MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods · 7:01 p.m.
March 9, 2026
8 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Attendance
Present: Shane A. Burgo, Naomi R. A. Carney, Leo Choquette, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Shawn Oliver, Scott Pemberton, Ryan J. Pereira, James Roy
Absent: Ian Abreu, Derek Baptiste
During the meeting:
- Oliver arrived late (7:34)
Every vote, in order
Written Motion, Councillors Gomes, Lopes, Abreu, Carney and Giesta, requesting, once again, that Mary Rapoza, Director of Parks, Recreation & Beaches, install 4’ x 8’ plywood signage at East Beach, West Beach, Hazelwood Park, and Fort Taber; this signage would welcome visitors to these areas and…
To receive and place on file an informational packet submitted by Mary Rapoza, Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches. Mary Rapoza, Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches, was recognized and addressed the Committee.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file an informational packet submitted by Mary Rapoza, Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches. Mary Rapoza, Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches, was recognized and addressed the Committee. (Matter #1262).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Lopes)
To table the matter for ninety (90) days.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter for ninety (90) days. (Matter #1262).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Carney)
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 from the table.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To remove from the table. (Matter #1388).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Carney)
To table the matter for sixty (60) days.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Roy and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter for sixty (60) days. (Matter #1388).” (Motion: Roy, second: Lopes)
The following matter was taken out of order, without objection: Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that Mayor Mitchell and Police Chief Thody consider immediately filling vacant positions within the New Bedford Police Department, including the Deputy Chief position, the North End Captain…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the matter at this time. (Matter #1710).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Roy)
Written Motion, Councillors Oliver, Morad, Abreu, Lopes, Baptiste, Giesta, Carney and Gomes, requesting, that Police Chief Paul Oliveira, Executive Secretary to the Traffic Commission Laurie Alfonso, City Solicitor Eric Jaikes, Chief Financial Officer Robert Ekstrom, and a representative from the…
To receive and place on file a copy of the proposed Ordinance.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pemberton and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file a copy of the proposed Ordinance. (Matter #1214).” (Motion: Pemberton, second: Burgo)
To table the matter for sixty (60) days.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter for sixty (60) days. (Matter #1214).” (Motion: Oliver, second: Lopes)
On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee Voted: To follow the Chair’s recommendation and take “No Further Action” on the following matters: Written Motion, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods invite Chief of…
To follow the Chair’s recommendation and take “No Further Action” on the following matters: Written Motion, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods invite Chief of Police Paul Oliveira to a meeting to discuss the Police Department's policy and procedures on reporting crime to the public and to City officials, specifically regarding shootings taking pl
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 Burgo and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To follow the Chair’s recommendation and take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the following matters: WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods invite Chief of Police Paul Oliveira to a meeting to discuss the Police Department's policy and procedures on reporting crime to the public and to City officials, specifically regarding shootings taking place in New Bedford, and what can be done to better inform the public and City officials of the basic facts related to shooting incidents in a timely manner without jeopardizing any Police investigation into a particular matter; and further, that the Committee discuss with the Chief Oliveira how general crime statistics for New Bedford can be made available on a regular basis to members of the Committee. (Matter ID #1870) (Referred – November 09, 2023.) (February 28, 2024 – tabled) WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Morad and Lopes, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods convene a series of sub-committee meetings to include representatives from the Traffic Division, Traffic Commission, Department of Public Infrastructure, New Bedford Police Department, Solicitors Office, Legal Counsel for the City Council and four City Councillors (two Ward Councillors and two At Large Councillors), for the purpose of researching and ultimately recommending various alternatives of traffic control(s) to be implemented within the City of New Bedford. (Matter ID #0427) (Referred – March 26, 2024.) (July 15, 2024 – sub-committee appointments made; tabled) WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the New Bedford Board of Health hold a public hearing on the proposed waste transfer facility by Parallel Products, doing business as South Coast Renewables, with the residents of the far north end of New Bedford; this meeting would provide an opportunity for the residents that were not notified or aware of the last public hearing to address the proposal and ask questions of the New Bedford Board of Health; and further, requesting that this meeting be held before the Board of Health votes on the proposal by Parallel Products, doing business as South Coast Renewables. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods and the Board of Health.) (Matter ID #1357) (Referred – August 21, 2025.) (Matter #1870).” (Motion: Burgo, 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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