It's now seven oh three and we're starting a committee on memorials and dedications.

Note this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.

City council and committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Burford's homepage under quick links, then meetings.

In attendance today, we have Councillor at Lodge, Naomi Carney, and Councillor at Lodge, Linda Morrad.

Also in attendance today is Council of War II, Maria Giesta and Council Councillor at Lodge and City Council President Shane Burgle.

Do we have anything to read into the record?

We do not.

Your address.

No, no, we don't need that.

No, we don't give that to us afterwards.

And bear with me because my hearing is not well.

That's fine.

No problem.

So what would you like me to do just to tell us why you want the memorial at Monty Fort?

Well, my brother Toy is an Anton T.

Forts.

He passed from COVID complications in 2001.

Before that, he taught the children in the neighborhood gymnastics tumbling for over fifty years.

He needs to be on it.

These kids need to see.

And those that don't know him need to know.

He's and he's the best world's best coach, as they said.

So this is why I'm requesting this and it and I'm thinking, you know, the Northeast Corner, because it's right there by the children's shower.

And my thought of of uh what to say on the banner is Tonka Toys killed corner.

Okay.

Does anybody uh I I like to recognize War 3 Councillor Sean Oliver has entered the building.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Does anybody have questions for Ms.

Peena?

Um Mr.

Chair, just clarification.

Are we looking for a bench?

Are you looking for a bench or a banner?

Well, well, you all know what's best.

I don't know.

I had thought about a banner, but I said, well, the sun comes around this way, so the banner may be in trouble of fading.

So you know what's best that can be put on that corner.

We we do have Mary reposer here.

Yeah.

So we have Mary here too to answer some questions so she can help out with that.

Uh Council Connie.

Yeah, so I mean, we can call um Jackie back up, but if we can hear from Mary to find out maybe if she has any ideas of something, something that we can put up there because the banner in the wind and whatever might break, whatever we want something more uh more of a permanent structure there, so it doesn't get faded, blown away, or whatever the case may be.

So Mary might have some sort of ideas that we can put in that corner to honor toy.

Okay, thank you.

Miss Peanut, would you mind if we have Mary come up and speak?

I'm sorry.

Would you mind if we have Mary come up and speak about her suggestions?

No, she helped me with it.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

So yes, Jackie and I have to you know you know the name in the department.

Uh so um Mary Riposa, Department of Parks Recreation and Beaches.

Thank you.

So uh Jackie and I have been in conversation um regarding this uh memorial, and um, you know, I think one of the things that we discussed is we could even because there's a wall there in that corner that faces both uh west and south, we could um probably mount a plaque to the wall, and that may be a more permanent um memorial than a banner, which would need to be replaced periodically because of the weather.

So you think that it'll be better to have uh a plaque?

I think a plaque there may be the way to go.

Um we could have fixed it to the wall.

There may at some point if that wall gets repaired, it may need to come down, but it could always go back up.

Does anybody have any questions for Mary?

Uh uh what kind of size are we looking at for a plaque on the on the wall?

Well, I can work with um Jackie on that, but um I would think it would be you know something fairly large.

Right.

So that way the kids can see and people can see the plaque there.

Yep.

Okay.

Thank you.

That was it.

Thank you.

And um any anybody else have any questions?

I would put the plaque right on the wall, I think.

Um but we would work with the Department of Public Infrastructure to make sure that it's secured uh properly.

And could and could from the chair, can I ask another another question, Mary?

Um would we after we put the plaque on the wall at Monty's, would there be consideration of putting something at Washington Square Park as well?

Seeing that he did for over 40 years, did his tumble as that market like how we have Tom Lopes Park right across the street have something bigger honoring uh toy forts there because you know, of you know, the significance that he've had to the neighborhood in doing you know his tumbling at that at the in that area.

Yeah, definitely.

So I can I I'll speak to Jackie further about that as well.

So I think you know it is good to have a plaque at the park, you know, because everybody gets to see it and everybody gets to, you know, but having uh uh a monument type thing in in the middle of Washington Square would be very nice, seeing that you know a lot of kids, he's the one that opened up that park and had that park uh flourishing summer after summer for over fifty for like about fifty years, 40 years.

Yeah, so it would be it would be beautiful to have it out there as well.

Yeah, it was a real institution.

Thank you.

Um I would like to ask Ms.

Peena, would she be open to that as well?

I'm just trying to hear.

No, I don't could you come up, please?

Come on up, Jackie.

What would you be open after the after the plaque is done to be considering to put a memorial up in Washington Square Park as well?

I think I'm closer because I'm getting echoed.

As well, as well as the plaque at Monty's Park because of him doing all his tumbling at Washington Square Park and how he had his uh his group there for years.

All right.

All right.

We just all right.

I think we could do anything where we're dedicated to the Mr.

Cheer.

It's video.

I'm sorry, you have to you have to talk into the mic, Miss Pina.

Yeah, here you go.

There you go.

Yeah, this goes on the yes.

Just put it around your year.

Okay, all right.

This is better.

That's better.

Yeah.

Yeah, so no, so so we was just considering that as well because, you know, because of Washington Square Park and the significance that he had there as well.

And I know he started at the park, but for years he'd done it at Washington Square.

So, you know, just to have something at the park too that uh for his memory, you know, and and the and the kids that came up.

I know my age, they don't remember it at the park.

I know a lot of the the the guys, the kids that are my well, the grown-ups that are my age that were kids when I was young, all went through Washington Square.

That's why I I thought it would be nice over there as well.

Yeah, the the last place that he uh was teaching was at um the auditorium.

Oh boy.

He just wanted you to talk about it.

Um vocational, so I can't think of the name.

The the records are the recreation center.

Yeah, yeah, that was the last time he taught the kids COVID came in and broke his heart.

Yeah.

All right, so we'll we'll talk about that more, Mary, going forward.

Does anybody want to make a motion?

And refer to and refer to the park board.

Do you do we want to get the ideas um what they want first and maybe table it to the next so we have exactly what we need, or do we just want to move forward with the plaque and then look at the memorial afterwards at Washington Square?

So we're the plaque we can make a motion to go forward with the plaque at Monty Park.

Yeah.

But I think there needs more discussion on what we want to do at Washington Park, whether you want a stand-up memorial, yeah, and then there's gonna be have to be some sort of fundraising like they did for Tommy and Tommy.

Yeah, so to put this like a statue there, so it'd be more of finding having the location there, agreeing on the location, and actually putting it there, and then more time will go into it as what is going to be there.

So may maybe we maybe we can get the ball rolling with the plaque first.

Yes, and then if we come up, and if we come up with something else, then we can make another motion to in front of the council.

Yeah, because what we can do is make the motion to um choose.

Motion refer to the full city council and the park board for approval as presented with the made by councillor Mohoret.

Second.

Seconded by Councillor Carney.

All those in favor?

Aye.

All right, so I so it will be referred to the city council when's the next.

And to the park, I'm sorry.

And to the park board.

On September 24th.

Um it will be referred to the city council for September 25th.

They'll work it out in order to.

Next up, Dennis.

Okay.

25th.

25th.

Number two is a communication department of parks and recreations beaches submitting a memorial park bench and tree dedication program application for a memorial bench and plaque to be located on the corner of Ash Street and Morgan Street inside the basketball diamond fence where the memorial is located in honor of uh Rochelli Lynn Parris, also known as Coco.

It was referred here on June 26, 2025, and is now before you.

Can I have a uh place it on file?

By Mayweek Connie, second in by Councillor Morrad.

Um could Shantae Parris come up to the podium, please.

Could you state your name and address, please?

My name is Shantae Parris, and I live at 257 Ash Street, New Bedford Mass.

All right, so tell us why you want the memorial.

So um ten years ago, my sister passed away from breast cancer.

Um she was very well known in the community.

Um a month after she passed on the fence on the corner where the baseball diamond is on the corner of Ash and Morgan Street, um, I started putting cups up.

It says Miss You Coco on the fence.

The miss is in pink, which represents the breast cancer that she passed away from.

The you is in white, neutral color, and then Coco is in purple, and which was their favorite color.

And every year, twice a year, I changed the cups on the day that she was born, December 9th, and then again on the day that she went home, June 22nd.

Um, and then last year I was like, I want to do something nice for her in her memory because everybody in that community knew her.

To know her was to love her, whether you knew her for a day or you knew her your whole life.

She made that impact on you.

Um I planted some perennials and planted a tree in her memory.

And this year, June 22nd, May 10 years, my sister passed away.

And we all celebrate her life on both those days at that corner, and it's nice for my mother lives there, my niece lives there, and we all congregate in that little corner.

People in the community appreciate it, they love it.

It brings a positive presence to something that's already in a negative neighborhood, if you're familiar with United Front.

Um, and so we thought it'd be nice to put a bench there in her memory because of what she brought to the community.

Um and that's why I decided to put in a request to put a memorial bench inside the baseball diamond.

I've lived there for 21 years.

I've never seen anybody utilize the baseball part of the baseball diamond, and I live right across the street, so I hope that you guys approve it because it'll bring even more beauty because people drive by it at night, it lights up at night, and everybody stops there to look at it because you can't help by but to pass it and see it and be enjoyed by the beauty that comes with the perennials that come up each year at different stages throughout the spring and summer.

Thank you, Ms.

Paris.

Um any questions for Ms.

Paris.

No?

Well, from from myself, um knowing Rochelle all my life, like I'm you know, we grew up together.

Um, and I know how much she meant to our community in our neighborhood.

And you know, her passing was was a loss for everybody, you know.

So and you know, we when you grow up in a tight-knit neighborhood, you grow up like family no matter what.

So, you know, it was just like losing another um person in a family.

And I go by there, we go by there all the time.

My sister lives around it right next right there, like you know, that's my neighborhood that I grew up in, and seeing what you did with that corner is you know, it was a dull corner for a long time.

You know, I used to have a basketball crate hanging from it.

Now it has you know some beauty to it.

So I would anybody want to make the motion.

Um I'll make the motion, absolutely.

Yep.

Motion to refer to the full city council park board for approval of the request for a park bench.

Second.

By Councilor Morris, second and by Councillor Carney.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

It will be referred to the city council and the park board um for September 25th.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Number three, this communication, Department of Parks, Recreations, and Beaches submitting a memorial bench and tree dedication program application for the dedication of diamond number three at Brooklawn Park in honor of the founders of the Whaling City Youth Baseball League, Milton Weaver, Lucian uh Borgard, Leo Paradis.

It was referred here on June 12th, 2025.

It's now before you.

Motion received and place on file.

By Councillor Moorrad.

Seconded by Councillor Connie.

All in favor?

Aye.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

Carrero, you want to come up to the podium, please?

Could you state your name and address for the record, please?

Uh I'm Stephen Carrero.

I live at 13 Marymount Drive in Dartmouth.

Thank you.

So could you talk about the uh the application of renaming the diamond and the significance of it?

Yes, certainly.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Um as some of you know, we celebrated our 75th anniversary uh as a youth baseball organization.

And uh the three gentlemen that we're uh looking to name the field in honor of uh Lucian Beauregard, Leo Paradise, and Milton Weaver were instrumental in starting the league back in 1951.

And we thought it would be a wonderful way to honor their legacy by naming the field uh after them.

We've had 10,000 uh kids play baseball in our league over the past 75 years.

And uh, you know, who knows if we'd be here if it wasn't for those three guys.

So thank you so much.

Can I entertain any questions from the floor?

Um Mr.

Chair, do you have a name?

We wanted to call it Founders Field.

Founders Field, okay.

Yep.

Uh perfect.

Yep.

Sounds good to me.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I only have a question for Mary when it's time.

All right.

May uh Mary Report Mary, could you come up to the podium, please?

Thank you, Mr.

Corro.

Okay.

Thank you.

Mary, has the park board heard this?

They um they they know of it.

They're the ones that referred it here, but they they don't make a final vote on it until it's been approved by City Council.

So this will go back in front of the park board once you all have made up your have we done this in any other ballpark in the city?

There are other diamonds dedicated to individuals.

There's uh dedication at one of the diamonds at Buttonwood Park.

I think it's Diamond Two.

So yeah, there have been other um diamonds dedicated in the past.

You anticipate there's going to be an issue?

I do not.

Okay.

That's what I wanted to hear.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Councilman.

Can I be um can I be advised of when this is in front of the park board, please?

Yes.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Yep.

So can I have a motion?

Okay, motion to approve.

Send the approval to the full city council on the park board regarding the renaming of the diamond at Brookline Park.

Uh by Councillor Morrad.

Second.

Second by Councillor Connie.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

The eyes have it.

Thank you, Mr.

Carrero.

Um it will be referred to the park board in the City Council on September 25th.

Thank you very much.

I'm sorry, I'm writing long hand, I think that's all right for that.

Number four.

It is a written motion, Councillor Giesta, requesting on behalf of Anna Nunes that the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications meet with a representative from the Department of Public Infrastructure to discuss the placement of a memorial plaque on the bench in front of the Lincoln Elementary School located on the corner of Query Street and Ashley Boulevard in memory of uh Leotina DeCosta to be referred to the special committee on memorials and dedications and Department of Public Infrastructure on August 21st.

It was referred and number four is now before you.

Can I have a motion to be received and placement file, please?

So moved.

By Councillor Mora, second by Councillor Connie.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Um Councillor Giesta, do you want to come up or do you rather have the family come up in behalf?

Mr.

Chairman, thank you.

Yeah, if we could please have the family come up and just talk a little bit about what they would like.

Could you please come up?

Could you state your name and address for the record, please?

Sure.

Thank you, everyone, and good night.

My name is Anna Nunes.

Talking to the mic, too.

I'm sorry.

I live at 57 Cogsall Street in Dartmouth.

I'm here with my sister Louisa Moroni, and we are requesting to have a plaque installed on an existing bench in front of Lincoln School.

So my mom lived in the neighborhood for over 40 years.

She was loved by everyone.

But in April of 2021, my mom went blind overnight as a result of the COVID vaccine.

She went to bed perfectly fine and woke up completely blind, never recovered.

That minimized her walking around the neighborhood.

The only thing she was able to do, she had a lot of other issues.

She had Parkinson's, she had spinal stenosis.

So she had a difficult time getting around.

What got her through the day was a walk around Lincoln School.

And she lived in the corner, and these benches are the halfway point.

So she would walk in her walker, get there and sit and ask if there was anybody sitting in her bench.

She called the her bench and she'd sit there and we have dozens of pictures.

We have videos of her sitting on that bench.

The kids when she walked during school, which she tried to avoid that because we know how busy it is.

The kids would come through the fence and talk to her.

So you know, it was very difficult.

My sister and I, she became completely, you know, she couldn't do anything.

So we spent four years, you know, sleeping literally with my mom, you know, overnight because she couldn't uh you know stay alone.

So we would go on these walks with her.

So it it's such comfort to you know, the neighbors to the kids, you know, will go for a walk and just sit on that bench, and it's like she's there with them.

You know, so we thought it would be an awesome honor to have you know a dedicated to her.

The bench is already there.

It's just a plaque in her memory.

So that will be the spot to go and chat with her.

That that's an amazing story.

You want to add anything to that?

You sure?

That that's very this that's that's a hot warming story right there.

And I know that you know, when you when you have it would mean a lot to do.

That's that's a beautiful thing.

Um do I have any questions for the applicants?

Do I have any questions for the applicants?

Mr.

Chairman if I may I know I'm not a member of the committee.

No go ahead Councillor Giesta.

Thank you.

I think it's a great idea I know exactly where the bench is I do walk around there myself.

And I think this would be a wonderful tribute to your mom and to all the moms out there that we've lost I have a beautiful video that she just sent me this week of so she didn't speak English.

She's was Portuguese speaking of her talking to me and telling me she had to go before she turned into a pumpkin and she's telling her she thinks she's Cinderella on that bench so it wouldn't mean a lot just passed away in February.

Yeah sorry to hear that new my my deepest condolences not yours it's not a part thing oh so it's just Maria Mr.

Chair can um I guess you want to ask a question the bench is on the city layout so is the commissioner here?

Yes here yeah that was the whole thing we were you know school committee you know city it's like it's on the sidewalk so it's outside the fence you got the man oh I hope he's a good man yes he is depends on right commissioner you're a good man depends on the day of the week and what you're asking for and what you're asking for.

He's a good man he's a good man.

That's gonna go right to the end it won't I won't be the man before I leave trust me I just learned on this of uh through the uh the motion and um in looking at it that was my only question is whether or not it was on city layout or on uh school property you know the school maintains the sidewalks around the school and it's at the back of the sidewalk um DPI has no problem with uh the uh memorial going on the bench but I think that's the only thing we'd have to take a look at is to see if it is school property or I can't speak for the school but I I doubt that they would mind any questions for the Commissioner?

So Jamie if it is on the city layout or if the school department says yep let's go you'd utilize the same plaque that we utilize for memorials in parks that through park and wreck I'd have to know what they are right yeah yeah I'd have to take a look at that being that these benches are uh steel they're like um cast iron um steel benches not um the wood benches that we would uh typically fasten that to um I'm sure it could be fastened to the bench somehow we we do a lot of things at DPI and fastening a uh memorial to the bench wouldn't be a big issue but I assume you know roughly the same plaque same size okay and when you looked at it it is on the school it's on school property I haven't run it through the uh assessors maps or anything like that but just a quick um drive by it's at the back of the sidewalk um the the the wall to the uh courtyard kind of juts in and the benches are to the back of the sidewalk so it could be school layout not uh city layout uh I I know school city but you know there's a difference and and who maintains or has um rights on that so Mr.

Chair I don't know if any of my colleagues have questions for the commissioner but what I would suggest after the further discussion is that we refer it out to the full city council for favorable recommendation however we ask the maker of the motion to reach out to the school department to make sure that we get some kind of communication from them uh before the 25th saying that they agree uh that the item can be there versus tabling this in committee and making it be delayed make it be delayed yeah all right so we got a motion by council more red well I don't know if anybody else has questions do you have any counsel and does anybody else have any questions for the Commissioner I I have a question.

I we have we kind of speak into the microphone to the mic something that we would like to it to say if possible and I would just curious if it's too much if you think well we'll work that out once we get the final approval so I have to wait for uh yeah they'll work I want it to be prepared I want it to have it all they'll work with you yeah okay and how long if it is approved oh two three years normally kids city government it moves slowly they don't normally take that long for plaques it it shouldn't take that long hopefully it'll you know it'll be sooner than later.

City government, it moves slow.

They don't normally take that long for plaques.

It shouldn't take that long.

Hopefully it'll you know it'll be sooner than later.

Thank you.

So, Mr.

Chair, through you to the maker of the motion, although she's not a member of the committee.

Is that acceptable?

Yes.

Thank you.

Before I make the motion, so thank you.

Welcome.

So, Mr.

Chair, motion to refer to the full city council for approval as presented and request that Commissioner Pont and Superintendent O'Leary determine whether this is a on school property or on uh the city layout and wherever it is, that department provide a letter saying that they have no issue for the city council's meeting on the 25th of September.

All right.

Motion made by Council Maura, second by Council Carney.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

The ayes have it.

It'll be on the 25th, the September 25th agenda for the City Council meeting.

And hopefully that will get uh the approval before then.

But if everything goes well with the approval from the school or DPI, it will be um up for uh recommendation on the 25th.

Okay.

Thank you guys for coming in.

Number six is a written motion, Council Gomes requesting that the special committee on memorials and dedications meet with Rosemary Gill, who president and CEO of the Zaiterian Performing Arts Center to discuss the portrait tribute of Armin Marshawn and George Charbonneau, founders of the New Bedford Festival Theater and former New Bedford High School Drama Club teacher.

This portrait would hang in the entrance lobby of the Zaitarian Theater as a tribute to a man who gave it at all all to the art of the theater through his productions and to his legacy in the city of New Bedford.

It was referred here on July 17, 2025.

Mr.

Chair?

Are we not going to take up item five?

Oh.

Yeah, would you forget that one?

Do we do forget that one?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I apologize.

You don't see what he is.

I think I brought this down to here, so it threw me off.

Yeah.

Sorry about that.

It's the big fonts.

Yeah.

Related motion, Councilman.

You only got one eye.

That's what works.

Counselor Gomes requesting that the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications meet to discuss the establishment of a monument to memorialize Carl Pimentel on a parcel of land donated by the Pimentel family identified as MA MAP 10 lot 108.

It was referred here on February 27, 2025, is now before you.

Can I have a uh motion to be received and placed on file, please?

By Council Moran.

Second and by Council Carney.

Um I have Mr.

Pimentel come up to the audio, please.

Councillor Gomes?

The maker of the motion.

Is that okay, Counselor?

Thank you very much for the opportunity.

Um this has been before us before, and um there is um let me first say that uh Carl Pimentel was a dedicated businessman in this community.

He was like um a father to uh many of us who worked for him.

And um his son Kurt is here tonight.

Um his brother Michael, who I worked with.

We um we worked with a lot of other people, and Mr.

Pimento put a lot of people to work, not only at Billy Woods Wharf, but also at me and Ed's for a long time and was involved in a lot of things, such as uh Butler's uh lighthouse, which him and Dr.

O'Toole used to pay for the wiring and everything to have that lighthouse lit up.

You've heard me talk about getting that done here.

Um but um the Pimento family um Kurt Pimento would like to have a stone put on this property that um is dedicated to his father and uh his what his father gave to the community.

There is a slight snag here because we also have this in the with city solicitor's office for some few months now, waiting for a simple measure to um say that the city would accept the property as like park property or whatever, but the contingency is that we um locate the stone on the property and the property becomes um uh the city of New Bedford.

But um it's recognized that um Mr.

Pimento's contributions and his family um on this land.

Kurt is here and he can give you a little bit more, but uh uh I just wanted to make sure that the committee knew that we have not gotten anything back from the city solicitor's office, which I think is a very minor thing to get through.

Um it's just a transfer of land that uh Pemento family is willing to give to the city.

This land is located just south of um uh Cisco's property.

You have the beach that's there, and then there's a sign actually put on Mr.

Pimento's property.

This is Clark's point.

Um this that is the area that the Pimentels would like to dedicate to the city.

And I'll let Mr.

Pimentel if you would, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Councillor Golmes, Mr.

Pimentel.

Kurt Pimentel 33 Cornell Road, Westport Mass.

Um let me stop by the son of the late Carl Pimentel.

I feel he was an ambassador for the city of New Bedford.

Wherever he traveled, he always spoke New Bedford.

And um he just brought a lot to the city, and I'd like to memorialize that area.

I would donate a stone, I'd have it engraved.

I'd like to be part of the committee that designs it, and um in perpetuity, you know, we'd like to donate it as a family to the city and get it started.

Um my father brought a lot to the city when the Portuguese sailing ship came in.

Do you remember Caravan and all the sailors from the dock to smugglers and back, right?

Cara.

Yeah.

So just looking to do something and be part of it.

Thank you.

Does anybody have any questions for Mr.

Pimento?

No.

Does anybody have any questions for Mary proposal?

I guess what I would like to know, Mr.

Chair, I don't know if Mary can answer this question.

Uh my colleague mentioned that you know the Pimentel family months ago said that they wanted to donate this land to the city, which means you know, a deed needs to transfer hands, but uh I don't understand why some simple things like this don't make it through the solicitor's office so easily.

Um and what the bottleneck could be.

I I don't know if Mary or is there Janet representing the mayor's office today, whether there's somebody here that can speak to that?

Janet came on the right day, huh?

Janet is can you come speak to that, please?

No, I I hate to put her on the spot like that.

I don't know.

She doesn't know the status, it's fine.

She's here.

Yeah.

So good evening, counselors.

So um do I have to announce it?

Just state your name for the record.

Janet Barbosa Mayor's office.

Oh, thank you.

Okay.

So um unfortunately I don't know what the hold up and solicitors is, but I'm more than happy to to follow up with them and find out what the status is on this.

Yeah, she you're very easy to work with.

We know that.

It's not you that we have the issue with.

So I mean, I I just don't even know if we can refer to the money.

Yeah, refer it up before we find out what's going on through that.

I have no problem with what the Pimentel family is asking to do.

I thank them for donating that piece of land.

And uh it's their land they want to put a stone on it.

They probably should put the stone on it now before they donate it on his stone.

It's a lot less rent tape.

I would say would that be an issue if they put the stone on it while they still own the land?

That's the land.

And even if they donated to the city, it's it's still.

What are we gonna do?

Remove the stone, you know?

Yeah.

I don't think Council Gomes would let that happen.

So I don't think anybody would let it happen.

Maybe that's the way maybe we should put this in committee and advise the Pimentel family to go ahead and design and put their own stone over again.

So you do would would you want to do you say table this and wait so we get the the word and well I I I guess it's up to the maker of the motion if that's if he thinks that the case is.

Council Golmes, what do you what do you think is the best way of action?

Um Mr.

Chairman, through you to my brother here.

Um I don't know.

Uh do you want to put the stone on ahead of time or or whatever while we continue to map this out with the city solicitor's office?

I've been planning on it.

Yep.

Um it's we've owned the property since the 70s.

Yep.

The taxes are paid in current.

I keep general liability on the property.

Um the tax rate went from 400 a year to almost 2,000.

So I gotta do something with the property.

Um I either gotta make it make money or develop it.

Not that it's very big.

It's resident A, agricultural.

I'll figure something out, but it was just go from $500 a year is affordable.

$2,000 a year, and you're trying to ask other siblings for donations to pay the taxes and everything else gets stressful when some of them have illnesses and it's just oh that's my watch.

So would you like to put the the stone on the property beforehand and then be to the to the city?

It's just I was gonna put a granite stone like the seawalls are made out of and have it engraved with the message that I want.

And I know of some ship sankers from whaling ships that I can acquire and place on the land, and I can develop the park myself without the council or I just gotta pay the taxes.

Yeah, I mean, uh Mr.

Chair, through you to the speaker.

I mean, I hate to see you spend I know you're gonna spend money for the stone.

You know, I hate to see you spend money for anchors and stuff, and then the city takes it and takes the property from you and throws the anchors out.

I mean, I just why I wanted something in the contract that it would be the memorial in perpetuity.

Yeah.

Maybe um if council gomes doesn't ha have a problem with this, I'm gonna sneeze.

Bless you.

Maybe we um table the item and we can send a communication from this committee to the solicitor's office asking for a status as to unless he knows what the problem is as to why the property hasn't been drafted at this point and get an estimated time frame and then bring Mr.

Pimento back at that point in time.

Council Gomes, how do you feel about that?

I have no problem with it.

Kurt, you have no problem with it.

No problem.

Waited this long.

We're doing this right.

I'm doing it with or without at some point.

I was just trying to make it part of the city that my father loved, worked hard, yeah, put a lot of people to work.

As you said, he was an ambassador to the city of New Bedford to many people.

Um you hear Councillor Carney, Council Carney, members' dad, and and members um all that he did or or whatever.

So um there's there's no question there.

His contribution was great, and this is a simple matter of just a plaque uh on a stone and donating the land to the city of New Bedford.

This was in a rocket scientist work that had to be done.

You came to me, said, Look, I want to donate this property to the city.

All I want in return is something that recognizes my dad and what my dad contributed to the city of New Bedford on behalf of my family.

And I think it's a simple thing to do, and I think it's uh I I think it's awesome when you even the approach, Mr.

Chairman, and that would become part of the city land.

Uh Janet, is there any way that you can get the information from the city solicitors to get back to us since we got you here instead of sending around over there since we got you here?

You can I'm happy to help however I can, absolutely.

And you can just send me an email to see how it's going and CC Council Gomes on it.

Absolutely.

Okay, so that we can find out what's going on.

And get moving.

Motion at table for 30 days.

Motion to table by Council More.

Okay.

Second.

Second.

Second by Councillor Conner.

I can't.

All right.

Um all those in favor say aye.

Are you participating tonight?

Yes.

You're a member of this committee, right?

Did you move yet?

Did you second anything yet?

So it's been tabled for 30 days.

So we're gonna get back.

We'll get the communication from Janet, and then um we'll find out what's going on with the solicitor's office, and then we'll reach out to you, and then we can come back in committee within the next month.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Mantel.

Yeah.

Mr.

Chair, are we gonna hear item six and seven tonight?

So Ms.

Gill is not gonna be here tonight.

I know um So motion to table items six and seven.

Second.

Good.

Motion to table items six and second from Council Moraz, seconded by Councillor Oliver.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

It's been tabled six and seven has been tabled.

Good.

Ummunications, Councillor Coello, Lopes, Lima, Abrew, Carney, Giester, and Gomes requesting that the special committee on memorials and dedications look into finding an appropriate location in the downtown area, honoring Joe Jesus for the love and dedication he had for the street of City of New Bedford.

It was referred to on March 29th.

28th, 2019.

It was heard on June 29th, 2022, where it was tabled.

It was heard again on May 20 May 8th, 2024, and then it was tabled, and it is before you on the table.

Mr.

Chair, can we take item nine as well together?

Without objection.

Without objection.

Without objection.

Motion, Councillors Abrew and Oliver requesting that the special committee on memorials and dedications.

The Department of Public Infrastructure and the Administration discussed the feasibility of erecting a dedication plaque honoring Philip C.

and Celeste Paliologos at the corner of Shaman Avenue and Hathaway Road, or another suitable location honoring there over five decades of philanthropy and community service to the City of New Bedford.

That was referred here on the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications and the Department of Public Infrastructure and the Administration.

On May 25th, 2023, on May 8th, 2024, it was heard and tabled with a request to add Celeste Pallologus' name, which it was, and it remains on the table as well.

So you remove items eight and nine from the table.

Second.

Motion made by Council Mora, seconded by Councillor Oliver.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

The eyes have it.

Janet?

She's here on the Janet, can we hear from you?

Should have just sat right over there close by, yeah.

How are you doing, Janet?

You're here for both these items tonight.

Um have you have you talked to anybody in the administration about the dedications going on with Mr.

Um sorry?

Jesus and Pali Logus.

Mrs.

Jesus and Pallilogus.

Yep, absolutely.

Um the administration supports honoring both sets.

Absolutely.

Does anybody have any questions for Ms.

Barboza?

No, that was my only question for her, so that was good.

I do have a question for Jamie, though.

All right.

Janet, you all set?

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Jamie.

Councillor Oliver.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh Jamie, thanks for for being here.

Um I know we spoke uh briefly in the last time that we were here about the item nine at least.

We talked about different things like uh maybe um a uh small standalone uh sign, almost like what we would do for um if we were uh memorializing uh uh an intersection or uh or uh uh square in the in the city.

Uh then we also spoke about possibly something on the traffic light.

Um you had indicated to me that that would be that would involve traffic directly for something like that.

Is that correct?

Uh not necessarily DPI manages the um the traffic signals.

Okay.

So uh we would be responsible for installing it.

Uh traffic uh typically uh creates the street signs themselves, but DPI does have vendors that do that as well uh with the large projects that we do, uh the signs uh created for those projects.

Okay.

And then the other thing was the last time that we spoke, um, and since then we don't have that information, but um you had indicated that the city may have a little sliver of land near Cumberland Farms, but we don't know if that is true now, right?

Yeah, when this was last brought up, uh we had looked into it and it looked like there was at the back of the sidewalk uh small area that the city was still in the city layout, uh which appears to be at this time currently maintained by Cumberland Farms.

And in your opinion, um I guess um uh would it be is it more is it more feasible to um do something on the traffic light or in that uh look to ensure that we do actually have a little piece of land there?

Um what would and I guess I'm just asking for your opinion here on that.

I think the uh the traffic light signage would be more straightforward than the latter.

Yep.

Um we can look into it.

I can uh have the uh the map printed out and see what kind of space that we would be working with, which would then dictate the size of the monument that would you'd like to put there.

And in our conversation, uh we could always revisit that too if we did something with the street with the traffic signal, and then we decided that later on we might have wanted to add something on the corner of that intersection as well, correct?

Yeah, I believe it was um stated in one of the previous meetings that the intersection itself was the target of the uh memorial.

Right.

And um understanding that the diner was on that corner, uh, but the intersection itself was the uh the target.

So it would make sense to me to uh name the intersection after it um more robustly in the intersection.

Okay.

And then um previous um dedications of intersections, we typically only do one signal, correct?

We choose whichever whichever direction um for that signage to be placed on.

I wouldn't go on all four uh traffic signals is what I'm saying.

In my recollection, I that's I believe that's true.

Okay.

And then the only other concern was uh if we would be able to fit all of that on one sign of the um that's all I have um for the moment right now.

Thank you, Jamie.

Thank you, Council Oliver.

Council Morat.

Thank you.

Jamie, how many others of these have we got in the city?

Two or three of them, I think.

I think there's there's one at the bottom of uh Union Street now for a former mayor.

And um the Tavaz Brothers is the most recent one.

That's the only two that I can think of right now.

That's the only two I can think of as well.

Um we have signs for veterans that have been put up in on the um on the street polls where the veterans resided.

That's not something that DPI manages, so I'm I'm not sure.

Yeah, we've done that.

We have those up where someone lived.

I think they're funded through Chris Combs's office, I'm pretty sure, but uh I uh how much does a sign like that cost off the top of my head I would say a few hundred dollars.

Yeah.

So I guess Mr.

Chairm, here's my problem.

Okay, I both these people that we want to honor, great people in the community.

Um I got no issue with either one of them and what they contributed to the city of New Bedford.

But we could do this everywhere.

I mean, there's another motion pending for Elaine Lima downtown.

Um we could do this everywhere.

There have been a lot of people in the city who have done great work and have contributed to the city.

We're gonna do this everywhere across the city, and we're gonna have the taxpayer pay for it.

And I know it's only a couple hundred bucks.

It doesn't matter.

But it's just the I get concerned about the precedent we set by doing this.

And that's why I asked the commissioner where there are others.

I know there's Tavaz Brothers, I know we just did that.

It's a company, it's a group of people who have nationally brought the spotlight to the city of New Bedford.

Um that's a different situation than what we have in these two requests.

And the same thing with you know the tribute to the mayor on the bottom of Union Street.

Um, you know, an elected official, somebody name that square down the bottom of there for him.

I just I just haven't I have an issue with the door this opens and the precedent that it sets.

And it has nothing to do with the Paleologuses and it has nothing to do with Joe Jesus, God rest his soul.

Um it would it's just my concern.

Thank you.

You were in with the Joe Jesus um motion.

Do you have anything to add with that?

No.

No.

All right.

Council Oliver, you have anything else?

Can I uh make a motion to table item nine pending um a dollar amount uh to to get a better idea of what it would actually cost for a traffic a traffic sign um to be placed there.

I are you trying to do a whole traffic sign or are you just trying to do something?

Just like a uh uh uh because we don't know if we own the land there to place something on the corner.

Um so I think that the traffic in in conversation with uh uh Jeremy uh Jamie Pond um we think that the traffic on on the traffic signal, just the regular green street sign on top of the traffic signal will probably be the easiest.

Um so I guess uh I would like the table pending a estimate of what that would cost.

All right.

So he's table with the 30 days.

He probably should figure out how big the sign is gonna be too.

Yeah, and and because because that's uh that's a long name, so I say because I was thinking of like you said, you know, when when they have the memorials and they have them polls with and dedication to certain people, like we'll be able to do that.

And how hard it was to get that done and how many processes uh and the process that it was and how you know Tyron and Council Gomes on knows that as well.

Like that was a process, like to just get their name on us on a street.

I know it's changing the name from you know um from one street to another, but it didn't have nothing but to have this the sign.

I don't know how um like I said, the memorial as far as as big as a memorial on a on on a light is is there any other if that's what the that's what the it's called for.

Yeah.

Like I said, we can look at the size of the property that is city owned on the corner of the former diner.

Uh there are four corners there, but each of the four corners have their challenges.

Um the diner has the big sign with the gas prices on it, electrical boxes, different things like that.

So uh to put something on the corner, it may be a little busy to be noticed.

Um you could go a little bit further down Shamit Avenue on the Shaman side.

I think that's my recollection where we own the most sliver of land over there.

Um I can present that to the committee and they can make a decision based on that information.

So let's just table it and then we can find out what what the best one is.

Well, I I just don't know what how we find out what the best is.

Are we asking the the commissioner to find out what we own there?

Or my biggest thing was I didn't want or I wasn't thinking about putting a you know, uh uh the little the metal like we do with the veterans ones on the on the corners because I don't want it to be um I think that that that's separate that when we're recognizing a veteran or uh uh someone who was lost or something like that.

Um so I don't want that line to be blurred.

That's why I thought in conversation with uh the commissioner that just placing we're not changing names of streets or anything like that.

It's just recognizing that intersection as Paleologus way or Paleologous place or whatever it is.

We don't have to do the whole, you know, Phil and Celeste put their middle names in there, all that stuff.

I don't think I can't do it.

I love Phil and Celeste.

They're like family to me.

So that's that's why I just want to make sure what's the best course of action.

I think the most full, I think the most the the quickest path that achieves what we're trying to achieve here as this committee meets, we hear a lot of testimony in this room, and we do a great job of recognizing people when they're not here.

And I think that something like this is something that we can do while people are still here.

Um and it's it'll cost very little money, um, or at least I hope that it will, and I think that's why I am looking to just kind of entertain the let's leave memorials and plaques and rocks and this and that all alone and just look into placing one green and white sign on top of a traffic signal that says paleologous such and such.

So I was hoping that the that commissioner can give us a price on that, and hopefully it is feasible that um there's no um you know everybody's for it.

There's no opposition to it.

So I'm I'm looking to motion to the table pending a estimate of a green and white street sign to go to be placed on the traffic signal.

We'll send a communication out to his office tomorrow.

To find out what's going on.

What about number eight?

Well that it's a separate motion.

Well that was long before my time.

So number nine, I don't know about the.

So number nine, so motion to table.

For number two days for number nine.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Second by Council Carney.

Linda, are you here?

All those in favor say aye.

My eyes have it.

So number nine will be table for 30 days.

Now you're back to the case.

So I'm going to make a related motion that we find an appropriate intersection to name Irwin Jacobs Way because he did so much for the City of New Bedford with regard to the $10,000 scholarships that he gives every year to seven or eight high school students here in the city of New Bedford, and how much publicity he's brought to the city of New Bedford.

I'm being facetious, Mr.

Chair.

I'm being facetious.

They do have a school though, right?

I'm being facetious.

I'm just all I'm trying to I'm trying to point my point again that I get concerned about the precedent that we set here and who else we might offend, whether they're alive or they're dead.

And bring it up in January, you won't have anybody opposing it.

So number nine is being table for 30 days.

No, 113.

I told you that 113.

40 days, right?

So how about number eight?

So what that passed.

So yeah, what we're table with table for 30 days on number nine.

Is there a motion for number eight?

I think it just got seconded.

I don't know if we took a favor.

All those in favor say I did.

Um what do we do with number eight?

And then um passed.

So it passed.

So number eight, yeah.

Council Gold, you have something to say?

Yeah, if I just may speak on number eight.

I know there's a lot of discussion about dedicating things to people and what they contributed.

Um Joe Jesus contributed to the city of New Bedford in a big way.

And um I I I have no problem.

Uh years ago, um I had proposed to um make uh Cushionate Avenue up the North End, the walk of fame, similar to what you have in Los Angeles, and some people laughed at me, but I don't think it's so damn funny because we could recognize people who have contributed to this city, and it would have been part of the growth of the North End as we were talking about reconstruction of the roads and everything, all that has stopped.

I won't be uh long-winded on this whole thing.

But Joe Jesus contributed to the 50s night in the city of New Bedford.

Something that we'll see go on forever, and you hope that even what has been started with that 50s night.

I've always said and I said to him before he passed away 50s night should have been Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and drew people from all over the country to the city of New Bedford.

We should have had Sean on now.

It's just one of those um things that you could do and and and put the city on a map for four days and have it that every year.

Joe Jesus did that.

He created that.

A small plaque on the corner of Union and Purchase Street would be no problem.

Uh um, we don't have to rename any street or whatever, just in remembrance of him bringing that here.

Thank you for the opportunity.

So would anybody be entertained to make a motion or would you want to table that as well until we table it's and then we'll discuss it more just given the idea.

Yeah.

So it would we uh motion the table being for 113 days.

For 113 days.

Mo motion the table.

Well, no, he well he's not on the committee.

Motion the table.

How many days do you want to table or just keep it on the table?

Thirty thirty days.

Thirty days.

Motion the table for thirty days, seconded by Council Connie.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

But nothing else.

Let's motion to adjourn.

Motion adjourned.

Made by Councillor Oliver, seconded by Councillor Moore.

We adjourn that.

I don't know if it's that new.