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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Ordinance Committee Meeting - September 29, 2025

Default View — Monday, September 29, 2025

BodyNew Bedford, Massachusetts

SessionDefault View

DateMonday, September 29, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:53:35

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:37

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:39

It is 7 p.m.

0:40

on Monday, September 29th, 2025.

0:44

Um I am Chairman Ryan Perrera of the Committee on Ordinances, and I'm calling this meeting to order.

0:49

I am joined in the chamber tonight by my colleagues, Councilor at Large, Ian Abreu, Councillor of Ward 2, Maria Giesta, Councillor of Ward 1, Leo Schocket, Councillor of Ward 5, Joseph Loops, Councillor at Large, Brian Gomes, Counselor at Large, Linda Morad, Councillor at Large, Naomi Carney.

1:07

I will ask the clerk at this time if there are any letters to be read into the record.

1:11

There is.

1:11

I received a letter from Councillor Oliver to you, Mr.

1:13

Chairman.

1:14

It says I'm writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend tonight's committee meeting uh due to a family commitment.

1:19

Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues in the public aware of the reason for my absence.

1:28

A motion to receive and place that letter on file made by Councillor Morrad, seconded by Councilor Lopes.

1:33

Any discussion?

1:34

All those in favor say aye.

1:36

I'm sorry, Mr.

1:37

Opposed.

1:38

The ayes have it.

1:39

Mr.

1:39

Chairman, I've also received a uh communication from Councillor Baptist.

1:43

He will not be present.

1:44

He's home and uh not feeling well.

1:46

Okay, thank you very much.

1:47

You're welcome.

1:48

I will ask the clerk to read read items 1, 1A, and 2 together, please.

1:52

1 1A and 2.

1:53

Uh number 1 is a public hearing continued on a related motion.

1:57

Councillors Morad and Carney requesting that the city council order the committee on ordinances and the planning board to hold public hearings relative to the definitions of section 1200 of the city code and the appendix A, Table of Principal Use Regulations referred from the Committee on Ordinances on May 28th, 2025.

2:15

It was referred on June 12th, 2025.

2:17

It was duly advertised in the Standard Times on Monday, August 11th, 2025, and Monday, August 18th, 2025.

2:24

On August 25th, 2025, it was heard and the public hearing was continued until September 29th, 2025, 7 p.m.

2:31

in the council chambers.

2:32

One A was a communication.

2:45

To discuss a request made by City Council for the Planning Board to hold a public hearing relative to the definitions and appendix A table of principal use regulations, Section 1200 of the zoning code, chapter 9.

2:59

Given that the request was to hold a public hearing and not to specifically make a recommendation, the board chose to include their general comments from the public hearing in the city planner's letter and submit it to the council for their consideration.

3:13

The communication also contains a presentation titled Zoning Overview Use Table, dated June 16th, 2025.

3:22

A detailed summary of zoning use table changes and addendum B use table as amended on May 28, 2025.

3:30

It was received on July 25th, 2025.

3:33

August 25th, 2025, a public hearing was continued until September 29th, 2025 at 7 p.m.

3:40

in the council chambers.

3:41

Number two is a public hearing continued on a related motion.

3:44

Council is Morad Carney, Oliver, Baptiste, Giesta, Pereira, Gomes, and Lopes requesting that the Committee on Ordinances hold a meeting within the next 30 days where a formal presentation by City Planner Jennifer Carlone and City Solicitor Eric Jakes will detail all of the changes to coding definitions and principle uses that were made to the table of principal use regulations previously adopted by the city council on November 26, 2024.

4:11

It was referred from committee on May 28, 2025.

4:14

August 25th, 2025, a public hearing was continued until September 29th, 2025 at 7 p.m.

4:21

in the city council chambers.

4:22

One 1A and 2 are now before you.

4:24

Thank you very much.

4:26

So these public hearings are open and just continued tonight.

4:30

So at this time I'd like to call forward members of the planning staff.

4:34

We have uh I don't remember your titles, but we have uh Ann Lorrow and Mike McCarthy here with us.

4:41

Um it's not Matt, no, Mike McCarthy.

4:45

Uh forever.

4:48

So uh colleagues, I at the previous meeting uh we requested um some information uh from uh the planning office.

5:00

Uh excuse me, I'm sorry, a while ago, uh Council President Shane Burgo joined us.

5:02

I forgot to recognize him.

5:03

Good evening, Mr.

5:04

President.

5:05

So on uh in our 25th, uh the meeting on August 25th, we requested some clarifications and uh I would just like to uh thank the planning department because we received a communication on August 29th.

5:17

So in four days we received uh uh uh uh a summary packet.

5:20

So I'd like to thank the uh planning department for getting that turned around fast for us.

5:25

Uh so uh the chair would like to receive and place this item on file made by counselor lopes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████48%

Personnel Matters███████████████████20%

Legal Affairs██████████11%

Procedural████████9%

Economic Development█████5%

Health And Human Services████4%

Budget Equity Analysis██2%

Public Safety█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Ordinance Committee Meeting - September 29, 2025

The Ordinance Committee met on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers to discuss zoning use table changes, a food truck ordinance review, and a proposed parental paid leave policy. The meeting was chaired by Councilor Ryan Pereira. The committee addressed three main agenda items, including a continued public hearing on zoning definitions and use table amendments, a motion to review the mobile food truck ordinance, and a motion to explore a parental paid leave policy for City employees.

Consent Calendar

A letter from Councillor Oliver excusing his absence due to a family commitment was received and placed on file.
A communication from the Planning Department (dated August 29, 2025) providing clarifications requested at the August 25 meeting was received and placed on file.
Item 3 (Food Truck Ordinance Review) was received and placed on file, and a motion for no further action was approved as the noise issue had been resolved.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during the public hearing portion of the meeting.

Discussion Items

Zoning Use Table Changes (Items 1, 1A, 2): The continued public hearing focused on proposed changes to the Definitions, Section 1200, and Appendix A of the Zoning Code. Planning staff (Anne Louro and Mike McCarthy) presented a detailed overview of amendments to the special permit granting authority for several uses, including assisted living facilities, motor vehicle light service stations, wireless communication facilities, material salvage and recycling, and others. Councilors expressed concerns about shifting authority from the City Council to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) or Planning Board, particularly regarding quality of life in neighborhoods. Discussion also covered the legality of prohibiting certain industrial uses due to state law (M.G.L. c. 40A, § 5A) and the ability to grandfather existing uses. Councilors debated whether to change uses to "N" (not allowed) or to grant authority to the City Council. After extensive debate, the committee voted on several amendments.
Parental Paid Leave (Item 4): The committee discussed a motion to explore a parental paid leave policy for City employees. Personnel Director José Gouveia presented cost estimates: if all full-time employees took one week of paid parental leave, the cost would be approximately $1.4 million; for two weeks, $2.8 million. For actual maternity/paternity leave usage (average 12 weeks), the cost was estimated between $360,000 and $450,000. Gouveia emphasized the need for fairness, suggesting consideration of paid family medical leave for all employees, including those with critical illnesses. Councilors, including Council President Burgo, expressed frustration with the prolonged delay since August 2023 and argued for prioritizing parental leave to retain young talent. The committee also discussed the legal scope of such an ordinance, noting it would likely apply only to non-union (Unit C) employees. The Boston ordinance was referenced as a model: 12 weeks of paid leave (six weeks at full pay, six weeks at 80% pay) to be taken within one year of birth or adoption.

Key Outcomes

Zoning Use Table Amendments (all passed by voice vote unless noted):
1. Motor vehicle light service stations: Motion to strike "BA" (Board of Appeals) and insert "CC" (City Council) in all applicable districts, and to amend Section 4850 to match. (Motion by Councilor Morad, second by Carney; passed)
2. Wireless communication facilities: Motion to strike "BA" and insert "PB" (Planning Board) in all districts, and amend Section 4940. (Motion by Councilor Morad, second by Gomes; passed)
3. Material salvage and recycling, biomass recycling facility, recycling collection facility: Motion to strike "BA" and insert "CC" in all districts. (Motion by Councilor Schocket, second by Burgo; passed)
4. Batch asphalt and concrete plants: Motion to strike "CC" and insert "N" (not allowed) in IB and IC zones. (Motion by Councilor Morad, second by Giesta; passed)
5. Contractor's yard: Motion to change from "Yes" to "N" in IA and IB zones. (Roll call vote: 7-2 in favor; passed)
6. Freight terminal and heavy material sales and distribution: Motion to strike "BA" and insert "CC" in IA, IB, IC, and WI zones. (Motion by Councilor Morad, second by Giesta; passed)
Motion to refer all zoning amendments to City Solicitor Eric Jaikes to draft ordinances and schedule further hearings before the Planning Board and Ordinance Committee. (Passed)
Item 3 (Food Truck Ordinance): No further action taken; issue resolved.
Item 4 (Parental Paid Leave): Motion to direct the City Solicitor to draft a parental leave ordinance for City employees (Unit C) providing up to six weeks of full pay and an additional six weeks at 75% pay, to be used within the first year of a child's birth or adoption. (Motion by Councilor Burgo, second by Giesta; passed)

The meeting adjourned at 8:53 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is 7 p.m. on Monday, September 29th, 2025. Um I am Chairman Ryan Perrera of the Committee on Ordinances, and I'm calling this meeting to order. I am joined in the chamber tonight by my colleagues, Councilor at Large, Ian Abreu, Councillor of Ward 2, Maria Giesta, Councillor of Ward 1, Leo Schocket, Councillor of Ward 5, Joseph Loops, Councillor at Large, Brian Gomes, Counselor at Large, Linda Morad, Councillor at Large, Naomi Carney. I will ask the clerk at this time if there are any letters to be read into the record. There is. I received a letter from Councillor Oliver to you, Mr. Chairman. It says I'm writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend tonight's committee meeting uh due to a family commitment. Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues in the public aware of the reason for my absence. A motion to receive and place that letter on file made by Councillor Morrad, seconded by Councilor Lopes. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. I'm sorry, Mr. Opposed. The ayes have it. Mr. Chairman, I've also received a uh communication from Councillor Baptist. He will not be present. He's home and uh not feeling well. Okay, thank you very much. You're welcome. I will ask the clerk to read read items 1, 1A, and 2 together, please. 1 1A and 2. Uh number 1 is a public hearing continued on a related motion. Councillors Morad and Carney requesting that the city council order the committee on ordinances and the planning board to hold public hearings relative to the definitions of section 1200 of the city code and the appendix A, Table of Principal Use Regulations referred from the Committee on Ordinances on May 28th, 2025. It was referred on June 12th, 2025. It was duly advertised in the Standard Times on Monday, August 11th, 2025, and Monday, August 18th, 2025. On August 25th, 2025, it was heard and the public hearing was continued until September 29th, 2025, 7 p.m. in the council chambers. One A was a communication. To discuss a request made by City Council for the Planning Board to hold a public hearing relative to the definitions and appendix A table of principal use regulations, Section 1200 of the zoning code, chapter 9. Given that the request was to hold a public hearing and not to specifically make a recommendation, the board chose to include their general comments from the public hearing in the city planner's letter and submit it to the council for their consideration. The communication also contains a presentation titled Zoning Overview Use Table, dated June 16th, 2025. A detailed summary of zoning use table changes and addendum B use table as amended on May 28, 2025. It was received on July 25th, 2025. August 25th, 2025, a public hearing was continued until September 29th, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers. Number two is a public hearing continued on a related motion. Council is Morad Carney, Oliver, Baptiste, Giesta, Pereira, Gomes, and Lopes requesting that the Committee on Ordinances hold a meeting within the next 30 days where a formal presentation by City Planner Jennifer Carlone and City Solicitor Eric Jakes will detail all of the changes to coding definitions and principle uses that were made to the table of principal use regulations previously adopted by the city council on November 26, 2024. It was referred from committee on May 28, 2025. August 25th, 2025, a public hearing was continued until September 29th, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers. One 1A and 2 are now before you. Thank you very much. So these public hearings are open and just continued tonight. So at this time I'd like to call forward members of the planning staff. We have uh I don't remember your titles, but we have uh Ann Lorrow and Mike McCarthy here with us. Um it's not Matt, no, Mike McCarthy.

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