MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Appointments and Briefings · 7:01 p.m.
May 19, 2026
12 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, Leo Choquette, Shawn Oliver, Scott Pemberton, Ryan J. Pereira, James Roy
Absent: Naomi R. A. Carney, Brian K. Gomes, Joseph P. Lopes
Every vote, in order
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 remove the matter from the table.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: to remove the matter from the table. (Matter #1925).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Abreu)
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Cristobal Jose Escobar, New Bedford, MA to the Veterans Advisory Board. Mr. Cristobal Jose Escobar, the applicant for the Veterans Advisory Board, appeared after the Committee had concluded its discussion of the second matter under consideration. Appointm
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Baptiste, the Committee VOTED: to recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of CRISTOBAL JOSE ESCOBAR, New Bedford, MA to the VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD. Mr. Cristobal Jose Escobar, the applicant for the Veterans Advisory Board, appeared after the Committee had concluded its discussion of the second matter under consideration. Appointments & Briefings Committee May 19, 2026 (Matter #1925).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Baptiste)
To reconsider its previous referral to take “No Further Action” on the Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Cristobal Jose Escobar. Mr. Escobar was recognized and apologized for the delay in appearing before the Committee.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: to reconsider its previous referral to take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of CRISTOBAL JOSE ESCOBAR. Mr. Escobar was recognized and apologized for the delay in appearing before the Committee. (Matter #1925).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Oliver)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Appointment of Cristobal Jose Escobar, New Bedford, MA to the Veterans Advisory Board.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPOINTMENT of CRISTOBAL JOSE ESCOBAR, New Bedford, MA to the VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD. (Matter #1925).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Oliver)
On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee Voted: to take up the following Written Motion; and to remove the following Related Motion and Communication from the table. Written Motion, Council President Pereira and Councillors Abreu, Carney and Gomes, requesting…
To take up the following Written Motion; and to remove the following Related Motion and Communication from the table. Written Motion, Council President Pereira and Councillors Abreu, Carney and Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Southcoast Neighbors United to discuss deployment of Scnu air sensors across New Bedford and to further discuss current environme
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: to take up the following Written Motion; and to remove the following Related Motion and Communication from the table. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Pereira and Councillors Abreu, Carney and Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Southcoast Neighbors United to discuss deployment of SCNU air sensors across New Bedford and to further discuss current environmental and health issues in the South End. (Referred – May 12, 2026.) RELATED MOTION, Councillors Pereira and Gomes, requesting, the Administration and the Office of Environmental Stewardship meet with the Committee on Appointments and Briefings to discuss whether a company can be hired to conduct an odor analysis in the South End of the City; and further, to report to this Committee the amount spent on said analysis and provide a timeline of the study and data once the analysis is concluded. (Referred from Committee – October 15, 2024.) (May 20, 2025 – tabled) Appointments & Briefings Committee May 19, 2026 COMMUNICATION, Councillors Pereira, Abreu and Gomes, submitting a PETITION from residents of the South End of the City of New Bedford related to the sewage treatment facility located on South Rodney French Boulevard. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments & Briefings, the Department of Public Infrastructure, the Administration, and the State Delegation.) (Matter ID #1584) (Referred – September 26, 2024.) (October 15, 2024 – tabled) (May 20, 2025 – tabled) (Matter #1584).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Abreu)
That the Board of Health and Health Department appear before the Committee on Appointments and Briefings to provide the body with data regarding any chronic or concentrated illness for the entirety of the peninsula in the south End of New Bedford.
From the minutes
“The Committee VOTED: that the Board of Health and Health Department appear before the Committee on Appointments and Briefings to provide the body with data regarding any chronic or concentrated illness for the entirety of the peninsula in the south End of New Bedford. (Matter #1584).”
To Table all three matters at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To TABLE all three matters at this time. (Matter #1584).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Abreu)
Appointments & Briefings Committee May 19, 2026 Written Motion, Councillors Choquette, Abreu and Roy, requesting that Airport Director Scot Servis in conjunction with the City’s Conservation agent explore all options for the location of a new hangar at the New Bedford Regional Airport and that the…
To Receive and Place on File a copy of the abutters mailing list as it relates to the placing of an airport hangar.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Roy and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To Receive and Place on File a copy of the abutters mailing list as it relates to the placing of an airport hangar. (Matter #0532).” (Motion: Roy, second: Burgo)
To Receive and Place on File a petition signed by abutters as it relates to the placing of an airport hangar.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To Receive and Place on File a petition signed by abutters as it relates to the placing of an airport hangar. (Matter #0532).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Roy)
To Receive and Place on File a letter read into the record by Ms. Jessica Bregoli of 1415 Plainville Road, expressing the neighbors concern as it relates to the placing of an airport hangar.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Roy and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To Receive and Place on File a letter read into the record by Ms. Jessica Bregoli of 1415 Plainville Road, expressing the neighbors concern as it relates to the placing of an airport hangar. (Matter #0532).” (Motion: Roy, second: Burgo)
To Receive and Place on File the presentation by Scot Servis, Airport Director.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Baptiste, the Committee VOTED: To Receive and Place on File the presentation by Scot Servis, Airport Director. (Matter #0532).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Baptiste)
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the matter.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Oliver, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the matter. (Matter #0532).” (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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