INVITEES: Renee Langley

INVITEES: Jose Manuel Cabral

INVITEES: Renee DePina

INVITEES: Dayanara Puga

INVITEES: Judith Perkins; Sarah Fidelix, Director of Operations, Personnel Department

INVITEES: Edward Anthes-Washburn, Director, New Bedford Port Authority; Peter Boswell, Chairman, Park Board; Craig Dixon, Chairman, Conservation Commission; David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel Attorney; Mikaela McDermott, City Solicitor; Mary Rapoza, Director, Parks, Recreation and Beaches; Barry Sylvia, Area Resident; Robert Viveiros, Area Resident; Representative, Mayor’s Office

7. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Gomes, requesting that the Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches, Mary Rapoza, look into installing Expression Swings in parks throughout the City, the recreational swings allow parents and infants or young children to swing together face-to-face in one unit; and further, that we look at Community Development monies to assist in this project. (Ref’d 7/16/15) (9/30/15-send letter to Park Board asking them to fund 3 Game Time Swings for Buttonwood, Hazelwood and Fort Taber; send letter to Community Development to see if funding is available to help with purchase of such swings) (6/12/18-Remain in Committee) (7/31/18-Remain in Committee)

8. 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. (Ref’d 5/14/15) (10/28/15-tabled) (4/20/17-tabled) (10/19/17-tabled) (7/31/18-Remain in Committee)

9. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the City Council’s Legislative Counsel and the City Solicitor look into Article II, Section 19-20 through 19-27, with respect to enforcing the requirement that City Employees be residents of the City of New Bedford during the full term of their employment with the City; further, that contracts with the City’s Unions (AFSCME, Police, Fire) ensure that every City employee be a resident of the City of New Bedford for the full term of their employment and/or for a MINIMUM OF FIFTEEN years, if so negotiated, (and NOT the presently negotiated 3-4 years) before being allowed to reside in other Cities or Towns; further, that this change, after review by Legislative Counsel and Solicitor, not apply to positions exempted by the code or where Waivers have been granted by the City Council and Mayor when in the best interest of the public to do so, if the Legislative Counsel and City Solicitor so determine to continue exemption (s) after review; and further, that employees presently working for the City that were allowed by Union Contract to reside outside of the City be “Grandfathered In”, so as not to cause hardship to said employees and their families. (Ref’d 3/8/12) (12/10/13-Remain in Committee) (10/14/14-tabled) (3/31/15-Remain in Committee) (11/10/15-Remain in Committee) (9/13/16-tabled) (7/31/18-Remain in Committee)

10. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for the purpose of discussing the immediate action to be taken on Exit 15 Downtown New Bedford, on both Exits off of 195, east and west; and further, immediate action has to be taken on both these exits due to the present conditions, this is not the first time the issue of these two exits have been addressed, they have been in deplorable condition for some time; and further, these are the exits that welcome you to the City of New Bedford, also requesting that MassDOT fix all the lights on North Front Street, between Kenyon Street and Cedar Grove Street, on Belleville Avenue, between Kenyon Street and Cedar Grove Street located on the support wall under 195 east and west, on Logan Street, between Acushnet Avenue and Purchase Street, located on the support wall under Rt. 18, north and south of JFK Memorial Highway, these areas are very dark and are the responsibility of the MassDOT. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, with a request that a letter be sent to Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT). (Ref’d 10/13/16) (4/20/17-tabled) (10/19/17-tabled) (7/31/18-Remain in Committee)

11. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with the Administration to discuss the possibilities of re-establishing a Cable TV Commission; this Commission would look into and assist City residents and the business community with cable concerns, cost and services; and further assist with contract negotiations on behalf of the City. (Ref’d 9/14/17) (7/31/18-Remain in Committee)

12. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with the owner and operator of Nice N’ Clean Car Wash located at Bolton Street and Bliss Street, this property has an ongoing problem with trash and maintenance affecting the entire neighborhood and businesses surrounding the property, it also affects the Veterans monument located just across the street south of said business; and further, that the Health Department and the Department of Inspectional Services take a look at this location and issue notices for trash and maintenance violations and that the owner be notified of any violations. (Ref’d 12/14/17) (1/3/18-returned unsigned by the Mayor) (7/31/18-Remain in Committee)

13. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Lopes and Abreu, requesting, that the City establish a sponsorship program for Pocket Parks in New Bedford. (To be Referred to Mayor Mitchell, Director of Parks, Beaches, and Recreation and the Director of Community Preservation and Housing, and the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.) (Ref’d 12/14/17) (1/3/18-returned unsigned by the Mayor) (7/31/18-Remain in Committee)

14. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu, Lopes, Giesta, Lima and Coelho,  requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, a Representative of the Mayor’s Office and the Office of Planning, Housing and Community Development Director Patrick Sullivan, begin a dialogue to work on a collaborative plan to address the 2020 statewide census count, providing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with as accurate of a census count as possible would potentially help our City receive increased “Chapter 90” State funding, which could help address some of our public infrastructure needs. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments & Briefings.) (Ref’d 3/22/18)

15. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of KIMBERLY RIOUX, New Bedford, MA to the CONSERVATION COMMISSION, replacing Chancery Perks who resigned effective October 15, 2019; this term will expire June 2022. (Ref’d 11/14/19)

15a. COMMUNICATION, Christina Connelly, Chief Operating Officer, to the Clerk of Committees Office, informing the Office that Kimberly Rioux, Conservation Commission nominee, has withdrawn herself from consideration. (Ref’d from Committee 12/10/19)

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