MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Appointments and Briefings · 7:01 p.m.
March 17, 2026
6 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Your New Bedford ballot: 15 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Committee on Appointments and Briefings: committee votes are recommendations to the full council, which takes the final vote. About this committee
Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Derek Baptiste, Shane A. Burgo, Naomi R. A. Carney, Brian K. Gomes, Shawn Oliver, Scott Pemberton, Ryan J. Pereira, James Roy
Absent: Leo Choquette, Joseph P. Lopes
During the meeting:
- Baptiste arrived late (7:09)
Every vote, in order
Citizen’s Input Time – Not to exceed the first thirty (30) minutes of the meeting. 1a. James Dupont, 118 Elm Street - E, Raynham, MA, 02767, speaking on the “Impacts on Local Taxpayers”. (Referred – March 04, 2026.)
To Receive and Place on File a hard copy of Mr. Dupont’s prepared remarks. Mr. Dupont addressed the Committee, and the matter was concluded. Citizen’s Input Time was concluded.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: to Receive and Place on File a hard copy of Mr. Dupont’s prepared remarks. Mr. Dupont addressed the Committee, and the matter was concluded. Citizen’s Input Time was concluded..” (Motion: Oliver, second: Burgo)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Cristobal Jose Escobar, New Bedford, MA to the Veterans Advisory Board, replacing Christopher Holkamp who has resigned; this term will expire December 2026. (Matter Id #1925) (Referred – December 11, 2025.)
To table the matter at this time.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyNo: BurgoAbsent: Choquette, Lopes
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #1925).” (Motion: Oliver, second: Abreu)
Petition, Ksea Swift and Justin Swift, East Freetown, MA d/b/a Swift Sales, 127 West Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, MA, requesting a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-38 of the City Code, to obtain a License to Deal in Junk, Old Metals or Any Other Secondhand Articles.…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Petition, Ksea Swift and Justin Swift, East Freetown, MA d/b/a Swift Sales, 127 West Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, MA, requesting a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-38 of the City Code, to obtain a License to Deal in Junk, Old Metals or Any Other Secondhand Articles.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: to recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the PETITION, Ksea Swift and Justin Swift, East Freetown, MA d/b/a SWIFT SALES, 127 West Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, MA, requesting a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-38 of the City Code, to obtain a LICENSE TO DEAL IN JUNK, OLD METALS OR ANY OTHER SECONDHAND ARTICLES. (Matter #1797).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Pemberton)
Appointments & Briefings Committee March 17, 2026 Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments & Briefings meet with Derek Santos, Executive Director for the New Bedford Economic Development Council, along with Board Members of the New Bedford Business Park, for…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: to recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the matter at this time. (Matter #1936).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Burgo)
Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with the Archdiocese of Boston’s Planning Office for Urban Affairs to discuss the project timeline and proposed design plan for the former St. Killian’s Church property on Ashley Boulevard (Matter Id…
To Receive and Place on File the presentation packet. Ms. Korman-Houston noted that they have been collaborating closely with the City, particularly with Mr. Joshua Amaral, Director of Housing and Community Development.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Roy and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: to Receive and Place on File the presentation packet. Ms. Korman-Houston noted that they have been collaborating closely with the City, particularly with Mr. Joshua Amaral, Director of Housing and Community Development. (Matter #0113).” (Motion: Roy, second: Burgo)
To Table this matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Roy and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: to Table this matter at this time. (Matter #0113).” (Motion: Roy, second: Pemberton)
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.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →