MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Appointments and Briefings · 7:00 p.m.
July 21, 2026
9 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Derek Baptiste, Naomi R. A. Carney, Leo Choquette, Joseph P. Lopes, Shawn Oliver, Scott Pemberton, Ryan J. Pereira, James Roy
Absent: Shane A. Burgo, Brian K. Gomes
Every vote, in order
Citizen’s Input Time – Not to exceed the first thirty (30) minutes of the meeting. Chris Lamontagne, 236 Hemlock Street, speaking on a “Public Petition and Call for the Resignation of Mayor Jonathan F. Mitchell”. (Referred – July 01, 2026.)
To take “No Further Action” on the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Baptiste and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the matter at this time..” (Motion: Baptiste, second: Abreu)
Appointments & Briefings Committee July 21, 2026 Public Hearing on a Communication/Demolition, New Bedford Historical Commission, to City Council, re: Building Demolition Review: 535 Brock Avenue, (Map 011, Lot 0056) a circa 1840 - 1854, carriage barn, later converted to a two-story residence, “the…
To open the public hearing.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To open the public hearing. (Matter #1064).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Roy)
To receive and place on file the Communication and Staff Report submitted by the New Bedford Historical Commission relating to the Building Demolition Review of 535 Brock Avenue.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Pereira, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file the Communication and Staff Report submitted by the New Bedford Historical Commission relating to the Building Demolition Review of 535 Brock Avenue. (Matter #1064).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Pereira)
To receive and place on file a communication submitted by Gary Moraes of New Bedford, expressing his dismay at the need to demolish the building.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To receive and place on file a communication submitted by Gary Moraes of New Bedford, expressing his dismay at the need to demolish the building. (Matter #1064).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Lopes)
To close the public hearing.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To close the public hearing. (Matter #1064).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Roy)
To recommend that the City Council Grant the Demolition of the building located at 535 Brock Avenue, known as the Coffin Howland House, (Map 011, Lot 0056).
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Roy and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council GRANT the DEMOLITION of the building located at 535 Brock Avenue, known as the Coffin Howland House, (MAP 011, LOT 0056). (Matter #1064).” (Motion: Roy, second: Lopes)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Justin Ohlson, New Bedford, MA to the Water Board, Mr. Ohlson will be replacing the late Patrick E. Rogers, who resigned in January 2025; this term will expire in April 2027. (Matter Id #0895) (Referred – May 28, 2026.)
To remove from the table.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To remove from the table. (Matter #0895).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Roy)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Appointment of Justin Ohlson, New Bedford, MA to the Water Board.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPOINTMENT of JUSTIN OHLSON, New Bedford, MA to the WATER BOARD. (Matter #0895).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Abreu)
Written Motion, Councillors Lopes, Gomes, Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Pemberton and Pereira, requesting, that representatives from Republic Waste Services, E. L. Harvey, and Waste Management attend a meeting of the New Bedford City Council’s Committee on Appointments & Briefings to discuss their…
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Abreu and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #0910).” (Motion: Abreu, second: Pemberton)
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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