MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Meeting night
May 11, 2026
2 meetings this evening, 20 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 Special Permits and Licensing
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing: committee votes are recommendations to the full council, which takes the final vote. About this committee
Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Leo Choquette, Joseph P. Lopes, Scott Pemberton
Absent: Naomi R. A. Carney
3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, submitting an Application for a New Private Livery License, on behalf of Ana Liz Valentin Burgos, 627 Allen Street, New Bedford, MA d/b/a Gerana’s Transportation, INC., 211 Weld Street, New Bedford, MA. (Term of License July 01, 2026 – June 30,…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Application for a New Private Livery License, on behalf of Ana Liz Valentin Burgos, 627 Allen Street, New Bedford, MA d/b/a Gerana’s Transportation, INC., 211 Weld Street, New Bedford, MA.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPLICATION for a NEW PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE, on behalf of Ana Liz Valentin Burgos, 627 Allen Street, New Bedford, MA d/b/a GERANA’S TRANSPORTATION, INC., 211 Weld Street, New Bedford, MA. (Matter #0368).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Pemberton)
Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, submitting an Application for a New Private Livery License, on behalf of Maria DePina, 28 Windsor Circle, Brockton, MA and Maria L. Pires, 60 Foster Street, Brockton, MA, d/b/a Sister Express Transport, 109 Robeson Street, New Bedford, MA. (Term…
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #0453).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Choquette)
The following items were taken up together, without objection: Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, submitting a Petition, Paul N. Bryant, Round Rock, Tx d/b/a Fall River Pawnbrokers, 1351 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA, requesting a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Petitions for the Waiver of Residency, on behalf of Paul N. Bryant, Round Rock, Tx d/b/a Fall River Pawnbrokers, 1351 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA, and d/b/a Fall River Pawnbrokers, 268 Union Street, 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 Metal
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the PETITIONS for the WAIVER OF RESIDENCY, on behalf of Paul N. Bryant, Round Rock, TX d/b/a FALL RIVER PAWNBROKERS, 1351 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA, and d/b/a FALL RIVER PAWNBROKERS, 268 Union Street, 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 #0539).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Choquette)
7:02 p.m. · Committee on Ordinances
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
Committee on Ordinances: 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, Leo Choquette, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes, Shawn Oliver, Scott Pemberton, Ryan J. Pereira, James Roy
Absent: None
During the meeting:
- Baptiste arrived late (7:09)
- Oliver arrived late (7:22)
17 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
Public Hearing on a Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Ordinance, Amending Chapter 9, Section 4100A, Relative to Municipal Facility Conversion. (Matter Id #0284) (Referred – March 12, 2026.)
To send a Favorable Recommendation for this Ordinance amendment with the recommendation that Section 4113A (ii) be amended to read “It was used for not less than 20 years for public purposes.” (Received – April 17, 2026.)
From the minutes
“The Committee VOTED: to send a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION for this Ordinance amendment with the recommendation that Section 4113A (ii) be amended to read “It was used for not less than 20 years for public purposes.” (Received – April 17, 2026.) (Matter #0284).”
To close the Public Hearing.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: to close the Public Hearing. (Matter #0284).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Pemberton)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Ordinance, Amending Chapter 9, Section 4100A – Relative to Municipal Facility Conversion.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: to recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the Ordinance, Amending Chapter 9, Section 4100A – RELATIVE TO MUNICIPAL FACILITY CONVERSION. (Matter #0284).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Lopes)
Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Ordinances look into establishing an Ordinance that would ban fireworks being shot-off throughout the City after the hours of 10:00 pm with the exception even though illegal after the 10:00 pm curfew on July 4th; and further, that…
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: to table the matter at this time. (Matter #0795).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Lopes)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Order and an Act, providing for the Recall of Elected Officers in the City of New Bedford. (Matter Id #0303) (Referred – March 14, 2024.)
To remove the item from the table.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: to remove the item from the table. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Roy)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of an Order and an Act, providing for the Recall of Elected Officers in the City of New Bedford. On the Question by Councillor Roy, he stated that he believed there was work to be done on this motion and the Committee should take the time to complete that work now.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: to recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of AN ORDER and AN ACT, providing for the Recall of Elected Officers in the City of New Bedford. On the Question by Councillor Roy, he stated that he believed there was work to be done on this motion and the Committee should take the time to complete that work now. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Choquette)
To amend the Order by inserting after the title of an Act, a comma, and the words “herein attached”. On the question by Councillor Pereira, he explained that City Solicitor Eric Jaikes recommended amending the Order because it would allow the Mayor to file the Act with the State Legislature, but it does not specifically attach the language. This wording would allow for that.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: to amend the ORDER by inserting after the title of AN ACT, a comma, and the words “herein attached”. On the question by Councillor Pereira, he explained that City Solicitor Eric Jaikes recommended amending the ORDER because it would allow the Mayor to file the ACT with the State Legislature, but it does not specifically attach the language. This wording would allow for that. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Oliver)
To Amend an Order by inserting after the title of the Act, the phrase “herein attached”.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To Amend AN ORDER by inserting after the title of the ACT, the phrase “herein attached”. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Oliver)
To recommend to the City Council Adoption of an Order as Amended and an Act, as Amended, for the Recall of Elected Officers in the City of New Bedford.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of AN ORDER as AMENDED and AN ACT, as AMENDED, for the Recall of Elected Officers in the City of New Bedford. (Matter #0303).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Choquette)
Written Motion, Councillors Burgo, Pereira, Abreu, Carney, Oliver, Lima, Baptiste, Gomes, Morad, and Giesta, requesting, that the Committee on Ordinances explore the enactment of an Ordinance or City policy to establish parental paid leave to provide compensation for a period of time for City…
To receive and place on file the proposed Ordinance language.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Oliver and seconded by Councillor Pereira, the Committee VOTED: to receive and place on file the proposed Ordinance language. (Matter #1429).” (Motion: Oliver, second: Pereira)
To recommend to the City Council Adoption of an Ordinance, Relative to Paid Family Leave.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: to recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of AN ORDINANCE, RELATIVE TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE. (Matter #1429).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Abreu)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Ordinance, Amending Chapter 10, by inserting a new Section 10-86.1, Voluntary Electronic (Email) Delivery of Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills, after Section 10-86. (Matter Id #0223) (Referred – March 05, 2026.)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Ordinance, Amending Chapter 10, by inserting a new Section 10-86.1, Voluntary Electronic (Email) Delivery of Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills, after Section 10-86.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: to recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the Ordinance, Amending Chapter 10, by inserting a new Section 10-86.1, Voluntary Electronic (Email) Delivery of Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills, after Section 10-86. (Matter #0223).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Abreu)
Report, Committee on Ordinances, recommending to the City Council Approval of the Ordinance, as Amended, Amending Chapter 9 – Appendix A – Table of Principal Uses Regulations. (Matter Id #0344) (Referred – March 26, 2026.)
To Amend the Ordinance by striking Sections 8, 9 and 10 in their entirety.
From the minutes
“The Committee VOTED: To Amend the Ordinance by striking Sections 8, 9 and 10 in their entirety. (Matter #0344).”
To Amend the Ordinance, Chapter 9 – Appendix A – Table of Principal Uses Regulations by striking Section 6 in its entirety.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: to Amend the Ordinance, Chapter 9 – Appendix A – Table of Principal Uses Regulations by striking Section 6 in its entirety. (Matter #0344).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Abreu)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Ordinance, Chapter 9 – Appendix A – Table of Principal Uses Regulations, as Amended, by striking Sections 8,9,10 and 6 in their entirety.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: to recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the Ordinance, Chapter 9 – Appendix A – Table of Principal Uses Regulations, as Amended, by striking Sections 8,9,10 and 6 in their entirety. (Matter #0344).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Abreu)
The following items were not read, and No Further Action was taken. Written Motion, Councillor Lopes, requesting that the Mitchell Administration provide the City Council with a listing of all vacant municipally owned residential lots that are conforming and nonconforming based on current building…
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 Oliver, the Committee VOTED: to recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the matter at this time. (Matter #0048).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Oliver)
Written Motion, Councillors Choquette and Abreu, requesting, that the Ordinance Committee meet within the next 30 days to again, consider the home rule petition related to enacting recall provisions for municipal elected officials; this matter was previously heard but has remained in Committee.…
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 Oliver, the Committee VOTED: to recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the matter at this time. (Matter #0735).” (Motion: Pereira, 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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