MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Finance · 7:01 p.m.
March 30, 2026
27 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Derek Baptiste, Shane A. Burgo, Naomi R. A. Carney, Leo Choquette, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Scott Pemberton, Ryan J. Pereira, James Roy
Absent: Shawn Oliver
During the meeting:
- Baptiste arrived late (7:07)
- Burgo arrived late (7:38)
Every vote, in order
Communication, John Taxiarchos, Treasurer/Collector, to Councillor Joseph P. Lopes, Chair, Committee on Finance, requesting a vote of the Finance Committee to permanently finance various projects in the amount of $47,340,000 and to issue or renew temporary notes for various projects in the amount…
To receive and place on file the Communication submitted by Treasurer/Collector John Taxiarchos requesting a vote of the Finance Committee.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file the Communication submitted by Treasurer/Collector John Taxiarchos requesting a vote of the Finance Committee..” (Motion: Abreu, second: Choquette)
To Amend the amount of $47,340,000 to $41,075,000 and to Amend the amount of $36,620,169 to $37,448,169.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyAbsent: Burgo, Oliver
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the Committee VOTED: To Amend the amount of $47,340,000 to $41,075,000 and to Amend the amount of $36,620,169 to $37,448,169..” (Motion: Pereira, second: Gomes)
To approve the financing request, as Amended.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyAbsent: Burgo, Oliver
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Pereira, the Committee VOTED: To approve the financing request, AS AMENDED..” (Motion: Abreu, second: Pereira)
Communication, Councillor Morad, submitting a letter from Eric Cohen, Executive Director for the New Bedford Contributory Retirement Board, regarding the FY27 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) base increase for retirees. (Matter Id #1940) (Referred – December 11, 2025.)
To receive and place on file a Communication titled “$16,000 COLA Base” submitted by Leonard Baillargeon, Chair of the New Bedford Retirement Board.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file a Communication titled “$16,000 COLA Base” submitted by Leonard Baillargeon, Chair of the New Bedford Retirement Board. (Matter #1940).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Carney)
To receive and place on file a Communication dated March 30, 2026 submitted by Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer, regarding the FY27 Preliminary Budget Outlook and COLA Base Increase Proposal.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file a Communication dated March 30, 2026 submitted by Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer, regarding the FY27 Preliminary Budget Outlook and COLA Base Increase Proposal. (Matter #1940).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Pemberton)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the COLA base increase from $14,000 to $16,000, effective July 1, 2026, as detailed in a Communication dated November 26, 2025, submitted by Eric Cohen, Executive Director of the New Bedford Retirement Board.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyAbsent: Oliver
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the COLA base increase from $14,000 to $16,000, effective July 1, 2026, as detailed in a Communication dated November 26, 2025, submitted by Eric Cohen, Executive Director of the New Bedford Retirement Board. (Matter #1940).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Roy)
Communication, Janine da Silva, Chairperson, Community Preservation Committee, submitting the Community Preservation Committee’s FY26 Project Funding Recommendations. (Matter Id #0294) (Referred – March 12, 2026.)
To approve $100,000.00 for the 105 Ashley Boulevard Redevelopment Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To approve $100,000.00 for the 105 Ashley Boulevard Redevelopment Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Roy)
To approve $35,000.00 for the Cape Verdean Veterans Artifacts and Documents Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To approve $35,000.00 for the Cape Verdean Veterans Artifacts and Documents Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Choquette)
To approve $15,000.00 for the Former Friends Meeting House Restoration Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To approve $15,000.00 for the Former Friends Meeting House Restoration Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Choquette)
To approve $55,000.00 for the Gallery X Systems Modernization: Roof Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Pereira, the Committee VOTED: To approve $55,000.00 for the Gallery X Systems Modernization: Roof Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Pereira)
To approve $288,835.00 for the Russell Howland House Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To approve $288,835.00 for the Russell Howland House Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Burgo)
To approve $150,000.00 for the Habitat for Humanity Affordable Community Housing Build Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To approve $150,000.00 for the Habitat for Humanity Affordable Community Housing Build Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Burgo)
To approve $150,000.00 for the Historic Bourne Building Roof Replacement Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To approve $150,000.00 for the Historic Bourne Building Roof Replacement Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Roy)
To approve $8,950.00 for the Historical Documents Ft. Taber Ft. Rodman Military Museum Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To approve $8,950.00 for the Historical Documents Ft. Taber Ft. Rodman Military Museum Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Carney, second: Burgo)
To approve $215,000.00 for the New Bedford Art Museum Window Restoration Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: To approve $215,000.00 for the New Bedford Art Museum Window Restoration Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Pemberton)
To approve $35,000.00 for the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center Archives Phase IV Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To approve $35,000.00 for the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center Archives Phase IV Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Carney, second: Burgo)
To approve $45,000.00 for the Liberty Hall Playbill Conservation Phase II Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Roy and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To approve $45,000.00 for the Liberty Hall Playbill Conservation Phase II Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Roy, second: Carney)
To approve $62,556.00 for the Dias Field Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To approve $62,556.00 for the Dias Field Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Burgo)
To approve $245,000.00 for the Riverside Park Playground Replacement – PARC Grant Match Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pemberton and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To approve $245,000.00 for the Riverside Park Playground Replacement – PARC Grant Match Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Pemberton, second: Choquette)
To approve $42,000.00 for the Rotch-Jones-Duff House Access for All Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To approve $42,000.00 for the Rotch-Jones-Duff House Access for All Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Abreu)
To approve $40,000.00 for the Ron Polo Film Collection Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Carney, the Committee VOTED: To approve $40,000.00 for the Ron Polo Film Collection Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Carney)
To approve $100,000.00 for the Strand Theater Exterior Project.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyAbsent: Oliver
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Baptiste and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To approve $100,000.00 for the Strand Theater Exterior Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Baptiste, second: Burgo)
To approve $200,000.00 for the Taylor School Playground Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Pereira, the Committee VOTED: To approve $200,000.00 for the Taylor School Playground Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Pereira)
To approve $160,000.00 for the Verdean Vets Hall Restoration Project.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyAbsent: Oliver
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Choquette and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To approve $160,000.00 for the Verdean Vets Hall Restoration Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Choquette, second: Burgo)
To approve $155,000.00 for the William H. Carney Lodge Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To approve $155,000.00 for the William H. Carney Lodge Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Choquette)
To approve $125,000.00 for the YWCA Historic Stonewall Project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Baptiste, the Committee VOTED: To approve $125,000.00 for the YWCA Historic Stonewall Project. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Carney, second: Baptiste)
To recommend to the City Council Adoption of an Order, for the Community Preservation Act FY26 Funding Recommendations for 20 projects totaling $2,227,341.00.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyAbsent: Oliver
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Baptiste, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of AN ORDER, for the Community Preservation Act FY26 Funding Recommendations for 20 projects totaling $2,227,341.00. (Matter #0294).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Baptiste)
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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