NovusAGENDA


CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR Thursday, February 10, 2022 *************


NOTE:


THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD REMOTELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS’ MARCH 12, 2020, ORDER SUSPENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW G. L. C. 30A, SECTION 20 WITH AN EXTENSION SIGNED ON JUNE 16, 2021 AND THE CITY COUNCIL’S VOTE TO WAIVE RULE 21A ON JANUARY 13, 2022
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OPENING OF SESSION BY


IAN ABREU, CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE


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HEARINGS


		1. HEARING, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy and Verizon New England, Inc for location of one (1) Pole in ALLEN STREET, West of Rockdale Avenue. (Hearing continued from the January 27, 2022 meeting.) 1a. AN ORDER, (Hearing continued from the January 27, 2022 meeting.)

		2. HEARING, R.W. Bryant Contacting, Inc. for location of approximately 85’ of 3” PVC Conduit at the Intersection of Union Street and Second Street. (Hearing continued from the January 27, 2022 meeting.) 2a. AN ORDER, (Hearing continued from the January 27, 2022 meeting.)

		3. HEARING, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a/ Eversource Energy for location of 7’ Conduit and Cable and one (1) Handhole in MAPLE STREET, West of Cottage Street. 3a. AN ORDER,


MAYORS PAPERS


NEW BUSINESS


		4. 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. 4a. COMMUNICATIONS, Councillor Giesta, submitting H.332; H3284; H.869 and S.2159, relative to small spirit bottles.

		5. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Morad, requesting that Department of Public Infrastructure Commissioner Jamie Ponte provide the Committee on Finance with a summary report detailing current and past due Commercial, Industrial, Municipal and Residential accounts for Water and Wastewater billings as of January 31, 2022, said report shall include comparable information for the periods of March 2021 and August 2021. (To be Referred to the Committee on Finance.)

		6. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Baptiste, on behalf of D.F. Pray General Contractors, requesting, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: COMMERCIAL STREET, from South Water Street to its terminus, starting on TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023, for the purpose of the construction project happening at 21-35 Commercial Street, 13-19 Commercial Street and 24 Union Street.

		7. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Pereira, requesting that the Special COVID-19 Business Committee explore the City’s capacity to purchase COVID-19 Rapid Tests to assist businesses obtain tests for their staff. (To be Referred to the Special COVID-19 Business Committee.)

		8. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Pereira, requesting that the Committee on Ordinances discuss and review the Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance including implementation, fines, enforcement, and other topics related to the ban. (To be Referred to the Committee on Ordinances.)

		9. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the implementation of the Ordinance, relative to Plastic Bags, Chapter 17 be SUSPENDED immediately until the Committee on Ordinances meets to discuss and review the said Ordinance. (To be Referred to the Committee on Ordinances.)

		10. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Giesta, requesting that the Special Committee on Solid Waste Services hold a meeting to discuss the recent sale of ABC Disposal Services, Inc., to Waste Connections U.S. Holdings, Inc.; it is important that the residents and business owners of New Bedford be reassured that there will be no interruption of trash and recycle pickup. (To be Referred to the Special Committee on Solid Waste Services.)

		11. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, on behalf of Bonnie Waite, 112 Peckham Road, Acushnet, requesting that Kathleen Street be changed to SPOONER FARM LANE, the Spooner Family owned land for decades along Kathleen Street; and this name change would give recognition to a family that contributed so much to this area for decades. (To be Referred to the Planning Board, the Committee on City Property and the Traffic Commission.)

		12. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Carney and Pereira, on behalf of Brigilio Cabral, owner of the convenience store located at 111 Ruth Street, requesting that the Traffic Commission install two (2) 20-minute parking from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm Signs in front of said store allowing customers to park. (To be Referred to the Traffic Commission.)

		13. COMMUNICATION, Department of Environmental Protection Waterways Regulation Program, submitting a copy of a Notice of License Application to construct and maintain a temporary meteorological tower on an existing concrete pier at 706 South Rodney French Boulevard. (To be Received and Placed on File.)

		14. COMMUNICATION, Department of Environmental Protection Waterways Regulation Program, submitting a copy of a Notice of License Application from Andrew Herlihy to construct and maintain a temporary meteorological tower on an existing breakwater at 0 SS Padanaram Avenue. (To be Received and Placed on File.)

		15. COMMUNICATION, Department of Environmental Protection Waterways Regulation Program, submitting a copy of a Notice of License Application by the New Bedford Port Authority to authorize a change in use for Water-Dependent Industrial, Temporary, and Supporting Designated Port Area Uses at 40 Hervey Tichon Boulevard.


TABLED BUSINESS


		*04/22/2021* WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, Council President Lopes, Councillors Markey and Carney, requesting, that the City Council go on record in opposition and condemnation of the Boston Globe’s article along with the report done by Citizens For Juvenile Justice, titled, “We Are The Prey”; and further, that the New Bedford City Council also go on record in support of the men and women of the New Bedford Police Department as this report was not fairly done, and does not fit the image, the profile and the mission of our law-enforcement in the City, this report condemned our Police Department for racial profiling of minority groups of juveniles; and further, that the department continues to enforce law and order and justice for all Citizens of the City of New Bedford; and further, that Acting Police Chief Paul Oliveira reassure the people of the City that his leadership and New Bedford Police Department will mirror an image and commitment that all Citizens of the City of New Bedford will be treated fairly with no bias, only law and order and protection of all City residents

		*07/15/2021* COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of DAVID KENNEDY, New Bedford, MA to the REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; this term will expire July 2026.

		07/15/2021 COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of PAUL CHASSE, New Bedford, MA to the REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; this term will expire July 2026.

		*07/15/2021* COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of CELEINE SARAIVA, New Bedford, MA to the PROBLEM PROPERTIES APPEALS PANEL; this term will expire June 2024.

		*01/27/2022* COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting LOAN ORDER, in the amount of $2,450,000.00 to pay costs of purchasing and equipping a pumper truck and aerial ladder truck for the Fire Department. (Referred to the Committee on Finance – January 13, 2022; Discharged from the Committee on Finance – January 27, 2022.) *01/27/2022* LOAN ORDER, (Referred to the Committee on Finance – January 13, 2022; Discharged from the Committee on Finance – January 27, 2022.)