OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

New Bedford City Council Special Meeting - October 27, 2025

Default View — Monday, October 27, 2025
BodyNew Bedford, Massachusetts
SessionDefault View
DateMonday, October 27, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:18:05

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

We'll be starting momentarily for those in the chamber.

0:05

There's a rule about hats in the chamber.

0:07

So if you have a hat on your head, please remove any hats, please.

0:44

Good evening, everyone.

0:45

It is 7 p.m.

0:47

on Monday, October 27, 2025.

0:50

Uh, and I am opening up the session today as your city council president Shane Burgo.

0:55

And tonight, uh leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance is the Ward 4 Councillor Derek Baptiste.

1:02

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:11

One nation, under God, individual with liberty and justice for all.

1:22

Just want to note that this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.

1:26

City Council and Committee meetings can be viewed on the city of New Brefort's homepage under quick links, then meetings.

1:33

I want to welcome everyone to our council chamber tonight and my colleagues in government, Ward 4, City Councilor Derek Baptiste, Ward 2, Councilor Maria Giesta, Ward 1 Counselor Leo Choquette, Ward 3 Councillor Sean Oliver, Counselor at Large, Brian Gomes, Ward Six Counselor Ryan Pereira, Councilor at Large and Second Vice President Linda Morad, Councilor at Large and First Vice President Naomi Carney.

2:01

There's one letter that has been submitted tonight by our colleague Ward 5 Counselor Joseph Lopes.

2:06

Uh, dear Council President Burgo and Council members, I am writing to inform you that regretfully I am unable to attend the special city council meeting on Monday, October 27th, due to a prior personal commitment.

2:17

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

2:21

Signed, Joseph P.

2:22

Lopes.

2:23

Motion receiving place on file.

2:24

Motion receiving place on file, made by Councillor Oliver, seconded by Council Pereira.

2:28

Anyone on the question?

2:30

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

2:32

Aye.

2:32

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

2:35

Okay.

2:36

Item one communication, Council President Burgo to City Clerk, Clerk of the City Council, Dennis Ferries calling a special meeting of the City Council for Monday, October 27th at 7 p.m.

2:46

in City Council Chamber, second floor of City Hall for the celebration and awarding of official city council citations and resolutions.

2:54

Motion to receive and place on file.

2:56

Motion to receive and place on file made by Council Perrar, seconded by Councillor Carney.

3:00

Anyone on the question?

3:01

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

3:04

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

3:07

Uh Councilor Carney, without objection.

3:09

Uh can I read items two and three together?

3:12

Without objection.

3:13

All right, item two citation.

3:15

Councillor Carney honoring Brenda Grace, founder, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Incorporated, in recognition of her creating a support network for families committed to protecting grandchildren and keeping families together.

3:28

And item three, citation, Councillor Carney honoring Renee Ribero, co-founder, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Incorporated, in recognition of her creating a support network for families committed to protecting grandchildren and keeping families together.

3:42

Motion to adopt, made by Councillor Carney.

3:45

Yes.

3:46

Second by Councillor Gomes.

3:48

Anyone on the question?

3:49

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

3:51

Aye.

3:52

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

3:54

I'll ask uh Brenda Grace and Renee Ribero to come to the podium to receive.

4:03

And this is a celebration meeting.

4:05

We can all clap and cheer.

4:28

Thank you.

4:29

Thank you, everyone.

4:32

First of all, um it's remiss that I wanted uh Council Mora to be part of this too.

4:38

I'm sorry that the communication to get there for you to be up here with us, but if you'd like to join us, you can.

4:44

Okay, all right.

4:46

And and Brian, would you like to join us?

4:52

He's gonna just sit there and wink.

4:57

I I was here when she started it all.

5:00

Go ahead and do your own.

5:00

Yes.

5:01

Okay, so anyways, this is an honor and a privilege to introduce these two ladies to the community.

5:07

Not that the community doesn't know them, but the community does know these two wonderful, beautiful ladies who had did a bang up job for over 20 years, well, up to 20 years of grandparents raising grandchildren.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement███████████████████████████████████35%
Tourism And Marketing█████████████13%
Procedural████████████12%
Environmental Protection████████8%
Mental Health Awareness██████6%
Youth Programs█████5%
Education█████5%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Veterans Affairs████4%
Summary of Proceedings

New Bedford City Council Special Meeting - October 27, 2025

At 7:00 PM on Monday, October 27, 2025, City Council President Shane Burgo convened a special meeting of the New Bedford City Council to celebrate and award official citations and resolutions to community members, organizations, and local figures. Councilor Joseph Lopes submitted a letter of regret regarding his absence due to a prior commitment. The meeting served as a celebration honoring individuals for milestones in local service, entrepreneurship, cultural advocacy, and personal achievements.

Consent Calendar

  • Citation for Brenda Grace and Renee Ribero: Councillor Naomi Carney moved to adopt citations honoring the co-founders of "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Incorporated" for over 20 years of creating support networks to keep families together and prevent sibling separation in foster care. The motion, seconded by Councilor Gomes, passed unanimously with applause from the chamber.
  • Citation for D's Hot Dogs: Councillor Brian Gomes moved to honor Diane "Dee" Martin for 40 years of serving the community at her Belleville location, celebrating her family-owned business as an American tradition. The motion, seconded by Councilor Morad, passed unanimously.
  • Citation for Jackie Santos: Councillor Gomes moved to honor the Cape Verdean musician, drummer, and Berklee professor for throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the Boston Red Sox vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game at Fenway Park on August 30, 2025. The motion, seconded by Councilor Pereira, passed unanimously.
  • Citation for Society Coffee Bar: Councillor Gomes moved to honor Keith and Deborah Vivaris for opening their third coffee bar location and their commitment to revitalizing New Bedford. The motion, seconded by Councilor Pereira, passed unanimously.
  • Citation for South Coast Neighbors United: Councillor Gomes moved to honor Wendy Morrill and Tracy Wallace for their lead role in fighting "Parallel Products" (South Coast Renewables) to oppose a waste processing facility in the North End. The motion, seconded by Councilor Choquette, passed unanimously.
  • Cape Verdean Recognition Committees: Councillor Gomes moved to adopt citations collectively honoring the 2025 Board of Directors, Scholarship Committee, and Parade Committee members for their dedication to Cape Verdean heritage, scholarship awards, and the 53rd annual parade. The motion, seconded by Councilor Pereira, passed unanimously.
  • Citation for Susan Rogers: Councillor Gomes moved to honor Susan Rogers for the release of her children's book, "The Other Side of the Rainbow," which uses a leprechaun storyline to teach faith and scripture. The motion, seconded by Councilor Morad, passed unanimously.
  • Citation for Tyler Joseph Leonard Memorial Foundation: Councillor Derek Baptiste moved to honor the board members (including family) for their work in mental health awareness and suicide prevention, noting their effort to help over 5,000 students and provide scholarships. The motion, seconded by Councilor Giesta, passed unanimously.
  • Resolution for John W. Bulger: Councillor Baptiste moved to honor John W. "Bullet" Bulger, a WWII Coast Guard veteran and community elder, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. The motion, seconded by Councilor Morad, passed unanimously.
  • Resolution for Miss New Bedford Winners: Council President Burgo and Councillor Morad moved to honor Ashley Clark (Miss New Bedford 2025) and Bree Marie Lefaver (Miss New Bedford Teen 2025) for their service to the city. The motion, seconded by Councilor Carney, passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Brenda Grace and Renee Ribero: Recipients expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, noting the organization's mission to keep families together and their ability to provide support where none existed previously.
  • Diane Martin: The owner of D's Hot Dogs expressed being overwhelmed by the honor and thanked the community for their 40 years of love and support, expressing hope for another 40 years.
  • Jackie Santos: The musician expressed emotional gratitude, sharing details about a custom signature drum set made to resemble the Cape Verdean flag and his commitment to teaching future generations at Berklee.
  • Keith and Deborah Vivaris: The coffee bar owners expressed honor at being recognized for contributing to the city's economy and hiring local employees.
  • Wendy Morrill and Tracy Wallace: Members of South Coast Neighbors United emphasized the necessity of community unity against exploitation and acknowledged the "foot soldiers" (volunteers) who supported their fight against Parallel Products. They stressed that the battle for environmental justice is ongoing.
  • Cape Verdean Committee Members: Representatives (including Diane Gomes, Marilyn Gonzalez, and Miles Dias) expressed humility, attributing success to the community's support. They highlighted the distribution of over $800,000 in scholarships and the cultural significance of the parade.
  • Susan Rogers: The author expressed giving all glory to God, explaining the spiritual message of her book regarding the rainbow covenant.
  • Tyler Joseph Leonard Memorial Foundation: Speaker introduced the board, sharing the personal story of losing their nephew to suicide in 2018 and their mission to break the stigma of mental health.
  • John W. Bulger: The 100-year-old veteran expressed surprise and gratitude, humorously attributing his longevity to blackberry brandy.
  • Derek Baptiste: Noted the personal connection the Foundation's loss has to his own advocacy for mental health.

Discussion Items

  • Parallel Products Opposition: Councillor Gomes and colleagues discussed the fight against the Parallel Products facility, describing it as a "misleading" expansion disguised as recycling which threatened a prestigious residential area. Councillor Choquette reinforced the sentiment that the city has reached a "saturation point" regarding exploitation and pollution, emphasizing the need to protect residents from bad actors.
  • Berkeley School Annex: During the citation for Jackie Santos, Councillor Gomes mentioned the ongoing effort to bring an annex of the Berklee College of Music to New Bedford, noting that while there were roadblocks, the fight continues to benefit local youth.
  • Cape Verdean Recognition Week: Councillor Gomes highlighted the 53rd annual parade and the 50th anniversary of Cape Verde's independence, noting the committee's role in keeping traditions alive and the city's diverse cultural fabric.
  • Mental Health Advocacy: Councillor Baptiste emphasized the importance of turning personal tragedy into a communal mission, highlighting the Foundation's work with local high schools and organizations like the Boys & Girls Club.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous Adoption: All 14 proposed citations and resolutions passed with a voice vote ("Ayes have it").
  • Recognition of Grassroots Action: The council explicitly endorsed the community-led opposition to Parallel Products, framing Wendy Morrill and Tracy Wallace as heroes who saved the city from environmental injustice.
  • Call to Action: The Tyler Joseph Leonard Memorial Foundation provided their contact information (website and social media) for community members seeking mental health resources.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 PM following a roll call where six councilors voted "Yes," one voted "No" (in jest or protest of the pizza request), and one was absent (Lopes).

Meeting Transcript

We'll be starting momentarily for those in the chamber. There's a rule about hats in the chamber. So if you have a hat on your head, please remove any hats, please. Good evening, everyone. It is 7 p.m. on Monday, October 27, 2025. Uh, and I am opening up the session today as your city council president Shane Burgo. And tonight, uh leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance is the Ward 4 Councillor Derek Baptiste. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. Just want to note that this meeting is being live streamed and recorded. City Council and Committee meetings can be viewed on the city of New Brefort's homepage under quick links, then meetings. I want to welcome everyone to our council chamber tonight and my colleagues in government, Ward 4, City Councilor Derek Baptiste, Ward 2, Councilor Maria Giesta, Ward 1 Counselor Leo Choquette, Ward 3 Councillor Sean Oliver, Counselor at Large, Brian Gomes, Ward Six Counselor Ryan Pereira, Councilor at Large and Second Vice President Linda Morad, Councilor at Large and First Vice President Naomi Carney. There's one letter that has been submitted tonight by our colleague Ward 5 Counselor Joseph Lopes. Uh, dear Council President Burgo and Council members, I am writing to inform you that regretfully I am unable to attend the special city council meeting on Monday, October 27th, due to a prior personal commitment. Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and the public aware of the reason for my absence. Signed, Joseph P. Lopes. Motion receiving place on file. Motion receiving place on file, made by Councillor Oliver, seconded by Council Pereira. Anyone on the question? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed, the ayes have it. Okay. Item one communication, Council President Burgo to City Clerk, Clerk of the City Council, Dennis Ferries calling a special meeting of the City Council for Monday, October 27th at 7 p.m. in City Council Chamber, second floor of City Hall for the celebration and awarding of official city council citations and resolutions. Motion to receive and place on file. Motion to receive and place on file made by Council Perrar, seconded by Councillor Carney. Anyone on the question? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Any opposed, the ayes have it. Uh Councilor Carney, without objection. Uh can I read items two and three together? Without objection. All right, item two citation. Councillor Carney honoring Brenda Grace, founder, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Incorporated, in recognition of her creating a support network for families committed to protecting grandchildren and keeping families together. And item three, citation, Councillor Carney honoring Renee Ribero, co-founder, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Incorporated, in recognition of her creating a support network for families committed to protecting grandchildren and keeping families together. Motion to adopt, made by Councillor Carney. Yes. Second by Councillor Gomes. Anyone on the question? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed, the ayes have it. I'll ask uh Brenda Grace and Renee Ribero to come to the podium to receive. And this is a celebration meeting. We can all clap and cheer. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.

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