New Bedford City Council Meeting – August 21, 2025

The New Bedford City Council met on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chamber, Room 214, 133 William Street. Council President Shane A. Burgo presided. The meeting opened with a prayer by Reverend Don Weigand and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councillor Joseph Lopes. The agenda included 21 items of new business, a consent set, and a tabled item. Major discussions centered on a proposed ordinance requiring U.S. citizenship for police officers, a controversial waste transfer facility, and a legal dispute over the confirmation of the Police Chief.

Consent Calendar

• Approved appropriations for the School Department: M1 ($2,831,359), CR2 ($803,586), and CR1 ($3,290,458) was received and placed on file with no further action.
• Approved a transfer of $60,386 from Public Infrastructure Purchase of Services to Capital Outlay (M3).
• Approved a change of polling location for Precincts 3A and 3C to Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (M5).
• Referred the appointment of Heather Haggerty to the New Bedford Port Authority (M6) and several livery license applications (Items 14-18) to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.
• Adopted the consent set (C1-C21), including citations, resolutions, street closings, and utility petitions, as well as the street obstruction, disturbance, dumpster, and petition items (C22-C103).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public testimony was taken during this meeting; all remarks were made by council members.

Discussion Items

• Police Officer Citizenship Requirement (Items 8 and 9):
  • Item 8: A motion by Councillor Choquette to place a non-binding ballot question on the November 4, 2025 municipal ballot reading, "Should United States Citizenship be a requirement for a person to be hired as a Police Officer in the City of New Bedford?" failed on a roll call vote of 5-6 (Ayes: Abreu, Carney, Choquette, Lopes, Oliver; Nays: Baptiste, Burgo, Giesta, Gomes, Morad, Pereira).
  • Item 9: A written motion by Councillor Gomes requesting the Ordinance Committee establish an ordinance requiring police officer candidates to be U.S. citizens, that the Police Department provide a hiring checklist, and that newly hired officers appear before the City Council for confirmation and swearing-in was referred to the Committee on Ordinances unanimously (11-0). Councillors Gomes, Oliver, Carney, and Choquette spoke in support, emphasizing that citizenship is necessary for arrest powers and that three current non-citizen officers should be assisted in obtaining citizenship. The motion passed unanimously.
• South Coast Renewables Waste Transfer Facility (Items 10 and 20):
  • Item 10: A motion by Councillor Gomes requesting that the New Bedford Board of Health hold a public hearing for residents of the far north end on the proposed waste transfer facility by Parallel Products doing business as South Coast Renewables was referred to the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods and the Board of Health. Councillors Gomes, Carney, Choquette, Morad, and Lopes spoke passionately against the facility, citing inadequate public notification (signs on poles only), limited speaking time at previous hearings, and concerns about health, property values, truck traffic (278 trucks per day projected), and environmental injustice. A friendly amendment to move the hearing location to Normandin Middle School was withdrawn. The motion passed by voice vote.
  • Item 20: A communication from Councillors Gomes and Morad submitting a letter sent to President Donald Trump requesting a cease and desist from the EPA and HHS regarding the project was received and placed on file. The letter highlights that 92 homes are within 250 feet and 2,045 homes within one mile. Councillor Gomes noted the letter was sent certified and that a response had been received from the White House. Councillor Choquette suggested additional letters to Senators Warren and Markey.
• Police Chief Confirmation (Item 21):
  • Communications from Council President Burgo and City Solicitor Eric Jaikes regarding the council’s role in confirming the Police Chief were received and placed on file. Legislative Counsel David Gerwatowski provided a detailed legal opinion arguing that the city charter requires council confirmation for all department heads, including the Police Chief, and that no specific exemption exists. He noted that prior chiefs (Kelly, Manese, Prefontaine) were confirmed, while recent chiefs were not. After debate, Councillor Pereira moved to instruct Attorney Gerwatowski to file a complaint for declaratory judgment in superior court to resolve the dispute. The motion passed by voice vote. Councillors Carney and Abreu suggested first asking the mayor as a body, but the motion stood.
• Reconsideration of Clasky Common TOD Overlay District (Item 2): Councillor Giesta moved to reconsider her initial vote on the ordinance establishing the Clasky Common Transit Oriented Development Overlay District. The reconsideration passed, and on re-vote, the ordinance was ordained 9-2, with Councillors Giesta and Morad voting no.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1 (Rezoning SS Bates Street): Ordained 11-0.
• Item 2 (Clasky Common TOD): Ordained 9-2 after reconsideration.
• Item 3 & 4 (Junk dealer waivers for Marc DeCambra and Justin Williamson): Approved.
• Item 5 (Appointment of Antwaun Donyeh Murphy as Constable): Approved.
• Item 6 (Motor vehicle special permit): No further action.
• Item 7 (Memorial plaque for Leontina Dacosta): Referred to Special Committee on Memorials & Dedications and DPI.
• Item 8 (Non-binding ballot question): Failed 5-6.
• Item 9 (Ordinance on police citizenship): Referred to Committee on Ordinances 11-0.
• Item 10 (Public hearing on waste facility): Referred to Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods and Board of Health.
• Item 11 (Enforcement of illegal signage): Referred to Department of Inspectional Services, with directive to immediately remove signs.
• Item 12 (Demolition at 955 Rockdale Avenue): Granted.
• Item 13 (Livery renewal for Comfort Transportation): Approved.
• Items 14-18 (New private livery licenses): Referred to Committee on Appointments and Briefings.
• Item 19 (DEP waterways application): Received and placed on file.
• Item 20 (Letter to President Trump): Received and placed on file.
• Item 21 (Police chief confirmation dispute): Motion passed to file for declaratory judgment.
• Consent set (C1-C21, C22-C103): Adopted.
• Tabled item (Ana L. Valentin Burgos livery renewal): Remained on the table.