NOTE: THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED AND RECORDED. CITY COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS CAN BE VIEWED ON THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD’S HOMEPAGE UNDER QUICK LINKS, THEN MEETINGS.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Ordinances look into establishing an Ordinance that would ban fireworks being shot-off throughout the City after the hours of 10:00 pm with the exception even though illegal after the 10:00 pm curfew on July 4th; and further, that the Ordinance establish a $300 fine for those caught illegally firing off fireworks between July 5th through July 3rd of the following year within City neighborhoods, beaches, waterfront and open spaces; furthermore that this law would be strictly enforced in the City giving some relief to the neighborhoods. (Matter ID #0795) (Referred – June 25, 2020.)
INVITEES: Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Brian Medeiros, Fire Chief; Jason Thody, Police Chief
2. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER and AN ACT, providing for the Recall of Elected Officers in the City of New Bedford. (Matter ID #0303) (Referred – March 14, 2024.) (July 17, 2024 – tabled) (October 09, 2024 – remain on the table) (November 19, 2024 – remain in Committee) (May 28, 2025 – tabled)
2a. AN ORDER, (Matter ID #0304) (Referred – March 14, 2024.) (July 17, 2024 – tabled) (October 09, 2024 – remain on the table) (November 19, 2024 – remain in Committee) (May 28, 2025 – tabled)
2b. AN ACT, (Matter ID #0305) (Referred – March 14, 2024.) (July 17, 2024 – tabled) (October 09, 2024 – remain on the table) (November 19, 2024 – VOTE: To AMEND the ACT, by striking the language “Six hundred (600)” in Section 3A and replacing it with “Eighteen hundred (1800)” and by striking the language “100” in Sections 3A and 3B and replacing it with “300”; VOTE: To AMEND the ACT, by striking the language “3 months” in Section 2 and replacing it with “4 months” and by striking the language “6 months” in Section 2 and replacing it with “8 months”; remain in Committee) (May 28, 2025 – tabled)
INVITEES: Manuel DeBrito, Election Commissioner; Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Representative, Mayor’s Office
3. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Burgo, Pereira, Abreu, Carney, Oliver, Lima, Baptiste, Gomes, Morad, and Giesta, requesting, that the Committee on Ordinances explore the enactment of an Ordinance or City policy to establish parental paid leave to provide compensation for a period of time for City employees in the event of an addition of a child to the employee’s immediate family to allow for the proper care of and bonding with the child. (Matter ID #1429) (Referred – August 17, 2023.) (November 20, 2023 – Judi Keating will secure monies and numbers on instituting a program; tabled) (March 25, 2024 – remain on the table) (April 22, 2025 – tabled) (September 29, 2025 – VOTE: That Legislative Counsel draft a Parental Leave Ordinance that would grant employees paid parental leave up to six weeks at full pay and an additional six weeks at 75% pay to be used in the first year of a child’s birth or adoption; Remain in Committee.)
INVITEES: Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; José Gouveia, Director, Personnel Department; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor
4. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Lopes and Oliver, requesting, that the Committee on Ordinances meet with the City Planner and Inspectional Services Commissioner to review and discuss the current condo legislation for a possible amendment to include the ability for Resident “A” zoned properties that are greater than 3,250 square ft. of living space to have the ability through a Special Permit process to be reconstituted into Residential Condo units. (Matter ID #1008) (Referred – June 13, 2024.) (September 19, 2024 – tabled to allow Atty. Gerwatowski time to review and amend the proposed Ordinance.) (November 19, 2024 – tabled) (March 31, 2025 – remain on the table) (November 20, 2025 – tabled) (December 15, 2025 – remain on the table)
4a. DRAFT ORDINANCE, Relative to Condominiums in Residence A Zoned Districts, (Received – September 20, 2024.) (November 19, 2024 – tabled) (March 31, 2025 – remain on the table) (November 20, 2025 – tabled) (December 15, 2025 – remain on the table)
INVITEES: Jennifer Carloni, Director, Planning Department; Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Representative, Mayor’s Office
Chair Suggests 'Waive Reading', 'No Further Action' and 'Report Out to the Full City Council'
5. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lopes, requesting that the Mitchell Administration provide the City Council with a listing of all vacant municipally owned residential lots that are conforming and nonconforming based on current building codes; and further that the Mayor’s Office, the Planning Department, the Office of Housing and Community Development and the Committee on Ordinances collectively work to develop a plan to address the challenges associated with the nonconforming residential lots. (To be Referred to Mayor Mitchell, the Planning Department, the Office of Housing and Community Development and the Committee on Ordinances.) (Matter ID #0048) (Referred – January 11, 2024.) (March 13, 2024 – tabled for 60 days) (May 20, 2024 – remain on the table)
6. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Choquette and Abreu, requesting, that the Ordinance Committee meet within the next 30 days to again, consider the home rule petition related to enacting recall provisions for municipal elected officials; this matter was previously heard but has remained in Committee. (Matter ID #0735) (Referred – May 08, 2025.)
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