MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Committee on Appointments and Briefings · 7:02 p.m.
September 15, 2026
11 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, 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 (7:38)
Every vote, in order
Citizen’s Input Time – Not to exceed the first thirty (30) minutes of the meeting. a. Kyle Fahey, 59 Shawmut Avenue, speaking on Excessive Car and Motor Bike Noises”. (Referred – July 13, 2026.) Mr. Fahey was not present. On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the…
To table the matter. b. William Lacey, 914 Lucy Street, speaking on “Unsafe Driving by New Bedford Police Officers on Lucy Street”. (Referred – July 13, 2026.) Mr. Lacey was present and addressed the Committee.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Gomes, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter. b. William Lacey, 914 Lucy Street, speaking on “Unsafe Driving by New Bedford Police Officers on Lucy Street”. (Referred – July 13, 2026.) Mr. Lacey was present and addressed the Committee..” (Motion: Pereira, second: Gomes)
To table this matter. Ms. Norman will be invited to the Oct. meeting. d. Catherine Synnott, 12 Ruth Street, speaking on “Excess Number of Storage Facilities in the City”. (Referred – July 28, 2026.) Ms. Synnott contacted the City Council Office to let the members know she couldn’t attend and asked to be added to the next meeting agenda. e. Brian Santerre, 173 Eugenia Street, speaking on “Illegal P
From the minutes
“The Committee VOTED: To table this matter. Ms. Norman will be invited to the Oct. meeting. d. Catherine Synnott, 12 Ruth Street, speaking on “Excess Number of Storage Facilities in the City”. (Referred – July 28, 2026.) Ms. Synnott contacted the City Council Office to let the members know she couldn’t attend and asked to be added to the next meeting agenda. e. Brian Santerre, 173 Eugenia Street, speaking on “Illegal Parking of Commercial Vehicles with USDOT Numbers”. (Referred – July 30, 2026.) Mr. Santerre contacted the City Council Office to let the members know he couldn’t attend and asked to be added to the next meeting agenda..”
On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee Voted: To take the following matter out of order without objection; and remove from the table. Communication, Councillor Gomes, submitting a Host Community Agreement Proposal Application on behalf of Shamar James,…
To take the following matter out of order without objection; and remove from the table. Communication, Councillor Gomes, submitting a Host Community Agreement Proposal Application on behalf of Shamar James, Founder/CEO of THConnect, LLC, dba Houz of Diesel, seeking to operate a co-located adult-use marijuana retail and product manufacturing establishment at 301 Herman Melville Boulevard, New Bedfo
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Burgo, the Committee VOTED: To take the following matter out of order without objection; and remove from the table. COMMUNICATION, Councillor Gomes, submitting a Host Community Agreement Proposal Application on behalf of Shamar James, Founder/CEO of THConnect, LLC, dba Houz of Diesel, seeking to operate a co-located adult-use marijuana retail and product manufacturing establishment at 301 Herman Melville Boulevard, New Bedford, MA 02740. (Matter ID #0116) (Referred – January 23, 2025.) (February 18, 2025 – tabled) (September 16, 2025 – tabled w/ a RELATED MOTION that a letter be sent to CCC staff asking why they did not attend the meeting and request that the Mayor reconvene the HCA Screening Committee as soon as possible.) (November 18, 2025 – tabled) (December 09, 2025 – tabled w/ a RELATED MOTION that a letter be sent to the Mayor asking him to enter into a Host Community Agreement (HCA) with the Houz of Diesel enabling the organization to seek reimbursement from the State for funds previously expended.) (February 17, 2026 – tabled) Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor, was recognized and provided the Committee with an update on the application. Atty. Jaikes explained that the proposal is moving forward. (Matter #0116).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Burgo)
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Gomes and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #0116).” (Motion: Gomes, second: Lopes)
Communication, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Appointment of Brian J. Sousa, New Bedford, MA to the Election Commission; this term will expire April 2029. (Matter Id #1299) (Referred – August 20, 2026.)
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Appointment of Brian Sousa, New Bedford, MA to the Election Commission.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Burgo and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPOINTMENT of BRIAN SOUSA, New Bedford, MA to the ELECTION COMMISSION. (Matter #1299).” (Motion: Burgo, second: Abreu)
Written Motion, Councillors Abreu and Pereira, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings discuss the ongoing construction project on County Street; and further, that the Committee meet with local businesses to discuss the impact of the street disturbances. (Matter Id #0652)…
To remove the matter from the table. Mr. Jim Costa, Superintendent of Wastewater, was recognized and provided an update on the construction project.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Roy and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To remove the matter from the table. Mr. Jim Costa, Superintendent of Wastewater, was recognized and provided an update on the construction project. (Matter #0652).” (Motion: Roy, second: Abreu)
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Lopes and seconded by Councillor Pereira, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #0652).” (Motion: Lopes, second: Pereira)
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…
To remove the matter from the table. Mr. Jim Costa addressed the Committee to provide an update on this issue.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To remove the matter from the table. Mr. Jim Costa addressed the Committee to provide an update on this issue. (Matter #1584).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Abreu)
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Roy, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #1584).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Roy)
Appointments & Briefings Committee September 15, 2026 Written Motion, Councillors Carney, Gomes, Abreu, Oliver, Council President Morad and Councillors Giesta and Markey, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Wendy Morrill from the South Coast Neighbors United…
To table the matter at this time.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Lopes, the Committee VOTED: To table the matter at this time. (Matter #1191).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Lopes)
On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee Voted: To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the following matters: Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, Carney, Lima, Morad and Markey requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings…
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the following matters: Written Motion, Councillor Gomes, Carney, Lima, Morad and Markey requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with the potential developers of two homes located in New Bedford Historical Districts, one at 52 Ash Street and the other at 110 Hawthorn Street; the Ash Street residence was sold to
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Pereira and seconded by Councillor Abreu, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the following matters: WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, Carney, Lima, Morad and Markey requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with the potential developers of two homes located in New Bedford Historical Districts, one at 52 Ash Street and the other at 110 Hawthorn Street; the Ash Street residence was sold to Caldeira, LLC for the potential location of a 21-person rooming house; the Hawthorn Street residence is owned by Jeff A. White of D.W. White Construction, Acushnet, MA, who is negotiating a lease with Fellowship Health Resources (a Rhode Island based company) for a seven-person rooming house; and further, requesting that the owners of both locations attend a meeting to provide detailed plans to the Committee; and further, requesting that representatives of the New Bedford Preservation Society and WHALE (Waterfront Historic Area League) also be invited to attend said meeting, along with residents located within a six-block area; the integrity of the neighborhood’s single-family homes is at stake, homes that have been preserved for their historical significance and whaling heritage. (Matter ID #1412) (Referred – August 17, 2023.) (September 19, 2023 – RELATED MOTION re potential ordinance amendment, referred to Ordinance Committee; main motion tabled) Appointments & Briefings Committee September 15, 2026 WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Pereira, Carney, Baptiste, Markey and Abreu, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with the New Bedford Port Authority, a representative of Vineyard Wind, a representative of MassCEC, and local business owners to discuss the parking situation in the neighborhood surrounding the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal. (Matter ID #1531) (Referred – September 14, 2023.) (October 23, 2023 – tabled) (March 18, 2024 – tabled) (Matter #1412).” (Motion: Pereira, second: Abreu)
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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