CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024
7:00 PM

DEACONESS DONNA BRITTO, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHURCH

1.   RESOLUTION, Councillor Burgo, that the New Bedford City Council supports the passage of the THRIVE ACT before the State Legislature.

2.   HEARING, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 40’ of Conduit in SHARON STREET, this work is necessary to provide electric service to 984 Sharon Street.

2a. AN ORDER,

3.   HEARING, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy & Verizon New England, Inc. for location of one jointly owned pole in SOUTH FRONT STREET, this work is necessary to provide electric service to 756 South Water Street. 

3a. AN ORDER,

M1.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting ORDINANCES, amending Chapter 17, Section 17-18, Noncriminal disposition of violations of certain Ordinances, rules and regulations and amending Chapter 17, Section 17-28, Chapter 40U of the Massachusetts General Laws, these amending would encourage more responsible management of residential property, strengthen neighborhoods and conserve the City’s enforcement resources.

M1a.    AN ORDINANCE, Chapter 17, Section 17-18 - Noncriminal disposition of violations of certain Ordinances, rules and regulations

M1b.    AN ORDINANCE, Chapter 17, Section 17-28 - Chapter 40U of the Massachusetts General Laws

M2.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of CATHERINE KRAMER, New Bedford, MA to the AIRPORT COMMISSION; this term will expire December 2026.

M3.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of MARTHA REED, New Bedford, MA to the COMMISSION FOR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES, replacing the late Reverend Pamela J. Cole; this term will expire May 2026.

M4.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of CAROLINE CONZATTI, New Bedford, MA to the GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL REFUSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, replacing John Perry, who has resigned; this term will expire June 2025.

4.   WRITTEN MOTION:  Councillor Morad, requesting that the Management Information Systems Director John Costa, Chief Financial Officer Robert Ekstrom and Acting Administrative Assistant to the Board Assessors Judith Serdahl come before the Committee on Finance to discuss the recent change of vendor for the posting of information to the City's Assessor's Webpage; the extensions of the contracted delivery date and the current status of the implementation of the software update.  (To be Referred to the Committee on Finance.) 

5.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications discuss making New Bedford a Purple Heart City with signage that would recognize the City residents who have received the Purple Heart, and further that the signage would be located at the borders of the City and including highway entrances. (To be Referred to the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications.)

6.   WRITTEN MOTION Councillor Gomes and Council President Carney, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety, and Neighborhoods meet with the residents of Seymour Street to discuss their  concerns and questions, with the business located at 101 Seymour Street; this business is in a residential area and the quality of life is an issue; and further, that the Inspectional Services Commissioner, Building Inspector of the area along with the Chief of Police be invited to said meeting and the City Clerk provide the Committee with business records, and certificates issued for a business located at said address.

7.   WRITTEN MOTION: Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with MBTA South Coast Rail officials for the purpose of discussing the safety of the Purchase Street Train corridor;  the installation of safety fencing from Minuteman Car Wash, south and the support wall south on Purchase Street, from Penniman Street to the train station;  and further, requesting that the Purchase Street support wall have the same façade as the train station.

8.   PETITION, Richard Frade, Lakeville, MA 02347 d/b/a CHURCH ST LLC, 781 Church Street, New Bedford, MA 02745, requesting that he be granted a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-38 of the City Code, to obtain a LICENSE TO DEAL IN JUNK, OLD METALS OR ANY OTHER SECONDHAND ARTICLES

9.   COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council Farias, submitting a copy of an Open Meeting Law Complaint from Craig Ptaszenski, New Bedford, MA 02740, regarding the City Council Holiday gathering held on December 28, 2023.

10.  COMMUNICATION, Councillor Morad, submitting a copy of a Notice to Intent to File Lawsuit from Craig Ptaszenski, New Bedford, MA 02740 regarding Mr. Ptaszenski being blocked on Linda Morad’s Facebook page.

11.  COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council Farias, submitting a copy of a request from Patrick Higgins and Associates for meeting minutes for the calendar years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. (To be Received and Placed on File.)

12.  COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council Farias, submitting a copy of a response to Patrick Higgins and Associates regarding a request for meeting minutes for the calendar years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. (To be Received and Placed on File.)

C1.     CITATIONS, Councillor Gomes, honoring,  RYAN DONAHUE, MACKENZIE SYLVESTER, SHAWN RAPOSO, SARAH FINE, ANDY SOARES, NIVALDO MENDES and DYLAN DESTON in recognition of their appointments as New Bedford Police Officers.

Adopted, to be presented at a later date.

C2.     COMMUNICATION, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, submitting the Annual Report for the 2023-2024 School Year.

Received and Placed on File.

C3.     COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to the City Council, notifying that the Office of the City Clerk has received Meeting Minutes from the Board of Assessors for meetings held on December 07 and December 14, 2023; the Community Preservation Committee for a meeting held on November 28, 2023; and the GNB Regional Refuse Management District for a meeting held on December 14, 2023.

Received and Placed on File.

C4.       278 Union Street, from Eighth Street to Spring Street

C5.       117 Union Street, including Barkers Lane, Acushnet Avenue and North 2^nd Street

C6.       Commercial Street, including corners

C7.       Brooklawn Street, between Acushnet Avenue and Fielding Street

C7.       875 Lucy Street

C9.       4227 Acushnet Avenue

C10.     17 Timberlane Road

C11.     30 Moynan Street

C12.     117 Union Street, including Barkers Lane, Acushnet Avenue and North 2^nd Street

C13.     Commercial Street, including corners

C14.     Brooklawn Street, between Acushnet Avenue and Fielding Street

C15.     875 Lucy Street

C16.     4227 Acushnet Avenue

C17.     17 Timberlane Road

C18.     30 Moynan Street

C19.     392-394 Shaw Street

C20.     144 Princeton Street

C21.     Adelaide Street and Ethel Street

C22.     Belleville Avenue, between Holly Street and Sawyer Street

C23.     369 Earle Street

C24.     953 Pleasant Street

C25.     135 - 137 Reynolds Street

C26.     98 Rounds Street

C27.     136 Tinkham Street

C28.     270 Tinkham Street

C29.     33 Washburn Street

C30.     Ashley Boulevard and Central Avenue

C31.     Ashley Boulevard and Clifford Street

C32.     181-185 Branscomb Street

C33.     35 Butler Street

C34.     279 Bolton Street

C35.     530 Cottage Street

C36.     868 County Street

C37.     170 Dartmouth Street

C38.     96 Ellen Street

C39.     48 Mary Street

C40.     665-685 Orchard Street

C41.     6 Rockdale Street

C42.     462 West Clinton Street

C43.     48 Vine Street

C44.     209 State Street

C45.     245 Rounds Street

C46.     155 Pitman Street

C47.     366 Mina Street

C48.     156 Mill Street

C49.     465 Chancery Street

C50.     PETITION, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 45’ of Conduit in ACUSHNET AVENUE, this work is necessary to provide electric service to 2147 Acushnet Avenue.

RECEIVED AND HEARING ORDERED FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024.