CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
Thursday, April 28, 2016
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PRAYER LED BY:
MAJOR GILBERT PARKHURST, SALVATION ARMY
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MAYORS PAPERS

M1.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER authorizing the Statement of Interest (SOI) Form dated January 22, 2016, to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the following elementary school: John Avery Parker located at 705 County Street.

 

M1a.    AN ORDER,

M2.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER authorizing the Mayor, on behalf of the City for the consideration of the sum of $587,500.00 to execute an offer to sell easement between the City and the United States of America; and further, authorizing to execute an Easement to be recorded at the Registry of Deeds in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor for the completion of any work necessary and incident to design and construction of the New Bedford Harbor Superfund remedy on a portion of City owned property located at 103 Sawyer Street.

 

M2a.    AN ORDER,

M3.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDINANCE, amending Chapter 19 Personnel, Section 19-7 – Unit C Classification and Salary Plan.

 

M3a.    AN ORDINANCE,

M4.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $57,400.00 from TREASURER’S DEBT, to EMS, CHARGES & SERVICES in the amount of $32,400.00 and EMS, SUPPLIES & MATERIALS in the amount of $25,000.00.

 

M4a.    AN ORDER,

M5.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $800.00 from SALE OF LOTS, to PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, CHARGES & SERVICES.

 

M5a.    AN ORDER,

M6.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER for the TRANSFER of $20,000.00 from ZOO, SUPPLIES & MATERIALS to ZOO, CHARGES & SERVICES.

 

M6a.    AN ORDER,

M7.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, requesting that Ms. Whitney Greene, chosen candidate to fill the position of Clinical Veterinarian, be hired at a higher step than the entry level for this position at a Grade M-09, Step 6 with a salary of $60,309.00.

M8.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a SEWER ABATEMENT for JONATHAN MURRAY, 31 Hicks Street, New Bedford, MA, Account Number 1004408 in the amount of $788.50.

M9.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the Final Fiscal Year 2016 Department of Planning, Housing and Community Development Action Plan for the period of July 01, 2016 through June 30, 2017 and a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for Federal Assistance from the United States of America.

 

M9a.    RESOLUTION,

M10.    COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of FREDERICK J. TOOMEY, New Bedford, MA, to the GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE; this term will expire May 2020.

M11.    COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of JOAQUIM “JACK” NOBREGA, New Bedford, MA, to the GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE; this term will expire May 2019.

M12.    COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of ESTELLA I. RIBEIRO, Fairhaven, MA, to the HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION; this term will expire April 2019.

M13.    COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of JEFF COSTA, New Bedford, MA, to the HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION; this term will expire December 2018.

NEW BUSINESS

1.     REPORT, Committee on Ordinances, recommending to the City Council, ADOPTION of the ORDINANCE AS AMENDED, Relative to Door to Door Sales and pass it to a Second Reading.

1a.     AN ORDINANCE, (To be Passed to a Second Reading.)

2.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Lopes, Bousquet, Martins, Winterson and Council President Morad, requesting that the Committee on Ordinances review the City of Boston’s Ordinance regarding Recreational Vehicles; and further that the Committee also review a draft Ordinance written by the Police Department for the City of New Bedford on Recreational Vehicles. (To be Referred to the Committee on Ordinances.)

2a.     AN ORDINANCE, from the City of Boston regarding Recreational Vehicles.

2b.     AN ORDINANCE (draft form), from the New Bedford Police Department regarding Recreational Vehicles.

3.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Carney, Abreu, Gomes, Winterson, Coelho, Bousquet, Rebeiro and Oliveira, requesting, that the City Council send a letter to Governor Baker, along with our State and Federal Delegations in opposition of our boat owners paying $700.00 a day for the at-sea fishing monitor, which was previously paid by NOAA, said new fee was put into place on March 01, 2016, by the United States Department of Commerce, this will have a devastating effect on New Bedford’s fishing industry, which is a major part of the economy in New Bedford and all of New England.

4.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lopes, requesting, AGAIN, that Superintendent Pia Durkin supply this Councillor with the 2015-2016 school testing calendar, originally requested on February 11, 2016 and has not received a response.

5.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Rebeiro, requesting, on behalf of the American Cancer Society, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: HUNTER STREET, from Parker Street to Maxfield Street, FROM FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016, AT 8:00 A.M. TO SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016, AT 12:00 P.M. (NOON), for the purpose of the Relay for Life Walk at Paul Walsh Field.
6.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Martins, requesting, on behalf of the Senhor Da Pedra Club and Feast Committee, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: WEBSTER COURT, from Madeira Avenue to Funchal Place (Hope Street) and TINKHAM STREET, from Madeira Avenue to Funchal Place (Hope Street), ON SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016, FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M. (MIDNIGHT), AND SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2016, FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 11:00 P.M., for the purpose of THE ANNUAL SENHOR DA PEDRA HOLY GHOST FEAST.
7.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Martins, requesting, on behalf of the New Bedford Day of Portugal Committee, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: WILLIAM STREET, from Sixth Street to Pleasant Street, ON THURSDAY, JUNE 09, 2016, FROM 5:30 P.M. TO 7:00 P.M., for the purpose of The Annual Day of Portugal Opening Ceremonies.
8.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Martins, requesting, on behalf of the Day of Portugal Committee, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: ACUSHNET AVENUE, from Beetle Street to Coffin Avenue; SAWYER STREET, from North Front Street to Ashley Boulevard; HOLLY STREET, from North Front Street to Ashley Boulevard; TALLMAN STREET, from North Front Street to Ashley Boulevard; NYE STREET, from North Front Street to Ashley Boulevard; BULLARD STREET, from North Front Street to Ashley Boulevard; DEANE STREET, from Ashley Boulevard to Acushnet Avenue, FROM 6:00 A.M., THURSDAY, JUNE 09, 2016, THROUGH 10:00 A.M., MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016; and further, that the following streets or intersections be designated NO PARKING AND ENFORCED AS A TOW ZONE: ACUSHNET AVENUE, from Beetle Street to Coffin Avenue (both sides); THE NORTH SIDE OF SAWYER STREET, EASTERLY APPROXIMATELY 150 feet, ending at a line parallel to the eastern most property line of the Howard Street Parking Lot (both sides); HOLLY STREET – 50 feet east and west of the intersection of Acushnet Avenue (both sides); TALLMAN STREET – 50 feet east and west of the intersection of Acushnet Avenue (both sides); NYE STREET – 50 feet east and west of the intersection of Acushnet Avenue (both sides); BULLARD STREET – 50 feet east and west of the intersection of Acushnet Avenue (both sides); DEANE STREET – 50 feet east and west of the intersection of Acushnet Avenue (both sides); for the purpose of THE 19TH ANNUAL DAY OF PORTUGAL CELEBRATION.
9.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Winterson, requesting, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: FULLER MEMORIAL PARKWAY, from Rockdale Avenue, westerly through Buttonwood Park, to Brownell Avenue AND BUTTONWOOD STREET, from the Monument to Lake Street, FROM: 8:00 A.M. THURSDAY, JULY 07, 2016, THROUGH: 9:00 P.M., MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016, for the purpose of THE NEW BEDFORD POLICE UNION FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL.

10.     WRITTEN MOTION,  Councillor Oliveira, requesting, on behalf of the Portuguese-American War Veterans, that WILLIS STREET, from Purchase Street to Pleasant Street, be CLOSED on MONDAY, MAY 30, 2016, FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M., for the purpose of A Veteran’s Reception After the Memorial Day Parade.

11.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Bousquet and Winterson, requesting, that the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications consider naming the new pocket park near St. Anthony of Padua Church, or create a monument or memorial to honor and recognize the City’s greatest track hero: the “Whaling City Wonder”, French-Canadian Leo E. Larrivee, who brought home New Bedford’s first Olympic Medal – a Bronze for the third-place finish in the men’s 3,000 Meter Team Race at the 1924 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

12.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu, Winterson, Gomes, Lopes, Council President Morad and Councillors Carney and Martins, requesting that Jean Fox, Project Manager of “SouthCoast Rail” for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and the “Rail to Boston” Coalition come before the Committee on Appointments and Briefings to discuss the recent updates of this project to both the Council and the Residents of New Bedford as it approaches its 30% permitting and design phase; and further, how this body can help further the advocacy of this project amongst both our State and Federal delegations. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments & Briefings, SouthCoast Rail Project Manager Jean Fox and Paul Chasse, Chair of the “Rail to Boston” Committee.)

13.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu, Winterson, Gomes, Lopes and Martins, requesting that Representatives from both Eversource Energy and Spectra Energy come before the Committee on Appointments and Briefings to discuss both the potential economic and social impact the Acushnet LNG Proposal would have on not only New Bedford, but on the surrounding communities as well, since Representatives of the "Southcoast Neighbors United" came before this body and the local media recently to voice their opposition of this project, it is only fair, in the spirit of full transparency, that the Committee invite the proponents of the project as well. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments & Briefings, Dennis D. Galvam, Manager of Community Relations & Economic Development for Eversource Energy and Representatives from Spectra Energy). 

14.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Bousquet, Lopes and Abreu, requesting, the Department of Tourism and Marketing, or New Bedford Cable Access create a public service message advising residents and visitors to not give money to panhandlers and professional beggars and enable their existence.
15.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu, Rebeiro, Bousquet, Coelho and Winterson, requesting, that Department of Public Infrastructure Commissioner, Ronald Labelle, look into the possibility of erecting signs in high solicitation areas throughout the City in the spirit of educating both our residents and visitors that their donations to individual solicitors can be better used to help a larger number of needy individuals if donations and contributions are made to registered organizations instead of individual solicitors; and further, that DPI work with this Council, the Mayor's Office and representatives from the "Homeless Services Providers Network", in discussing a marketing initiative similar to the "Make Your Change Count" campaign used by several other communities throughout the Country, in which the sign lists a website directing both residents and visitors alike to our local food pantries, homeless shelters, addiction treatment services and other various non-profit and social advocacy agencies which are always in need of donations. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, DPI Commissioner Ronald Labelle, the Mayor's Office, Scott Downing, Executive Secretary, Traffic Commission and Carl Alves, Chairperson of the "Homeless Service Providers Network").
16.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Coelho, requesting, that a representative from the Police Department be invited to appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to update the Committee members on the status of surveillance cameras throughout the City, these cameras are a tool in preventing crime; and further, that we look into the possibility of adding additional cameras in areas where panhandlers are aggressively attacking motorists in an attempt to curb some of this nuisance behavior.  (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and a representative from the Police Department.)

17.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Carney, Abreu, Lopes, Martins, Winterson and Rebeiro, requesting, that the Committee on Ordinances, implement a policy that all licenses issued by the City of New Bedford which require a criminal background check known as a CORI, also require that fingerprinting also be added to the process, which will give the City notification of a felony committed in other States; and further, that any additional expenses incurred by the fingerprinting process be reflected in the cost of the license. (To be Referred to the Committee on Ordinances.)

18.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Coelho, requesting, that a representative from the Police Department be invited to appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to update the Committee members on the opiate epidemic and the number of repeat overdoses and provide us with the latest statistics on the matter, since our area appears to have the highest number of overdoses in Bristol County; and further, to inform us about what kind of outreach is being done and what the State can do to help us, as we need assistance to deal with the repeat overdose crisis.  (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and a representative from the Police Department.)
19.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes and Winterson, requesting, that Town and City officials from New Bedford and Dartmouth hold a meeting for the purpose of discussing a plan to address the repaving of Brownell Avenue, between Hawthorn Street and Allen Street, seeing that this road is a main road, which borders City and Town lines. (To be Referred to the Mayor and Department of Public Infrastructure Commissioner, Ronald Labelle.)
20.     PETITION, Monica E. Tobin, 352 Cummings Road, Swansea, MA 02777 d/b/a CODY & TOBIN, INC. 516 Belleville Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02746, requesting that she be granted a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-18 of the City Code, to obtain a LICENSE TO DEAL IN JUNK, OLD METALS OR ANY OTHER SECOND HAND ARTICLES.