CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026
7:00 PM

1.  PETITION, Verizon New England, Inc for location of Conduit at the INTERSECTION OF COUNTY STREET and ALLEN STREET, this work is necessary to provide electric service to a node attached to a light pole for wireless service. (Note: Police Details will be engaged while the work is being completed.)

1a.  AN ORDER,

2.  PETITION, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of one handhole and approximately 70’ of Conduit in WALNUT STREET, this work is necessary to provide upgraded service to Walnut Street.

2a.  AN ORDER,

3.  PETITION, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for location of approximately 38’ of Conduit in WALNUT STREET, this work is necessary to provide electric service to 198 Walnut Street.

3a.  AN ORDER,

M1.   COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a LOAN ORDER, appropriating $12,610,194.00 for the purpose of making critically needed repairs to City-owned buildings including, but not limited to, projects for the repair and renovation of public safety facilities, recreational facilities, general office space, replacement of capital equipment and vehicles, and roads and infrastructure improvements.

M1a.   LOAN ORDER,

4.  WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the City Council go on record opposing the sale of nitrous oxide canisters and cylinders within the City to anyone under the age of 21; and further requesting that the Committee on Ordinances draft an Ordinance to ban the sale of nitrous oxide containers and cylinders in New Bedford; this request is made in light of the increasing use and the serious and devastating effects associated with it.

5.  WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu, Choquette and Pemberton, requesting that the Committee on Ordinances consider drafting an Ordinance prohibiting the sale of nitrous oxide–related products to individuals under the age of twenty-one (21) within the City of New Bedford, in response to growing public health and safety concerns surrounding the misuse of nitrous oxide, commonly sold as whipped cream chargers or similar products, which can cause serious neurological, respiratory, and long-term health harms, particularly among youth, and to ensure appropriate enforcement provisions and any necessary exemptions for legitimate commercial or medical use are considered. (To be Referred to the Committee on Ordinances, the Mitchell Administration, Health Department Director Stephanie Sloan, Police Chief Jason Thody and City Solicitor Eric Jaikes.)

6.  WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Oliver, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings schedule a meeting prior to the Thursday, February 12, 2026 City Council meeting, for the purpose of allowing the residents of Illinois, Ohio, Jarry, Maryland, and Appleton Streets a forum in which they may voice any concerns regarding the proposed Ordinance amending Chapter 9, Comprehensive Zoning, specifically as it relates to parking requirements under Appendix C – Table of Parking and Loading Requirements. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.)

7.  WRITTEN MOTION, City Council President Pereira, requesting that the City Council adopt the attached proposed Ordinance Relative to City Council Committees.

7a.  AN ORDINANCE, (To be Passed to a Second Reading.)

8.  WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with the Archdiocese of Boston’s Planning Office for Urban Affairs to discuss the project timeline and proposed design plan for the former St. Killian’s Church property on Ashley Boulevard. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.)

8a.  PROJECT TIMELINE AND DESIGN PLAN, former St. Killian's Church

9.  COMMUNICATION, Anne Louro, Preservation Planner, to City Council, re: BUILDING DEMOLITION REVIEW: NS HATHAWAY ROAD, (MAP 121/LOT 202), Formerly part of 805 Hathaway Road, a circa 1938 Wood-Framed Barn/Garage Structure, advising that “the structure is associated with the Seth Hathaway family and is representative of the City’s nineteenth century agricultural activities; the structure is not located within a National Register Historic District; the structure is of no notable historic significance either recorded or found with the existing condition of the structure “in light of these findings, the Preservation Planner has determined that the wood-framed barn/garage structure located at NS Hathaway Road is neither a Historically Significant nor a Preferably Preserved Structure.” 

10.  COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, submitting an Application for a NEW PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE on behalf of Suzete Rosa DePina, d/b/a TIA SUZETE TRANSPORTATION, 38 Trinity Street, New Bedford, MA. (License to Expire - June 30, 2026.)

11.  COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, submitting an Application for a NEW PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE on behalf of Christopher Okafor, d/b/a KIK TRANSPORTATION, 27 Maddie Drive, New Bedford, MA. (License to Expire - June 30, 2026.)

C1.  CITATION, Councillor Gomes, honoring, PATRICIA J. VICTOR, on the celebration of her 90^th Birthday and Wishes that the Good Lord Give Her Continued Health and Happiness.               

Adopted, to be presented at a later date.

C2.  CITATION, Councillor Gomes, honoring, PATRICIA J. VICTOR, GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN, INC., in recognition of her contributions to the Community by serving as a Foster Grandparent at the Carney Academy and the DeMello School and as Junior Choir Director at the International Church of the Nazarene for 25 years.  

Adopted, to be presented at a later date.

C3.  CITATIONS, Councillor Gomes, honoring, JUAN ORTIZ-SIERRA, JEAN-CLAUDE DAVID, SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ, CORY SIMS and KATELYN ADAMIDES, in recognition of their APPOINTMENTS as NEW BEDFORD POLICE OFFICERS.            

Adopted, to be presented at a later date.

C4.  WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Baptiste, requesting, on behalf of the Whaling Museum, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: JOHNNY CAKE HILL, from William Street to Union Street, ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2026, FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M. PLEASE NOTE: NO PARKING BOTH SIDES OF JOHNNY CAKE HILL; WILLIAM STREET, from North Second Street to Bethel Street/Johnny Cake Hill AND BETHEL STREET, from Elm Street to William Street, ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2026, from 7:00 A.M. TO: 1:00 P.M., for the purpose of Moving an Azorean Boat From its Current Location.

Permission Granted.

C5.  PETITION/INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, Samantha Isidora, on behalf of Salt 77 North Water Beauty Collective, 77 North Water Street, New Bedford MA  02740, for Permission to Erect and Maintain a projecting 18” x 3’4” non-illuminated sign at 77 North Water Street, New Bedford, MA; Provisionally Granted, subject to the approval of Commissioner of Inspectional Services and subject to Ratification by Mayor and City Council.

Received and Action of the City Clerk Ratified.

C6.  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 November 20, 2025, December 11, 2025  and December 18, 2025; the Community Preservation Committee for meetings held on October 28, 2025 and December 08, 2025; the Board of Health for meetings held on July 29, 2025 and August 20, 2025; the Licensing Board for meetings held on  August 26, 2025, September 23, 2025 and November 18, 2025; the Planning Board for meetings held on August 7, 2024, August 13, 2025, October 08, 2025, September 10, 2025 and November 13, 2025; the Public Health Excellence Collaborative for meetings held on December 10, 2025 and January 07, 2026; the Park Board for a meeting held on October 15, 2025; GNB Regional Refuse Management District for meetings held on October 08, 2025 and November 12, 2025; and the Zoning Board of Appeals for a meeting held on October 16, 2025.

Received and Placed on File.

C7.       Ashley Boulevard, from Coggeshall Street to Sawyer Street

C8.       NS Crescent Street, 35’ ±  E Plante Street

C9.       Ashley Boulevard, from Coggeshall Street to Sawyer Street

C10.     NS Crescent Street, 35’ ±  E Plante Street

C11.     County Street, working from Allen Street to Spring Street, including all intersections

C12.     20 Ashley Street, between Cove Street and Ruth Street

C13.     30 Chestnut Street, between Hillman Street and North Street

C14.     185 – 187 Whitman Street

C15.     492 Rivet Street

C16.     132 Whitman Street

C17.     Brock Avenue, from Bellevue Street to Aquidneck Street, including all intersections

C18.     Intersection Purchase Street @ Cedar Grove Street (including 100’ in all directions)

C19.     130 Liberty Street

C20.     226 Park Street