INVITEES: Paul Coderre Jr., Chief, New Bedford Fire Department; Joseph Cordeiro, Chief, New Bedford Police Department; Mark McGraw, Director, Emergency Medical Services; Billy Sylvia, President, New Bedford Fire Union; Hank Turgeon, President, New Bedford Police Union; Representative, Mayor’s Office

INVITEES: Jamie Ponte, Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure

INVITEES: Scott Durkee, Director, Energy Department; Jamie Ponte, Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure

4. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with Police Chief Cordeiro for the purpose of discussing the implementation of using drones to monitor high crime neighborhoods for surveillance across the City, adding another tool in fighting crime; and further requesting, that the drones be used for surveillance and security purposes when the City is holding major events, along with monitoring the City as a whole. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 10/27/16) (11/15/16-tabled)

5. 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 02/22/18) (03/14/18-returned unsigned by the Mayor) (05/21/18-tabled 90-120 days) (10/30/18-tabled 90 days)

6. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes and Giesta, on behalf of the Seniors and over 55 residents at Whalers Place, and Whalers Cove on Riverside Avenue, requesting the following action be taken after meeting with residents on safety and quality of life issues; A) that the Traffic Commission and Department of Public Infrastructure paint the following crosswalks yellow, giving motorists more of a visual of where each crosswalk is located; Coffin Avenue, Phillips Avenue, Collette Street, Davis Street and Manomet Street, all streets running to Riverside Avenue; B) requesting that the Traffic Commission install Stop Signs at the following intersections, Phillips Avenue, Davis Street and Collette Street, south east corner, in an easterly direction approaching Riverside Avenue; and further, that the Traffic Commission make Riverside Avenue a “20 MILES PER HOUR” roadway and install signs from Coffin Avenue, north and south to Belleville Road, this request comes with a large population of Seniors and handicap residents that live in this area; C) requesting that the Department of Public Infrastructure check all newly installed handicap accessible ramps leading to sidewalks on Riverside Avenue to make sure that the sidewalk is meeting the street and there is not a lip causing residents to trip or fall; and further, that they fill in all potholes on Riverside Avenue and replace water shut off metal caps; and further, that the Department of Public Infrastructure fill in all the potholes or large holes located in the back of Whalers Cove, and Whalers Place on the paper street owned by the City; D) requesting that Police Chief Cordeiro and the Commanding Officer from Station 3 do periodic speed radar control checks on Riverside Avenue especially during the 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., when traffic is the heaviest; and further, that the Police Chief implement a D run at least twice a night in the area, early evening and after the midnight hour and that the Chief order regular patrols of the perimeter of the buildings due to criminal activity and prostitution taking place behind the buildings; E) requesting, that a letter be sent to the management at Whalers Place requesting if possible, that they install a surveillance camera on the south east side of the building at Coffin Avenue and Riverside Avenue; and further, evaluate the outside perimeter for additional cameras facing the parking lot on Riverside Avenue and in the back of the building for the safety of their elderly residents; and further, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with management for an update on action taken and the possibilities of sharing the surveillance cameras with the New Bedford Police Department, that would include Whalers Cove, also if not already participating. (To be Referred to the Traffic Commission, the Department of Public Infrastructure, Police Chief Cordeiro, the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and the management of Whaler’s Cove and Whaler’s Place.) (Ref’d 01/10/19)

7. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Coelho, requesting, in the interest of public safety, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods address what can be done with the matter of pocket parks that are being vandalized by overnight loiterers, the homeless and those engaging in illicit activity, also the trash and debris that is left behind; and further, that representatives from the Police Department and DPI be invited when this matter is heard before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods. (Ref’d 07/18/19) (10/21/19-tabled)

8. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Dunn and Lopes, requesting, that Health Department Director Damon Chaplin, provide a briefing to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods regarding any plans to ban the sale of certain tobacco products within the City. (Ref’d 11/26/19) (02/12/2020 – tabled)

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