company located at 85 Brook Street, due to the local resident’s complaints of the foul odor and runoff water from the site where the shredding of tires is occurring, this has become a quality-of-life issue for the residents of that area; and further, that an explanation be given to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods as to when permission was given to shred tires at this location; and further, that if Bob’s Tire Company has any Code violations, that the shredding of tires be halted immediately at this site. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and the Special Committee on Environmental Affairs.) (Matter ID #0214) (Referred – February 13, 2020.) (April 21, 2021 – tabled) WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lima, Council President Lopes and Councillor Abreu, requesting that the Inspectional Services Commissioner Danny Romanowicz, Environmental Stewardship Director Michele Paul and Health Director Damon Chaplin appear before the Special Committee on Environmental Affairs to provide a written report detailing the business name and location of all tire storage and tire recycling facilities within the City with a determination as to whether or not each tire facility is in compliance with the City’s Planning and Zoning regulations and Environmental protocols. (Matter ID #0687) (Referred – June 11, 2020.) (April 21, 2021 – tabled) (September 27, 2022 – tabled) WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Morad, requesting, that the Special Committee on Environmental Affairs meet with City Solicitor Mikaela McDermott and Director of Resilience and Environmental Stewardship Michele Paul, to obtain a full briefing regarding the City’s ongoing legal position and financial exposure resulting from the Mass DEP and EPA contamination site at Bliss Corner. (Matter ID #0228) (Referred – January 27, 2022.) (September 27, 2022 – tabled 30 days) (November 09, 2022 – tabled 9 months) (Matter #0214).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Gomes)
7:00 p.m. · Committee on City Property
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
Committee on City Property: committee votes are recommendations to the full council, which takes the final vote. About this committee
Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Naomi R. A. Carney, Leo Choquette, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Shawn Oliver, Scott Pemberton, Ryan J. Pereira, James Roy
Absent: Derek Baptiste, Shane A. Burgo
7 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
Written Motion, Councillors Pemberton and Abreu, requesting, that Mr. Paul Brooks Jr., Director of Real Estate and Development for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, appear before the Committee on City Property, to discuss the feasibility of leasing the Diocese’s 25,000 square foot parking…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillors Pemberton and Abreu, requesting, that Mr. Paul Brooks Jr., Director of Real Estate and Development for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, appear before the Committee on City Property, to discuss the feasibility of leasing the Diocese’s 25,000 square foot parking lot on the corner of Ashley Bouleva
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pemberton and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Pemberton and Abreu, requesting, that Mr. Paul Brooks Jr., Director of Real Estate and Development for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, appear before the Committee on City Property, to discuss the feasibility of leasing the Diocese’s 25,000 square foot parking lot on the corner of Ashley Boulevard and Earle Street to the City of New Bedford for municipal parking purposes. (Matter #0029).” (Motion: Pemberton, second: Abreu)
Written Motion, Councillors Pemberton and Oliver, requesting, that the Committee on City Property meet to begin the process of disposition for the Phillips Avenue Elementary School, located at 249 Phillips Avenue. (Matter Id #0030) (Referred – January 08, 2026.)
To notify department heads that the Committee is considering the sale of the Phillips Avenue Elementary School, located at 249 Phillips Avenue, and request that they notify the Committee if said property is needed for municipal purposes.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pemberton and seconded by Councillor Pereira, the Committee VOTED: To notify department heads that the Committee is considering the sale of the Phillips Avenue Elementary School, located at 249 Phillips Avenue, and request that they notify the Committee if said property is needed for municipal purposes. (Matter #0030).” (Motion: Pemberton, second: Pereira)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a Request for Proposals (Draft), for the redevelopment of a portion of the municipally owned Whaling City Golf Course as an Advanced Manufacturing Campus (Amc). (Matter Id #0090) (Referred – January 23, 2025.)
To receive and place on file the RFP packet provided by the Administration. City Property Committee February 19, 2026 The Chair recognized Neil Mello, Chief of Staff for the Administration, who gave an overview of the project at the golf course, explaining that this project has been ten years in the making.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file the RFP packet provided by the Administration. City Property Committee February 19, 2026 The Chair recognized Neil Mello, Chief of Staff for the Administration, who gave an overview of the project at the golf course, explaining that this project has been ten years in the making. (Matter #0090).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Abreu)
To move that the Committee enter into Executive Session for the specific and exclusive purpose of discussing value and pricing of the property that may need to be negotiated as part of this transaction in order to accommodate various contingencies that may need to be built into the contract for purchase consistent with the open meeting exemption under M.g.l. Chapter 30A sec. 21(a)6; and further, t
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyAbsent: Baptiste, Burgo
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Pereira, the Committee VOTED: To move that the Committee enter into Executive Session for the specific and exclusive purpose of discussing value and pricing of the property that may need to be negotiated as part of this transaction in order to accommodate various contingencies that may need to be built into the contract for purchase consistent with the open meeting exemption under M.G.L. Chapter 30A sec. 21(a)6; and further, that the Committee will reconvene in open public session following said Executive Session. (Matter #0090).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Pereira)
To receive and place on file a packet entitled “Extracts from: Response to City of New Bedford Request for Proposals #25161047”.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file a packet entitled “EXTRACTS FROM: Response to City of New Bedford Request for Proposals #25161047”. (Matter #0090).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Gomes)
To move that the proposal submitted by Charter Development LLC is hereby selected as the successful proposal submitted pursuant to an RFP for the property owned by the City, located on Hathaway Road, identified on the City of New Bedford Assessor’s Map 121 as Lot 86.
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyAbsent: Baptiste, Burgo
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To move that the proposal submitted by Charter Development LLC is hereby selected as the successful proposal submitted pursuant to an RFP for the property owned by the City, located on Hathaway Road, identified on the City of New Bedford Assessor’s Map 121 as Lot 86. (Matter #0090).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Choquette)
To move that the City Property Committee authorize the Mayor and Solicitor to negotiate necessary contingencies with any corresponding amendments to pricing and other necessary issues in order to execute the sale of the property substantially pursuant to the attached proposal and that a final purchase and sale agreement and/or development agreement be submitted back to the Committee for review.
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyAbsent: Baptiste, Burgo
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To move that the City Property Committee authorize the Mayor and Solicitor to negotiate necessary contingencies with any corresponding amendments to pricing and other necessary issues in order to execute the sale of the property substantially pursuant to the attached proposal and that a final purchase and sale agreement and/or development agreement be submitted back to the Committee for review. (Matter #0090).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Choquette)
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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