MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Ordinances · 7:00 p.m.
June 24, 2026
8 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Attendance
Present: 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: Ian Abreu, Shawn Oliver
During the meeting:
- Baptiste arrived late (7:07)
- Gomes arrived late (7:07)
Every vote, in order
The following matter was taken out of order, without objection: Communication, Dennis W. Farias, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to Ryan J. Pereira, City Council President, requesting an increase for three Administrative and Recording Fees: Vital Record Amendments, Junk Collector/Dealer Fees…
To recommend to the City Council Adoption of an Order increasing the Administrative and Recording Fees for Vital Record Amendments from $40 to $50 and for Business Certificates/DBA Licenses from $40 to $50.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council ADOPTION of AN ORDER increasing the Administrative and Recording Fees for Vital Record Amendments from $40 to $50 and for Business Certificates/DBA Licenses from $40 to $50. (Matter #0916).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Lopes)
To table the request for an increase to the Administrative and Recording Fees for Junk Collector/Dealer Fees at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: To table the request for an increase to the Administrative and Recording Fees for Junk Collector/Dealer Fees at this time. (Matter #0916).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Pemberton)
Public Hearing on a Communication (Matter Id #0440)
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.)
From the minutes
“The Committee 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).”
To receive and place on file a copy of an email communication and zoning district maps submitted by Anne Louro, Assistant City Planner.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file a copy of an email communication and zoning district maps submitted by Anne Louro, Assistant City Planner. (Matter #0440).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Lopes)
To close the public hearing.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To close the public hearing. (Matter #0440).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Lopes)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of an Ordinance, Amending Chapter 9, Zoning – establishing Form-based Code Districts.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of AN ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 9, ZONING – establishing FORM-BASED CODE DISTRICTS. (Matter #0440).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Gomes)
Communication (Matter Id #0795)
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting an Ordinance, amending Chapter 19, Personnel, Section 19-7(c) of the City Code to create the position of “Assistant Superintendent of Green Space” at pay grade “M-11”; the position fully paid out by the Water Enterprise.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira 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 AN ORDINANCE, amending Chapter 19, Personnel, Section 19-7(c) of the City Code to create the position of “Assistant Superintendent of Green Space” at pay grade “M-11”; the position fully paid out by the Water Enterprise. (Matter #0795).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Baptiste)
Written Motion, Councillor Lopes and Council President Pereira, requesting, that the City Solicitor, in conjunction with the Administration, draft a Home Rule Petition for submission to the Massachusetts General Court authorizing the City of New Bedford to establish an early retirement incentive…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillor Lopes and Council President Pereira, requesting, that the City Solicitor, in conjunction with the Administration, draft a Home Rule Petition for submission to the Massachusetts General Court authorizing the City of New Bedford to establish an early retirement incentive program for eligible municipal emplo
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lopes and Council President Pereira, requesting, that the City Solicitor, in conjunction with the Administration, draft a Home Rule Petition for submission to the Massachusetts General Court authorizing the City of New Bedford to establish an early retirement incentive program for eligible municipal employees; said Petition shall provide that employees who have attained the age of fifty years or older and who have completed twenty-five years or more of creditable service with the City may be eligible to retire with a retirement allowance calculated at up to seventy-five percent of their eligible retirement benefit, subject to the approval of the Massachusetts Legislature and the Governor. (Matter #0913).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Lopes)
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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