REVISED AGENDA

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1.  WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Dunn, requesting, that Department of Public Infrastructure Commissioner Jamie Ponte provide an update for any plans to upgrade Herman Melville Boulevard, as the Hicks-Logan-Sawyer district prepares for the SouthCoast Rail station, and the redevelopment of the Revere Copper site. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.) (Ref’d 11/26/19)

2.  WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Lopes, requesting the Board of Health Director Damon Chaplin provide the Committee on Appointments and Briefings with a briefing on the City’s ability to distribute a coronavirus vaccine to its residents, once one has been developed and approved by the FDA. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.) (Ref’d 11/12/2020)

3.   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) (01/03/18-returned unsigned by the Mayor) (07/31/18-Remain in Committee) (02/10/2020 – Remain in Committee)

4.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with MIS Director, Maria Pina-Rocha, along with City Council Clerk Dennis Farias for the purposes of discussing the creation of a New Bedford City Council Facebook page along with a Twitter page, the creation of these two website pages will give the City Council the opportunity to make sure that it reports out work and proposals along with actions and Committee reports in addition to the work throughout the community and ceremonies that the City Council participate in throughout the New Bedford, these website pages could also contain news faxes, and commentary from City Councillors; and further, that the City Council look into an internship program with local high schools and universities for the Council office in order to assist in making this proposal successful in getting all the information and faxes to the people, of this great City. (Ref’d 01/25/18)

Chair Suggests ‘Waive Reading’, ‘No Further Action’ and

‘Report Out to the Full City Council’

5.   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 09/14/17) (07/31/18-Remain in Committee) (02/10/2020 – Remain in Committee)

6.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that Mayor Mitchell and City Solicitor McDermott begin the process of filing a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies that produce Opioid pain killer medication based on the damage done to our community, the lives lost, the epidemic of overdoses, and the added calls for services from our EMS, POLICE and FIRE DEPARTMENTS, along with the distraction and deterioration of the Cities, people and communities; and further, that the City Solicitor ask the State for records of the pharmaceutical companies that have done business in the area along with records of any area doctors that may have overprescribed Opioid drugs in the greater New Bedford area; this request and lawsuit is similar to other communities that are taking this action and this Councillor is requesting it on behalf of our City. (Ref’d 03/08/18) (03/21/18-returned unsigned by the Mayor)

7.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that a letter be sent to David Neeleman, founder, JetBlue Airlines, now the proposer and founder of a new airline called Moxy Airways, inviting him or his representative to the City of New Bedford for the purpose of considering New Bedford as a point of destination and departure, as this new airline is looking to locate in secondary airports across the country providing point to point destinations; and further, requesting, that the Airport Commission send a letter to Moxy Airways, outlining the possibilities and information on our airport and put together a sales pitch and a strategy as to why Moxy Airways should locate at the New Bedford Regional Airport. (Ref’d 06/28/18)

8.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the City Council go on record and send a letter to the FCC stating our opposition to any proposed policy changes to the funding source that provides local cable channels, such as Educational Channel 9, Government Access Channel 18, and Public Broadcasting Channel 95, the current policy in place provides local communities with the ability to broadcast local events, emergency and informational announcements and more, any decision by the FCC to eliminate the ability for communities to broadcast on these channels will be devastating to the community at large; and further, that once more, the City Council request that the Mayor establish a Cable Commission that will represent the City’s Cable Consumers and contract negotiation costs and services provided by the cable company; and furthermore that the City forward a letter of opposition to the Alliance For Community Media that supports the City’s position, further, that letters be sent requesting our State Delegation to join the City Council in opposition to the FCC’s changes to our local cable channel funding and broadcasting obligations to the City of New Bedford. (Ref’d 12/13/18)

9.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that a letter be sent to Erik Rousseau, SRTA Bus Company, requesting their support on behalf of the senior population at Tripp Towers, asking that SRTA Bus Company reverse their decision to eliminate bus service to STOP and SHOP on Dartmouth Street for seniors residing at Tripp Towers due to the large population of resident seniors that depend on that service for shopping, banking and pharmacy service; and further, that Mr. Rousseau meet with the Committee on Appointments and Briefings to discuss the impact that this will have on the senior population that depend on this service, and in some cases this is their only means of transportation for their quality of life and needs. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings and Waive Rule 40.) (Ref’d 05/23/19)

10.  COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting AN ORDER that the City Solicitor obtain appraisals of public and privately owned property located along Hathaway Road, Nauset Street and Mount Pleasant Street which is needed for the Hathaway Road Triangle Improvement Project for the purpose of acquiring permanent and temporary construction easements, through eminent domain or other legal means, and the City Solicitor is also requested to prepare an Order of Taking for the easements to be acquired through eminent domain. (Ref’d 11/14/19)

11.  COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council submitting AN ORDER that the City waives the appraisal requirement and the right to any damages the City may be entitled to with respect to one permanent easement and one temporary easement to be acquired for the Hathaway Road Triangle Improvement Project and further authorizing the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City of New Bedford a Certificate of Donation Form for easement E-1 and Right of Way Entry – Without Prejudice Form for temporary easement TE-4. (Ref’d 11/14/19)

12.  WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes and Giesta, requesting, that Mass DOT and South Coast Rail officials meet with residents and business owners in the Church Street area of the proposed train station now to be located at the former Julius Koch USA, Inc., site for the purpose of explaining why the train station site that originally was supposed to be located at the Fieldstone Plaza has been changed; and further, that the Administration explain how it will recoup the tens of thousands of dollars in tax revenue from this property. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.) (Ref’d 02/13/2020)

13.  COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of JOAQUIM “JACK” LIVRAMENTO, New Bedford, MA, to the GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE; Mr. Livramento will be replacing Joshua Amaral who has resigned; this term will expire in May 2023. (Ref’d 08/20/2020) (9/29/2020 – Vote to Table: FAILED; Vote to Approve: FAILED; Vote to Report Out as NFA: FAILED; REMAIN IN COMMITTEE)

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