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.
1. CITIZEN’S INPUT TIME – Not to exceed the first thirty (30) minutes of the meeting.
1a. Sandra Spoor, 145 Campbell Street, #3, New Bedford, 02740, speaking on “Capital Waste Management & Residential Issues”. (Referred – June 05, 2024.)
1b. Shawn Thimas, 1012 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, 02740, speaking on “Creating a Financial Literacy Program in New Bedford”. (Referred – July 03, 2024.)
1c. Craig Ptaszenski, 8A Carriage Drive, New Bedford, 02740, speaking on “The Homeless”. (Referred – July 15, 2024.)
INVITEES: Sandra Spoor; Shawn Thimas; Craig Ptaszenski
2. PUBLIC HEARING on an APPLICATION, Kholoud Swenson, d/b/a Mikos Auto Group, Inc., for a SPECIAL PERMIT for Motor Vehicle Sales and/or Rentals, at 319 Belleville Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02746. (Application Received – May 06, 2024.) (Duly advertised in The Standard-Times on Tuesday, June 04, 2024 and Tuesday, June 11, 2024.) (June 18, 2024 – Public Hearing continued until Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.) (July 16, 2024 – Public Hearing continued until Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.)
INVITEES: Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Danny Romanowicz, Commissioner, Department of Inspectional Services; Kholoud Swenson, Applicant; Abutters
3. PUBLIC HEARING on an APPLICATION, Antone Salgado, Jr., d/b/a Big Sal’s Auto, for a SPECIAL PERMIT for Motor Vehicle Sales and/or Rentals, at 1615 Cove Road, New Bedford, MA 02740. (Application Received – July 12, 2024.) (Duly advertised in The Standard-Times on Tuesday, September 03, 2024 and Tuesday, September 10, 2024.)
INVITEES: Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Danny Romanowicz, Commissioner, Department of Inspectional Services; Antone Salgado, Jr., Applicant; Abutters
4. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of GLENDA B. REYES, 68 Erin Court, New Bedford, MA 02745 d/b/a REYES TRANSPORTATION, 68 Erin Court, New Bedford, MA 02745, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a NEW PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE to carry passengers for hire over the streets of New Bedford. (Term of License July 01, 2024 – June 30, 2025.) (Referred – June 27, 2024.) (Matter ID #1159) (July 16, 2024 – tabled)
INVITEES: Glenda B. Reyes
5. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of FRANKLIN E. LOBO, 2220 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA d/b/a FRANK’S TRANSPORT SERVICES, 2220 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a NEW PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE. (Term of License – July 01, 2024 - June 30, 2025.) (Referred – August 13, 2024.) (Matter ID #1364)
INVITEES: Franklin E. Lobo
6. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of DIEGO A. ARANGO, 155 Holly Street #3, New Bedford, MA d/b/a ARANGO LUXURY SERVICE LLC, 155 Holly Street #3, New Bedford, MA hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a NEW PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE. (Term of License – July 01, 2024 - June 30, 2025.) (Referred – August 13, 2024.) (Matter ID #1365)
INVITEES: Diego A. Arango
7. PETITION, ELIZABETH SILVA, Westport, MA d/b/a Dewey’s Finds, 52 Brigham Street, Suite #7, New Bedford, MA 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. (Referred – August 13, 2024.) (Matter ID #1366)
INVITEES: Elizabeth Silva
8. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of STORMI MONTEIRO, New Bedford, MA, to the HOUSING AUTHORITY. Ms. Monteiro will be replacing the late Melvin Dias; this term will expire in December 2026. (Referred – August 13, 2024.) (Matter ID #1327)
INVITEES: Stormi Monteiro
9. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of DAWN ESTABROOKS SALERNO, New Bedford, MA, to the HISTORICAL COMMISSION; this term will expire in August 2027. (Referred – August 13, 2024.) (Matter ID #1328)
INVITEES: Dawn Estabrooks Salerno
10. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of JAY AVILA, New Bedford, MA, to the HISTORICAL COMMISSION; this term will expire in August 2027. (Referred – August 13, 2024.) (Matter ID #1329)
INVITEES: Jay Avila
11. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of DANIEL TURPIN, New Bedford, MA, AS AN ALTERNATE MEMBER to the HISTORICAL COMMISSION; this term will expire in August 2027. (Referred – August 13, 2024.) (Matter ID #1330)
INVITEES: Daniel Turpin
12. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of JOSE GOUVEIA, Warren, RI, as DIRECTOR of the Personnel Department. (Referred – August 13, 2024.) (Matter ID #1321)
INVITEES: Jose Gouveia
13. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Gomes, requesting, that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT), meet with the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, for the purpose of discussing replacing the signage along Route 18 North and South, which has become old and has sustained reflective deterioration especially in the nighttime hours; and further, to also discuss possible signage changes that would announce attractions, placed at main intersections along with the present directions on the signage; and further, that our State Representative for that area be requested to attend said meeting along with a representative from the Mayor’s Administration. (Referred – May 14, 2015.) (October 28, 2015 – tabled) (April 20, 2017 – tabled) (October 19, 2017 – tabled) (July 31, 2018 – Remain in Committee) (February 10, 2020 – Remain in Committee) (May 17, 2022 – Remain in Committee)
14. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with a representative from the Mayor’s Office, the Massachusetts Undersecretary of Energy Patrick Woodcock and a representative from Vineyard Wind that has a signed contract with the State, City of New Bedford and the Marine Commerce Terminal Clean Energy Center, that they provide the Committee with a company breakdown and action plan for the terminal; and further, how many jobs have been created to date for residents of the City and what has been the economic boost to the City. (Referred – June 27, 2019.) (May 17, 2022 – Remain in Committee) (June 14, 2022 – tabled) (September 20, 2022 – tabled)
15. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Giesta, Council President Abreu, Councillors Lima and Markey, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings hold a meeting to discuss viable options for curbing the litter in the City derived from the sale of small spirits bottles and that the Chair invite Nick Nanopoulos, Director of the Licensing Board; a representative of the Massachusetts Package Store Association; a representative of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States; a representative from Keep Massachusetts Beautiful and any other person or organization deemed appropriate by the Committee Chair; and further, that the City Council forward copies of bills pending before the State Legislature involving small spirit bottles, specifically H.3332; H.3284; H.869 and S.2159, to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings and to the invitees named above in order to address the potential benefits and risks of these bills at the requested meeting. (Referred – February 10, 2022.)
15a. COMMUNICATIONS, Councillor Giesta, submitting H.332; H3284; H.869 and S.2159, relative to small spirit bottles. (Referred – February 10, 2022.)
16. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes, Carney, Burgo, Lima, Giesta, Dunn, Markey, Baptiste, and Council President Abreu, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with local musician and cultural educator Ms. Candida Rose to discuss her proposal for expanding the Cape Verdean Recognition Month of July in the areas of culture, education, art, and music, as well as ideas on promoting New Bedford’s tourism attractions; and further, that a representative of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and New Bedford Tourism & Marketing Director Ashley Payne, be invited to said meeting. (Referred – September 08, 2022.) (November 15, 2022 – VOTE: City Council go on record in supporting the declaration of July as Cape Verdean Recognition Month beginning in 2023; tabled)
17. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes, Baptiste, Burgo, Carney, Giesta, Lima and Markey, Council President and Oliver, requesting that the Administration budget $20,000 in the upcoming FY24 budget for the purpose of assisting Neighborhoods United and Crime Watch Groups across the City; this money will assist with printing, mailing and hosting fun-days in parks across the City; included in these fun-days will be the opportunity to register to vote, to interact with police and recruitment officers, and other programs that are available to the residents and youth of the City, as well as music, food and other fun activities. (To be Referred to the Mayor’s Office and the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.) (Referred – March 09, 2023.) (Matter ID #0484)
18. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Pereira, Abreu, Giesta, Carney, Oliver, Council President Morad, Gomes and Burgo requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with New Bedford business owners and residents to discuss the issues surrounding the Licensing Board's Rule 48, the ban of alcohol sold in or less than 100 milliliter containers. (Referred – August 17, 2023.) (Matter ID #1425) (September 26, 2023 – Three RELATED MOTIONS made and reported out to Council (request Council Atty’s legal opinion; suspend the November 01, 2023 effective date of the Nip Ban; extend the effective date of the Nip Ban to November 01, 2024); main motion tabled)
19. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council Dennis W. Farias, submitting a copy of an Open Meeting Law Complaint Form from Kyle Duarte, New Bedford, MA, to the Licensing Board regarding the Public Hearing that took place on July 24, 2023, on the Ban of the Sale of Alcohol in containers less than or equal to 100 Milliliters. (Referred – August 17, 2023.) (Matter ID #1438)
20. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council Dennis W. Farias, submitting a copy of an Open Meeting Law Complaint Form from Mark Custodio, New Bedford, MA to the Licensing Board regarding the Public Hearing that took place on July 24, 2023 on the Ban of the Sale of Alcohol in containers less than or equal to 100 Milliliters. (Referred – August 17, 2023.) (Matter ID #1439)
21. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council Dennis W. Farias, submitting a copy of an Open Meeting Law Complaint Form from Sendhabhai Patel, New Bedford, MA to the Licensing Board regarding the Public Hearing that took place on July 24, 2023 on the Ban of the Sale of Alcohol in containers less than or equal to 100 Milliliters. (Referred – August 17, 2023.) (Matter ID #1440)
22. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council Dennis W. Farias, submitting a copy of an Open Meeting Law Complaint Form from Narendra Patel, New Bedford, MA to the Licensing Board regarding the Public Hearing that took place on July 24, 2023 on the Ban of the Sale of Alcohol in containers less than or equal to 100 Milliliters. (Referred – August 17, 2023.) (Matter ID #1441)
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if any accommodations are needed, please contact the City Council Office at 508-979-1455. Requests should be made as soon as possible but at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.