MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Special (budget cuts) meeting · 7:03 p.m.
June 22, 2026
43 recorded votes, 34 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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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 (7:12)
Every vote, in order
Communication, City Council President Pereira, to City Clerk Farias, calling a Special City Council Meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 7:00 pm City Council Chambers, Second Floor, of City Hall, for the FY27 Final Budget/Budget Cut Session.
Received and Placed on File
From the minutes
“Received and Placed on File. (Matter #1098).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Pereira and Abreu, duly seconded, to cut Assessors – Other Charges/Expenses account by $26,087.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Lopes, Abreu and Carney, duly seconded, to cut Auditors – Personal Services account by $2,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyNo: Burgo
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Burgo OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Burgo, Abreu and Carney, duly seconded, to cut Auditors – Purchase of Services account by $22,782.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, PembertonNo: Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 9, Nays 2. (Councillors Pereira and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Choquette, Abreu, Pemberton and Pereira, duly seconded, to cut Auditors – Other Charges & Expenses account by $3,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Choquette, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Burgo, Carney, Gomes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 7, Nays 4. (Councillors Burgo, Carney, Gomes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Pereira, Carney and Burgo, duly seconded, to cut City Council – Other Charges & Expenses account by $12,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Abreu, Baptiste, Gomes, Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Gomes, Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Carney and Burgo, duly seconded, to cut Facilities & Fleet Management – Supplies account by $200,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Burgo, Carney, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Abreu, Baptiste, Choquette, Gomes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Choquette, Gomes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Choquette, Abreu and Pemberton, duly seconded, to cut Health & Human Services – Other Charges & Expenses account by $3,300.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Burgo, Gomes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 7, Nays 4. (Councillors Baptiste, Burgo, Gomes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Choquette, Abreu and Pemberton, duly seconded, to cut Labor Relations – Other Charges & Expenses account by $1,331.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Burgo, Gomes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 7, Nays 4. (Councillors Baptiste, Burgo, Gomes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Choquette, Abreu, Pemberton and Pereira, duly seconded, to cut Management Information Systems (Mis) – Purchase of Services account by $36,955.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Gomes, Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 7, Nays 4. (Councillors Baptiste, Gomes, Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Choquette, Abreu, Pemberton and Pereira, duly seconded, to cut Management Information Systems (Mis) – Other Charges & Expenses account by $10,600.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Gomes, Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 7, Nays 4. (Councillors Baptiste, Gomes, Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillor Oliver, duly seconded, to cut Mayor – Personal Services account by $245,480.00.
Adopted
Yes: Baptiste, Burgo, Choquette, Gomes, Oliver, PembertonNo: Abreu, Carney, Lopes, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Abreu, Carney, Lopes, Pereira and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Pereira and Burgo, duly seconded, to cut Mayor – Other Charges & Expenses account by $38,267.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Carney, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 9 Nays 2. (Councillors Carney and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillor Abreu, duly seconded, to cut Planning – Other Charges & Expenses account by $1,200.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Gomes, Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 8, Nays 3. (Councillors Gomes, Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillor Oliver, duly seconded, to cut Police – Personal Services account by $288,207.00.
Adopted
Yes: Burgo, Carney, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Abreu, Baptiste, Choquette, Gomes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Abreu, Baptiste, Choquette, Gomes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Abreu and Pereira, duly seconded, to cut Public Infrastructure – Purchase of Services account by $21,525.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Gomes, Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 7, Nays 4. (Councillors Baptiste, Gomes, Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillor Pereira, duly seconded, to cut Public Infrastructure – Supplies account by $40,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyNo: LopesAbsent: Baptiste
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 9, Nays 1. (Councillor Lopes OPPOSED.) (Councillor Baptiste not present for vote.).”
Written Motion, by Councillor Choquette, duly seconded, to cut Public Infrastructure – Other Charges and Expenses account by $4,500.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyNo: Carney, Gomes, LopesAbsent: Baptiste
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 7, Nays 3. (Councillors Carney, Gomes and Lopes OPPOSED.) (Councillor Baptiste not present for vote.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Lopes and Abreu, duly seconded, to cut Purchasing – Supplies account by $1,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Choquette, Lopes, Oliver, PembertonNo: Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Pereira and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Lopes and Abreu, duly seconded, to cut Resilience Environmental Stewardship – Purchase of Services account by $13,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, RoyNo: Carney, Pereira
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 9, Nays 2. (Councillors Carney and Pereira OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Lopes, Choquette, Abreu, Pemberton and Carney, duly seconded, to cut Resilience Environmental Stewardship – Other Charges a& Expenses account by $2,050.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Pereira, Oliver and Burgo, duly seconded, to cut Solicitor’s Office – Purchase of Services account by $100,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 9, Nays 2. (Councillors Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Choquette, Abreu, Pemberton and Burgo, duly seconded, to cut Solicitor’s Office – Other Charges & Expenses account by $1,800.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Oliver, Choquette, Pemberton and Abreu, duly seconded, to cut Tourism & Marketing – Supplies account by $3,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Lopes, Oliver, PembertonNo: Baptiste, Burgo, Gomes, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Baptiste, Burgo, Gomes, Pereira and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Oliver, Choquette, Abreu, Pemberton and Carney, duly seconded, to cut Tourism & Marketing – Other Charges & Expenses account by $16,034.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Oliver, PembertonNo: Baptiste, Burgo, Lopes, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Baptiste, Burgo, Lopes, Pereira and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Lopes, Choquette, Abreu, Pemberton and Pereira, duly seconded, to cut Treasurer - Collector – Other Charges & Expenses account by $2,500.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Choquette, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Gomes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Gomes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillor Lopes, duly seconded, to cut City Utilities – Purchase of Services account by $500,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Baptiste, Burgo, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, PembertonNo: Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Pereira and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillor Lopes, duly seconded, to cut Unemployment Compensation – Purchase of Services account by $150,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyNo: Carney
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Carney OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Burgo and Abreu, duly seconded, to cut Wastewater – Supplies account by $29,243.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Lopes, Abreu and Pemberton, duly seconded, to cut Wastewater – Other Charges & Expenses account by $5,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Choquette, Abreu, Pemberton, Pereira and Oliver, duly seconded, to cut Wastewater – Capital Outlay account by $50,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyNo: Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 7, Nays 4. (Councillors Baptiste, Carney, Gomes and Lopes OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillor Burgo, duly seconded, to cut Water – Personal Services account by $76,776.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, Roy
Written Motion, by Councillors Lopes and Abreu, duly seconded, to cut Water – Other Charges & Expenses by $5,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Choquette, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 7, Nays 4. (Councillors Baptiste, Carney, Gomes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Written Motion, by Councillors Choquette, Abreu, Pemberton, Pereira and Oliver, duly seconded, to cut Water – Other Financing Uses account by $50,000.00.
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Burgo, Choquette, Oliver, Pemberton, PereiraNo: Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted - Yeas 6, Nays 5. (Councillors Baptiste, Carney, Gomes, Lopes and Roy OPPOSED.).”
Ordered: That to provide for the payment of current expenses of the City for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, the sum set against several municipal accounts in the following schedule are hereby appropriated from Ordinary Revenue and Municipal Receipts of the fiscal…
Quasi Committee of the Whole discharged from further consideration of the matter – All Ayes. Budget Order Adopted as Amended
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyNo: Gomes
From the minutes
“Quasi Committee of the Whole discharged from further consideration of the matter – All Ayes. Budget Order Adopted as Amended – Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Councillor Gomes OPPOSED.) (Matter #0772).”
Ordered, that in order to provide for the payment of current expenses of the City for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, the following sums set against the Airport account are hereby appropriated in twelve equal monthly increments from airport receipts of fiscal year,…
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0773).”
Ordered, that in order to provide for the payment of current expenses of the City for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, the following sums set against the Hotel and Lodging Tax account are hereby appropriated in twelve equal monthly increments from municipal receipts…
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Councillor Giesta OPPOSED.) (Matter #0774).”
Rule 40 Waived
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, RoyNo: Burgo
From the minutes
“Rule 40 Waived – Yeas 10, Nays 1. (Council President Burgo OPPOSED.) (Matter #0774).”
Ordered, that in order to provide for the payment of current expenses of the City for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, the following sums set against the Enterprise Fund account are hereby appropriated in twelve equal monthly increments from enterprise fund receipts…
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0775).”
Ordered, that in order to provide for the payment of current expenses of the City for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, the sum of Sixty-eight Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars (68,500) now standing to the credit of the account of Ccda-traffic Handicap Parking be and the…
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0776).”
Ordered, that in order to provide for the payment of current expenses of the City for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, the following sums set against the Downtown Parking account are hereby appropriated in twelve equal monthly increments from enterprise fund receipts…
Adopted
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0777).”
Ordered, that in order to provide for the payment of current expenses of the City for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, the following sums set against the DPI/Wastewater account are hereby appropriated in twelve equal monthly increments from wastewater receipts of the…
Adopted as Amended
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted as Amended – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0778).”
Ordered, that in order to provide for the payment of current expenses of the City for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, the following sums set against the DPI/Water account are hereby appropriated in twelve equal monthly increments from water receipts of the fiscal…
Adopted as Amended
Yes: Abreu, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Choquette, Gomes, Lopes, Oliver, Pemberton, Pereira, Roy
From the minutes
“Adopted as Amended – Yeas 11, Nays 0. (Matter #0779).”
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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