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Chair Suggests 'Waive Reading', 'No Further Action' and 'Report Out to the Full City Council'
1. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Abreu, Gomes, and Council President Morad and Winterson, requesting that the New Bedford City Council write a letter to Dairy Queen’s Vice President Jim Kerr, asking that he consider opening one of their new proposed expansion locations here in New Bedford, the company, owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., plans on adding 60 new franchises to its repertoire of 33 in Massachusetts over the next five years, as part of a national expansion effort; and further that the City Council assist the New Bedford Economic Development Council and the Dairy Queen Corporate Offices with the site selection process to help find a suitable location which would provide a significant value to both the Company and Community. (To be Referred to the Committee on Employment Opportunities and New Bedford Economic Development Council.) (Matter ID #0453) (Referred – March 22, 2016.) (January 26, 2017 – Referred to the Committee on Labor & Industry from the now dissolved Committee on Employment Opportunities.) (01/22/2026 – By Ordinance, Committee name changed from “Labor and Industry” to “Economic Development” – see #0112.)
2. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu, Winterson, Lopes and Bousquet, requesting, that the New Bedford City Council write a letter of interest to Urban Smart Growth, which is a property management company based in Santa Monica, California, they manage properties all over the Country and specialize in revitalizing large buildings, mill spaces and Churches for business and residential use, Urban Smart Growth is an innovative real estate development and management company committed to the principles of smart growth, their goals are to achieve a unique sense of community and expand the range of transportation, employment, and housing choices all while preserving and enhancing natural and cultural resources, the representatives of Urban Smart Growth have a diverse team of experts and experience acquired over the course of decades of work across the United States, which make them uniquely qualified to take on challenging projects and transform urban blight into a neighborhood asset that complements the City revitalization efforts, the New Bedford City Council is interested in an Urban Smart Growth economic development assessment of our City and its un and under-utilized mill and Church spaces: and further, how we can begin the process of discussing the next steps once an assessment is completed. (To be Referred to Lance Robbins, Principal and Manager of Urban Smart Growth, the New Bedford Economic Development Council and the Special Committee of Employment Opportunities.) (Matter ID #2220) (Referred – December 08, 2016.) (January 26, 2017 – Referred to the Committee on Labor & Industry from the now dissolved Committee on Employment Opportunities.) (01/22/2026 – By Ordinance, Committee name changed from “Labor and Industry” to “Economic Development” – see #0112.)
3. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu and Winterson, requesting that Representatives of Washburn Realty, LLC and B.S. Realty, appear before the Committee on Labor & Industry to discuss their economic and community development intentions regarding the old Building #19 property located on Hathaway Rd. (To be Referred to the Committee on Labor & Industry, and Liz Isherwood, spokesperson for the project, of Isherwood & Moore Communications.) (Matter ID #0346) (Referred – March 09, 2017.) (01/22/2026 – By Ordinance, Committee name changed from “Labor and Industry” to “Economic Development” – see #0112.)
4. COMMUNICATION, Aaron Iskowitz, COO Urban Smart Growth, responding to a letter from Dennis W. Farias, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council regarding Urban Smart Growth providing the City with an economic development assessment. (Matter ID #0358) (Referred – March 09, 2017.) (01/22/2026 – By Ordinance, Committee name changed from “Labor and Industry” to “Economic Development” – see #0112.)
5. COMMUNICATION, Council President Morad, submitting a letter from Blue Harvest Fisheries, informing they will be ending their food processing operations at their facility located at 40 Herman Melville Boulevard, New Bedford on May 26, 2023. (Matter ID #0704) (Referred – April 13, 2023.) (01/22/2026 – By Ordinance, Committee name changed from “Labor and Industry” to “Economic Development” – see #0112.)
6. COMMUNICATION, Council President Morad and Councillor Giesta, submitting a copy of letter from State Representative Christopher Markey to New Bedford Economic Development Council President, Mr. Anthony Sapienza, regarding the development of the New Bedford State Pier. (Matter ID #0707) (Referred – April 13, 2023.) (01/22/2026 – By Ordinance, Committee name changed from “Labor and Industry” to “Economic Development” – see #0112.)
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