MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Meeting night
May 27, 2026
2 meetings this evening, 6 recorded votes in all, in the order they were held.
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Start my ballot →6:59 p.m. · Committee on Finance
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
Committee on Finance: 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, Joseph P. Lopes, Scott Pemberton, James Roy
Absent: Brian K. Gomes, Shawn Oliver, Ryan J. Pereira
During the meeting:
- Baptiste arrived late (7:00)
- Carney arrived late (7:02)
3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
Communication, John Taxiarchos, Treasurer/Collector, to Councillor Joseph P. Lopes, Chair, Committee on Finance, presenting a request for interim loan financing for Massachusetts Clean Water Trust projects; the interim loans are available to the City at an interest rate of 0.0%. (Received – May 06,…
To receive and place on file the Communication submitted by John Taxiarchos, Treasurer/Collector.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Roy and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file the COMMUNICATION submitted by John Taxiarchos, Treasurer/Collector..” (Motion: Roy, second: Abreu)
To Approve the request for interim loan financing for Massachusetts Clean Water Trust projects.
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Lopes, Pemberton, RoyAbsent: Gomes, Oliver, Pereira
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To APPROVE the request for interim loan financing for Massachusetts Clean Water Trust projects..” (Motion: Abreu, second: Burgo)
Written Motion, Council President Carney, requesting, that the Treasurer’s Office provide a report identifying all tax-exempt properties, including churches, listing their value, property status as active or vacant, and number of years vacant if applicable. (Matter Id #2090) (Referred to the…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Council President Carney, requesting, that the Treasurer’s Office provide a report identifying all tax-exempt properties, including churches, listing their value, property status as active or vacant, and number of years vacant if applicable.
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 WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Carney, requesting, that the Treasurer’s Office provide a report identifying all tax-exempt properties, including churches, listing their value, property status as active or vacant, and number of years vacant if applicable. (Matter #2090).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Baptiste)
7:23 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, Scott Pemberton, Ryan J. Pereira, James Roy
Absent: Shawn Oliver
During the meeting:
- Pereira arrived late (7:26)
3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
Public Hearing on a Communication (Matter Id #0440)
To open the Public Hearing.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the Committee VOTED: To open the Public Hearing. (Matter #0440).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Gomes)
To receive and place on file the Communication, submitted by Jennifer Carloni, Director, Planning Department, to Councillor Shane A. Burgo, Chairman, Committee on Ordinances, advising that the Planning Board held a public hearing on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to discuss a request made by the City Council for the Planning Board to review and make a recommendation relative to adding a new section 6000
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file the COMMUNICATION, submitted by Jennifer Carloni, Director, Planning Department, to Councillor Shane A. Burgo, Chairman, Committee on Ordinances, advising that the Planning Board held a public hearing on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to discuss a request made by the City Council for the Planning Board to review and make a recommendation relative to adding a new section 6000 establishing Form-Based Code Districts, further amending section 2230 – Table of Principal Use Regulations – inserting new Appendix D, and amending section 1200 – Definitions, with regulating maps of the new zoning districts; the Planning Board voted to send a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION for the Ordinance amendment, with the recommendation that the City Council further review and consider height limitations in the Downtown Area FBC district, especially the area moving west along Kempton Street. (Received – May 27, 2026.) (Matter #0440).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Burgo)
To continue the Public Hearing to Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., in City Council Chambers.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Baptiste, the Committee VOTED: To continue the Public Hearing to Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., in City Council Chambers. (Matter #0440).” (Motion: Pereira, 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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