CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
Thursday, March 23, 2023
*************

OPENING OF SESSION BY
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT LINDA M. MORAD
*************
PRAYER LED BY:
RABBI RAPHAEL KANTER, TIFERETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
*************
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL
*************
HEARINGS

1. PETITION, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy and Verizon New England, Inc. for location of two (2) jointly owned anchors on BONNEY STREET and two (2) jointly owned poles and two (2) jointly owned anchors on WINSOR STREET, to provide necessary system reliability.

 

1a. AN ORDER,

2. PETITION, NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy and Verizon New England, Inc. for location of two (2) jointly owned poles, one (1) jointly owned anchor and one (1) jointly owned sidewalk guy on HEMLOCK STREET; two (2) jointly owned anchors and two (2) sidewalk guys in BOLTON STREET and one (1) jointly owned anchor and one (1) jointly owned sidewalk guy in JENKINS STREET, to provide for system improvements and reliability.

 

2a. AN ORDER,

MAYORS PAPERS

M1.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the REAPPOINTMENT of JOAN SWAIN, New Bedford, MA, to the COUNCIL ON AGING; this term will expire in December 2025.

 

M2.      COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of EDWARD C. ANTHES-WASHBURN, New Bedford, MA, to the AIRPORT COMMISSION; Mr. Washburn will be replacing Adam Simmons, whose term expired in 2015; this term will expire in December 2024.

 

NEW BUSINESS

3. AN ORDINANCE, amending Chapter 9, Comprehensive Zoning, Section 2100 (Districts) by inserting: MacArthur Drive District (MDD.) (Passed to a Second Reading – February 9, 2023.)

4. REPORT, Committee on Ordinances, recommending to the City Council APPROVAL of the ORDINANACE, submitted by Mayor Mitchell, amending the Unit C Schedule, set forth in Chapter 19, Section 19-7.1 (b) of the Code of Ordinances, by adjusting the step dates assigned to Unit C employees who were currently employed on October 1, 2022.

 

4a. AN ORDINANCE, (Passed to a Second Reading and Referred to the Committee on Ordinances, in its Second Reading Stage – February 23, 2023.)

 

5. REPORT, Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, recommending that the City Council request that the Administration look into the possibility of an Educational Bill and incentives for current Police Officers to increase steps and hiring pay.

6. REPORT, Committee on City Property, recommending to the City Council ADOPTION of the ORDER, requesting that the City Solicitor obtain appraisals and prepare an Order of Taking for land located on County Street, from Nelson Street to Union Street, for the purpose of acquiring permanent and temporary easement for roadway paving, sidewalk reconstruction with new pedestrian ramps, new pavement markings, traffic signal upgrades, tree plantings and new green infrastructure areas. 

 

6a. AN ORDER, (Referred to the Committee on City Property –  January 26, 2023.)

 

7. REPORT, Committee on City Property, recommending that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a request from the Zeiterion Theatre, Inc. to enter into a long-term lease agreement with the City of New Bedford, that this matter be referred to the Committee on City Property to issue a Request for Proposals. 

 

7a. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a request from the Zeiterion Theatre, Inc. to enter into a long-term lease agreement with the City of New Bedford, that this matter be referred to the Committee on City Property to issue a Request for Proposals. (Referred to the Committee on City Property – November 21, 2017.)

 

8. REPORT, Committee on City Property, recommending that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes and Pereira, requesting, that the Committee on City Property and Mary Rapoza, Director, Parks, Recreation and Beaches, meet with Mr. Joseph Pacheco, President, and Commodore of the Low Tide Yacht Club and the Fort Rodman Marine Educational Association, for the purposes of discussing the educational program held between May 15th and September 15th at Fort Taber, and further, to discuss issues with meetings and services that the Low Tide Yacht Club provides after the 8:00 p.m. closing of Ft. Taber, and ways the City can assist the club with access to the facilities after hours for said meetings and services. 

 

8a. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes and Pereira, requesting, that the Committee on City Property and Mary Rapoza, Director, Parks, Recreation and Beaches, meet with Mr. Joseph Pacheco, President, and Commodore of the Low Tide Yacht Club and the Fort Rodman Marine Educational Association, for the purposes of discussing the educational program held between May 15th and September 15th at Fort Taber, and further, to discuss issues with meetings and services that the Low Tide Yacht Club provides after the 8:00 p.m. closing of Ft. Taber, and ways the City can assist the club with access to the facilities after hours for said meetings and services. (Referred to the Committee on City Property – October 13, 2022.)

 

9. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Carney, Abreu and Oliver, requesting, that the Administration look into leasing or purchasing the nursing home facilities in the City that are closed, such as the former Hallmark Nursing Home on Rockdale Avenue and the former Sassaquin Nursing Home on Acushnet Avenue, to help combat the housing crisis that the City is currently facing by creating additional affordable housing units in New Bedford; and further, that the City Council reach out to our State and Federal Delegation for assistance in obtaining supplementary funds for this project, by way of grants and/or other available resources. (To be Referred to the Special Committee on Affordable Housing and Homeless Affairs.)

10. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Morad, Councillors Giesta, Oliver, Pereira, Carney, Markey, Lima, Baptiste and Gomes, requesting that the City allow for the temporary naming of Purchase Street, between School and Spring Streets the “Yellow Brick Road” between April 27, 2023 – April 30, 2023; and further, that DPI create two street name plates to be attached to the street poles between School and Spring Streets. (To be Referred to the Mayor’s Office, Anne Louro, Preservation Planner and the Traffic Commission.)

11. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Laurence Lutvak, for the purposes of discussing an idea he has pertaining to the Moby Dick Read-A-Thon weekend, Mr. Lutvak would like to discuss with the City Council the possibility of having an entire weekend open 24/7, in the Downtown area of New Bedford during the Moby Dick Read-A-Thon. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.) 

12. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, meet with the Museum Director and Security Personnel of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, to review the policies and procedures for hiring personnel at the Museum; and further, to discuss who was responsible for reviewing CORI checks and who hired the male suspect that stole thousands of dollars in historical Whaling Artifacts.

13. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Teofilo DaSilva, 24 Nye Street, New Bedford, MA 02746 d/b/a FAMILY FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION, 24 Nye Street, New Bedford, MA  02746, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a RENEWAL of a PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE to carry passengers for hire over the streets of New Bedford. (License will expire June 30, 2023.)
14. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Jerry Gil, 146 Holly Street, New Bedford, MA 02746, d/b/a J&N TRANSPORTATION, 146 Holly Street, New Bedford, MA 02746, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a RENEWAL of a PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE to carry passengers for hire over the streets of New Bedford. (Term of License – July 01, 2023 to June 20, 2024.) 
15. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Brittany Botelho, 185 Hathaway Road, Acushnet, MA 02743, d/b/a PROJECT INDEPENDENCE SERVICES, INC., 250 Elm Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a RENEWAL of a PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE to carry passengers for hire over the streets of New Bedford. (License will expire June 20, 2023.)
16. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Karla Mejia Abarca, 57 Fair Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, d/b/a KARLA MEJIA TRANSPORTATION, 57 Fair Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a RENEWAL of a PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE to carry passengers for hire over the streets of New Bedford. (Term of License – July 01, 2023 to June 20, 2024.)

17. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Jacqueline D’Guzman-Carrero, 188 Hemlock Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, d/b/a PORTILLO’S TRANSPORTATION, 188 Hemlock Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a RENEWAL of a PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE to carry passengers for hire over the streets of New Bedford. (Term of License July 01, 2023 – June 30, 2024.)

18. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Camille Taylor, 14 Beetle Street, New Bedford, MA 02746, d/b/a CT LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE, 14 Beetle Street, New Bedford, MA 02746, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a RENEWAL of a PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE to carry passengers for hire over the streets of New Bedford. (Term of License – July 1, 2023 -June 30, 2024.)

19. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Isabel V. Gomez Hernandez, 92 Ruth Street, New Bedford, MA 02744 d/b/a YESSICA COREAS TRANSPORTATION, 92 Ruth Street, New Bedford, MA  02744, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a NEW PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE to carry passengers for hire over the streets of New Bedford. (License will expire June 30, 2023.)
20. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Isabel V. Gomez Hernandez, 92 Ruth Street, New Bedford, MA 02744 d/b/a YESSICA COREAS TRANSPORTATION, 92 Ruth Street, New Bedford, MA  02744, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a RENEWAL of a PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE to carry passengers for hire over the streets of New Bedford. (Term of License – July 01, 2023 - June 30, 2024.)
21. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Kimberly Neves, 201 Query Street, New Bedford, MA 02745, d/b/a KNN TRANSPORTATION, INC., 201 Query Street, 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. (License will expire June 20, 2023.)
22. COMMUNICATION, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, on behalf of Kimberly Neves, 201 Query Street, New Bedford, MA 02745, d/b/a KNN TRANSPORTATION, INC., 201 Query Street, New Bedford, MA 02745, hereby submitting a copy of the Application requesting a RENEWAL of a PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE to carry passengers for hire over the streets of New Bedford. (Term of License – July 01, 2023 to June 20, 2024.)

23. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, Chairman of the School Committee, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER, relative to the proposed construction of a new or reconstructed DeValles School on its present site or as expanded to the north by the acquisition of six (6) parcels bordered by Rivet, Orchard, Bonney and Katherine Streets.

 

23a. AN ORDER, (To be Referred to the Committee on City Property.)

24. COMMUNICATION, Andrew O’Leary, Assistant Superintendent of the New Bedford Public Schools to City Council, regarding the site acquisition options for the new DeValles/Congdon School.  (To be Referred to the Committee on City Property.)

25. COMMUNICATION, Janine da Silva, Chairperson, Community Preservation Committee, submitting the Community Preservation Committee’s FY23 Community Preservation Act Funding recommendations.

26. COMMUNICATION, Manuel DeBrito, Jr., Chairperson, Board of Election Commissioners, to Mayor Mitchell, recommending that the City adopt Early In-Person voting hours for the 2023 Municipal Election. (Copy all Councillors via email March 21, 2023; To be Received and Placed on File.)

27. COMMUNICATION, Councillor Pereira, submitting a copy of a letter sent to Dawn Guarriello, Chairperson, Massachusetts Architectural Board, in support of the granting of a variance to allow the Verdean Veterans Memorial Hall the installation of a temporary chair lift.
28. COMMUNICATION, Councillors Baptiste, Markey, Giesta, Oliver, Lima, Pereira, Abreu, Burgo, Carney, Gomes and Council President Morad, submitting a copy of a letter sent to Congressman William Keating, in support of the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts (YWCA) grant application to the U.S. House’s Fiscal Year 2024 Community Project Funding Program, for the rehabilitation of a recently purchased historic property located at 549 County Street, which will operate as residential housing for twelve low-income women.

29. COMMUNICATIONS, Councillor Giesta and Council President Morad, submitting copies of letters sent to Governor Maura Healey, former Governor Charlie Baker and Department of Housing and Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, in support of our State Representatives communication to Yvonne Hao, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, concerning the lack of transparency with the New Bedford State Pier RFP Process.

30. COMMUNICATION, Council President Morad, submitting a copy of a letter from the Realtor Association of Southeastern Massachusetts (RASEM) stating their opposition to the rent stabilization motion heard at the City Council Meeting of March 09, 2023. (To be Referred to the Special Committee on Affordable Housing and Homeless Affairs.)
TABLED BUSINESS

02/23/2023    REPORT, Committee on Appointments and Briefings, recommending that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of CAROL PIMENTEL, New Bedford, MA, to the GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE; Ms. Pimentel will be replacing Patrick Walsh, who has resigned; this term will expire in May 2026.

 

02/23/2023    COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of CAROL PIMENTEL, New Bedford, MA, to the GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE; Ms. Pimentel will be replacing Patrick Walsh, who has resigned; this term will expire in May 2026. (Referred to the Committee on Appointments & Briefings – July 21, 2022.)

 

 

 

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.