COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY & NEIGHBORHOODS -  May 21, 2018

MEETING AT 7:00 PM, 133 William Street, New Bedford, MA - City Council Chambers 214

AGENDA

1. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes, Lopes, Abreu and Carney, requesting, that the City Administration, Department of Parks, Recreation and Beaches, Police Department, Animal Control and the Department of Public Infrastructure take immediate action on behalf the residents of the East Rodney French Boulevard pertaining to beach area problems; the parking, drinking in public, loud music, speeding, drug use, and the location of the beach volleyball net to name a few of their concerns; and further, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with residents of that area to determine if these issues can be resolved within 30 business days before the summer season approaches. (Ref’d 4/12/18) (5/1/18-returned unsigned by the Mayor)

 

1a. COMMUNICATION, Councillor Gomes, submitting letters from East Rodney French Boulevard residents detailing their concerns regarding problems surrounding the East Beach area. (Ref’d 4/12/18) (5/1/18-returned unsigned by the Mayor)

 

INVITEES: Joseph C. Cordeiro, Chief, New Bedford Police Department; Emanuel Maciel, Director, Animal Control; Jamie Ponte, Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure; Mary Rapoza, Director, Parks, Recreation and Beaches; Barry Sylvia; Representative, Mayor’s Office; East Rodney French Boulevard Residents


2. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that Mayor Mitchell and School Superintendent Durkin put together the cost of installing security in all schools throughout the City, which includes panic buttons, cameras, and evacuation plan; and further, consider hiring armed guards possibly using former retirees from the Police Department and/or Veterans; furthermore, that the School Department install a hotline within the school system for students to report unusual activity, threats or even comments about guns or anything that threaten the wellbeing and safety of all faculty and students, title it “YOU HEAR IT, YOU SEE IT, YOU REPORT IT, TOGETHER WE MAKE OUR SCHOOL SAFE.” (To be Referred to the Mayor, Superintendent Durkin, the School Committee and the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 2/22/18) (3/14/18-returned unsigned by the Mayor)

 

INVITEES: Joseph C. Cordeiro, Chief, New Bedford Police Department; Dr. Pia Durkin, Superintendent, New Bedford Public Schools; Andrew O'Leary, Business Manager, New Bedford Public Schools; Representative, Mayor’s Office; Members, New Bedford School Committee

 

3. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with Police Chief Cordeiro and a representative from the Mayor’s office to discuss the immediate implementation of Active Threat Resolution training for all Officers, requesting also a list of all specially trained officers within the department, these Officers with the special training and certification can be used to train other Officers within the department; and further, that training immediately go into effect making our department ready for possible active shooter situations, also known as the Active Shooter Response Team; and further, that the Police Department provide the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods with a list of schools and City public buildings that have received ALICE Training (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuation), teaching staff what their options are if there is an active threat situation. (Ref’d 2/22/18)

 

INVITEES: Joseph C. Cordeiro, Chief, New Bedford Police Department; James Estrella, Vice-President, New Bedford Police Union; Hank Turgeon, President, New Bedford Police Union; Representative, Mayor’s Office

 

4. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes, Lopes, Abreu and Council President Morad, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with Erik Rousseau, SRTA Bus Management, Sgt. Scott Liberty and Scott Downing, Traffic Commission, to discuss the possibility of re-routing the Ft. Rodman bus route that is presently traveling south on Brock Avenue, west on Portland Street to East Rodney French Boulevard to South Rodney French Boulevard, then back onto Brock Avenue north, this route has been implemented due to the fact that the UMASS entrance is where the bus used to take a U-turn and proceed north on Brock Avenue; and further, requesting that SRTA use an alternate route other than traveling through a residential area such as Portland Street, the alternate route being requested is that the Fort Rodman bus travel south to the University of Massachusetts, take a left onto South Rodney French to the entrance of Fort Taber, where a bus stop sign will be placed at the corner of South Rodney French Boulevard and West Rodney French Boulevard, southwest corner, then make a U-turn back east to Brock Avenue north; this alternative route would not only eliminate the Portland Street residential area, but also give an opportunity for bus transportation to bring people right to the gate of Fort Taber; and further, that a letter be sent to SRTA Bus Management requesting the alternative route. (Ref’d 2/8/18)

 

4a. COMMUNICATION, Councillor Lopes, submitting a Petition signed by Residents of Portland Street, requesting that SRTA Bus Company stop using Portland Street as a bus route. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 2/22/18)

 

Chair Recommends 'Follow Recommended Action' and 'Report Out to the Full City Council'

 

5. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Coelho, Abreu, Rebeiro and Carney, requesting, ONCE AGAIN, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods review the streetlight situation in the City of New Bedford and request an update from DPI Commissioner Ronald Labelle, in addition to ONCE AGAIN, make plans for Ride-Along with all Councillors to review certain neighborhoods and areas to determine whether they received increased streetlighting. (Ref’d 1/28/16) (2/16/16-tabled)

 

6. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes, Carney, Abreu, Coelho and Martins, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, meet with the Police Chief Cordeiro, Health Director, Dr. Brenda Weis and a member of the Mayor’s staff, to discuss putting in place a comprehensive plan of action to address the present opioid and heroin crisis in the City; and further, that Police Chief Cordeiro and the Narcotics Division put a full effort into taking the dealers of these drugs off the streets calling it a “Clean City”; and further, that the City work with every law enforcement agency available to address this issue, including the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Director, Daniel Bennett; and further, that letters be sent to Congressman William Keating, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Edward Markey, Schmid, and Straus, asking them to amend the present State and Federal laws to give the harshest punishment to those involved in selling these drugs on our streets and to also explore the possibility of holding them with no bail due to the impact on the community and the loss of life, along with assisting Cities with monies for treatment and education; and further, that anyone caught driving under the influence of such drugs or having been injected with these drugs be immediately arrested for driving under the influence in the City of New Bedford. (Ref’d 6/9/16)

 

7. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Coelho, requesting, that the Police Department look into the possibility of increasing the installation and use of surveillance cameras throughout the City streets and neighborhoods, concentrating on the hot spots of high crime incidents. (To be Referred to the Police Chief, the Mayor and the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 6/8/17) (6/26/17-returned unsigned by the Mayor)

 

8. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Coelho, requesting, that Mark McGraw, Director of Emergency Medical Services be invited to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to discuss the number of calls for 2017 that the City has received for Opioid overdoses, any zones or areas that get the most calls for overdoses and a percentage of calls that are for repeat overdoses. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 9/28/17)

 

9. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Coelho and Carney, requesting, on behalf of constituents, a re-evaluation of streetlights in high crime neighborhoods throughout the City to determine whether the voltage in the streetlights are set as high as possible. (To be Referred to the Department of Public Infrastructure and the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 12/14/17) (1/3/18-returned unsigned by the Mayor)


Chair Recommends 'No Further Action' and 'Report Out to the Full City Council'

10. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Rebeiro, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods invite Emanuel Maciel, Animal Control Officer, to discuss the trapping and euthanasia of feral cats and also to discuss the possibility of a catch and neuter release program. (Ref’d 10/23/14) (3/19/15-tabled 30 days)

 

11. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings in conjunction with the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, along with the Police Chief Provencher, meet with the Gloucester Police Chief Len Campanello, or a Representative of the Gloucester Police Department to discuss their “Angel Program” which brings together Drug Treatment Agencies and Hospital Officials to allow active addicts to walk in, hand in their drugs and get immediate treatment instead of a jail cell, due to the numbers of this newly implemented plan being so far positive in Gloucester. (Ref’d 10/22/15)


12. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that a round table summit meeting be held with the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, for the purpose of discussing and addressing a strategic plan of action on criminal and gang activity in the City of New Bedford; and further, that the following agencies be invited to attend said summit; Massachusetts Department of Public Safety, the District Attorney, the Police Chief, the City Solicitor, a representative from the Mayor’s Office and the Mayor’s Housing Task Force, the State Police, a member of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and any agency presently working with local law enforcement; and further, that all members of our State and Federal Legislative Delegation be invited to said meeting, which will be a collaborative effort working together for a safer City. (Ref’d 8/21/14) (2/16/16-tabled)


13. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Winterson, Abreu, Gomes, Martins, Carney, Council President Lopes and Councillor Oliveira, requesting that Fire Chief Gomes, Representative of the Mayor’s Office, CFO Sky, DFFM Commissioner Blanchard, Safety Committee Chairman Firefighter Jason Barker, and Safety Committee Co-Chairman Firefighter Kevin Cormier appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to discuss the mechanical issue with the Fire Department’s apparatus and the lack of scheduled and preventative maintenance on the Fire Department’s fleet. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 2/23/17) (3/28/17-tabled 60 days)

 

 

 

 

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