Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Today is Thursday, January 8th, 701 p.m.

in the city council chamber.

At this time I will recognize Deaconess Donna Britto of the In the Name of Jesus Church to lead us in a prayer.

Amen.

Thank you for inviting me.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, Savior Jesus, Holy Spirit.

As we begin this new year, we lift up our city council to you.

Grant them wisdom to lead, unity to work together, and courage to serve justly.

Bless our city with peace, opportunity, and health for all residents.

May our leaders always remember their call to serve the least among us.

And may our community be a beacon of your love and grace.

Help us to build a future of hope, understanding, and shared prosperity.

In Jesus' mighty name.

Amen.

I will ask Councillor at large Ian Abrew to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councillor.

I am joined this evening by my colleagues in the New Bedford City Council.

Councillor at large, Ian Abrew, Councillor of Ward 2, Scott Pemberton, Councillor of Ward 1, Leo Choquett, Councillor at Large, James Roy, Counselor at Large, Naomi Carney, Councillor of Ward 3, Sean Oliver, and Counselor at Large, Shane Burgo.

I would just like to note that this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.

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

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

Mr.

President, I have one letter from Councillor Lopes.

Dear Council President Pereira and honorable members of the Council.

I am running to inform you that I'll be unable to attend the City Council meeting on Thursday, January 8th, 2026, due to a prior commitment.

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

Seconded by Councillor Abrew.

Any discussion on receiving the letter on placing it on file?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the eyes have it.

The Chair would also like to recognize we have been joined by Counselor at Large Brian Golmes.

Mayor's papers is before us.

I'll ask the clerk to read item M1, please.

Seconded by Councillor Baptist, who has joined us.

Yes, Council Baptist.

Yes.

Yes, Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Schulker.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 10 to 0, Mr.

President.

Item passes 10 to 0.

Colleagues, I would also just like to share I've had a communication with um uh Mr.

Gordon Carr, and uh he has been, if reappointed, which we just did, uh he will be serving as the port council's chairman next year, representing New Bedford and uh serving as the chair of that board.

So best of luck to him.

I'll ask the clerk to read item number M2, please.

Mr.

President, M2 is a communication from the mayor to the city council, submitting the reappointment of Michael J.

Paiva of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the traffic commission.

This term will expire in December of 2028.

Same course of action.

Same course of action made by Councilor Gomes, second by Councillor Oliver, and that is to grant the reappointment waiving rules 38 and 40.

Eight votes are needed.

I will ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abreu.

Yes, Council Baptiste.

Yes, Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes, Council Carney.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Shoket.

Yes.

Yes, Council Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pemberton.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 10 to 0.

Item passes 10 to 0.

I do not believe I see him in the attendance.

I don't think so.

Okay.

Anyway.

I will ask the clerk to read M3.

Mr.

President, M3 is a communication from Mayor Mitchell to the Council.

Submitting the reappointment of Reverend Dr.

Sandra Gatlin Whitley of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the Council on Aging.

Her term will expire in December of 2028.

Same close of action.

Motion's been made to waive rules 38 and 40 and grant the reappointment by Councillor Kearney.

Seconded by Councillor Baptiste.

Any discussion?

I will ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Council Baptiste.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Schoquette.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes eleven.

I'm sorry, 10 to 0.

Item passes 10 to 0.

I'll ask the clerk to read item M4.

Mr.

President, M4 is a communication from Mayor Mitchell to the City Council.

Submitting the appointment of Wayne Edwards of Bedford, Massachusetts to the Veterans Advisory Board, replacing Karen Cosmey, whose term is expired.

This term will expire in December of 2026.

Same course of action.

Motion's been made to waive rules 38 and 40 and grant the appointment by Councillor Burgo.

Second.

Seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question?

Chair recognizes Councillor Burgo.

Yes, I know everyone's like, what are you doing?

This isn't a reappointment.

So yeah, so uh to explain a little bit.

Um for those of us that have been on the council uh and know about the veterans advisory board, they struggle a lot to fill the vacancies.

I think right now they have about four or five vacancies.

If we're able to fill this, then they'll only have four vacancies.

They're looking right now, they have a pending application, and hopefully, if that person gets through, they'll only have three vacancies.

Um unfortunately, uh, very sadly, a lot of times when we do fill these vacancies, the person ends up dying.

Um so that's why it's very hard to fill this board, and even when we do fill the board, they have a tough time meeting a quorum.

And so as we know, we've just reorganized this body.

Um it will take time for our new president to re uh put out the committee assignments, get an appointments and briefing scheduled, have this.

I know typically we would send this to committee to be screened, then have him referred back out, then get re uh um get actually appointed.

That will take months.

Um so to get this veterans' advisory board veterans advisory board, tongue twister there, the VAB, back on board to be meeting and functional.

I'm asking for this one uh exception that we waive the screening.

If you've looked at his application, you've had a chance.

You see that this veteran is recently retired, has a lot of time on his hand, and is willing to give back to this board, which again is a voluntary a voluntary board.

He has contract negotiation and purchasing experience.

He's very much interested in veteran housing, mental health, and availability of service.

Um, what we can do if you'd like, we can waive the screening, grant the appointment and not waive rule 40, and if you have reservations and you want to reach out to him, and within 24 hours, you can have it put back on for the next council agenda.

But I would just ask that you consider passing this through so we don't hold up the work of the Veterans Advisory Board at this time.

Thank you.

Anyone else on debate?

Okay.

Seeing none, this time I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Councilor Abreu.

Yes, yes, Council Baptiste, yes, yes, Council Burgo.

Yes, yes, Council Carney, yes, yes, Council Schulquette.

Yes, yes, Council Gomes, yes, yes, Council Oliver.

Yes, yes, Council Pemberton.

Yes, yes, Council Pereira, yes, yes, Council Roy.

Yes, yes, passes 10 to 0, sir.

Item passes 10 to 0.

M five is before us.

Mr.

President, M five is a communication from the mayor to the council submitting the appointment of Daniel Luis Reyes Ortiz of New Bedford as a constable in M5A is his application.

Motion to receive and place on file and refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.

Second.

A motion to receive in place on file the communication and refer the item, the appointment to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Oliver.

Any discussion on referral?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

I will ask the clo we are moving on to new business now.

And I'll ask the clerk to read item number one.

Mr.

President, item one is a report from the Committee on Finance recommending to the Council approval of the report as amended, recommending adoption of the order as amended for the City of New Bedford to accept the donation of real estate from Whalen Development Corporation shown on the City of New Bedford Assessors Map 132 as lot 62.

One of the things that we have to do is receive place on file and grant the order as amended.

Motion to receive in place on file the report and adopt the order as amended, made by Councillor Oliver, seconded by Councillor Abreu.

Any discussion on the item before us?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number two.

Mr.

President, item two is a report from the Committee on Finance recommending to the City Council adoption of the resolution to file and accept grants with and from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities Grant Program for Improvements to the Common and Adoption of the Resolution for the Dedication of Riverside Park.

2A and 2B are the resolutions.

Motion to adopt the resolutions items 2A and 2B made by Councillor Abrew.

Seconded by Councillor Oliver.

Any discussions on these items?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number three.

Mr.

President, item three is a report from the Committee on Appointments and Briefings recommending to the City Council approval of the appointment of Jason Thhody as the New Bedford Chief of Police.

3A is a communication from the mayor.

Motion to receive in place on file and approve the appointment.

And wave rule 40, Counselor.

And waive rule 40, yes.

Motion to grant the appointment and waive rule 40 made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question?

Chair recognizes Councillor Carney.

Yes, thank you very much.

For those who weren't here or didn't watch the appointments and briefings when this item came before us, um I did welcome Chief Thode to the city.

Um I wish him luck in his appointment because I know he'll be granted.

But as I said in appointments and briefings, my um response will be a no.

And the reason for that, I won't go into the major details I did at the appointments and briefings meeting.

Anybody can tune in and watch it.

But as I said, we had three people, three chief three uh police officers that were um in front of the screening committee.

Two were from out of town, and one was our own Captain Nate Rodriguez.

Now there's three appointments there, and the three appointments went to the mayor's office, and the mayor chose Chief Thotte, and which is his prerogative to choose the chief of police, but I'm of strong opinion that we should look at our own, and we have a homegrown here.

The man's been in the city and working for the police department for well over 25 years, and I thought that he should have had a chance to become chief of police.

So that's why my my answer my um response will be no this evening in the chief's appointment, only for the fact that I think that we should start looking at our own.

And what do we tell our men in uniform coming to the ranks that you're gonna work hard and come to the ranks, but when it comes to the top steps in this top um positions, you're not gonna get it.

So, anyways, that might be a no, but I do welcome Chief Thoty.

I know he bec he'll be appointed tonight, and I do welcome to the city, and I really do appreciate him coming here and deciding to live in New Bedford and not live in the outskirts.

So thanks for that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Carney.

Any other qu anyone else on the question?

Okay.

A roll call was requested, but we are waiving rule forty.

We need a roll call regardless.

Thank you, Councillor.

Clerk will call the roll.

Councilor Abreu.

Yes.

Yes, Council Baptiste, yes, Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes, Council Carney?

No.

No, Council Choquet.

Yes.

Yes, Council Gomes.

Yes.

Yes, Council Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 9 to 1, Mr.

President.

Item passes 9 to 1.

I will ask the Chief to approach the podium, please.

Aye, Jason Thody.

Aye, Jason Thody.

Do solemnly swear.

That I will faithfully and impartially.

That I will faithfully and impartially.

And to the best of my ability and understanding.

And to the best of my ability and understanding.

Perform my duties as chief of police.

By serving the citizens of New Bedford.

By serving the citizens of New Bedford.

Officers in my command.

And the officers in my command.

With compassion.

With compassion.

Courage and integrity.

Courage and integrity.

I would do all accordance.

I will do all in accordance.

Constitution of the United States.

With the Constitution of the United States.

The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

And the charters and ordinances of the City of New Veterans.

So help me get.

Congratulations, Chief.

I'll ask the clerk to read items item M uh item four, please.

Mr.

President, item four is a report from the Committee on Appointments and Briefings recommending to the Council approval of the appointment of George M.

Viveris of New Bedford to the Board of Park Commissioners, replacing Lee Blake, who has resigned for A's of Communication.

Same course of action.

Motion to grant the appointment in wave rule 40 made by Councillor Oliver.

Seconded by Councillor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

Roll call vote.

Councilor Abrew.

Yes.

Council Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Council Burgo.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Schulkett.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Council Pereira?

Yes.

Yes.

Council Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 10 to 0, Mr.

President.

Item passes 10 to 0.

I will ask Mr.

Viveris to step up to be sworn in.

Raise your right hand.

Aye, George Bavaras.

I, George Biveres.

Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

Faithfully and impartially.

That I will faithfully and impartially.

Perform my duties.

Perform my duties.

As a member.

As a member.

Of the Board of Park Commissioners.

Of the Board of Park Commissioners.

In accordance with the laws.

In accordance with the laws.

And the Constitution of the United States.

And the Constitution of the United States.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

And the Charter and Ordinances of the City of New Bedford.

Charter and Ordinances of the City of New Bedford.

So help me God.

So help me guard.

Without objection, the chair will take items five, six, and seven together.

They were all uh items out of committee and all to be passed to a second reading.

I'd like to several seven.

Item number seven, please.

Okay.

Item seven has been item seven will be severed.

So we'll take items five and six together.

Mr.

President, item five is a report from the community on ordinances recommended to the city council approval of the ordinance, amending chapter nine of the comprehensive zoning by adding section 4200 D, Solar Energy Systems, 5A is the ordinance.

And item six is a report from the Committee on Ordinances recommending to the City Council approval of the ordinance, amending chapter 9 of comprehensive zoning relative to accessory dwelling units.

6A is the ordinance.

Motion pass all five and six to a second reading.

Motion to pass both ordinances five and six to a second reading made by Councillor Abrew.

Seconded by seconded by Councillor Burgo.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number seven.

Mr.

President, item seven is a report from the committee on ordinances recommended to the council approval of the ordinance as amended relative to chapter nine, comprehensive zoning relative to parking requirements, appendix C, Table of Parking and Loading Requirements.

7A is the ordinance as amended.

Motion to send this item back to the Committee on Ordnance for additional public input.

Motion to refer the item back to the Committee on Ordinances made by Councillor Choquett.

Seconded by Councillor Golmes.

Any discussion on the item?

On the question.

Chair recognizes Councillor Choquett.

Good evening.

So I'm joined in the chambers tonight by many residents of Ward 1.

And if you are from Ward 1, please feel free to raise your hand.

So unfortunately, the uh public hearing that we had a week before Christmas was not very well advertised, and there were a lot of individuals whose opinions were not allowed to be made as a record or matter of public record.

So I really believe that since we worked for these people and that many of us knocked on their doors, uh these folks need to have the ability to speak on this issue.

Now that may or may not stop what is about to happen with these parking requirements and the changes in the zoning, and it may very well not affect them at all.

We may move on.

But we have to make sure that we allow these folks to have their opinions heard.

These are the people we work for, these are the people who pay our salaries.

And these are the people who have concerns.

And I would respectfully request that you know folks look past the notion that, well, they had their chance.

Um there was a public meeting.

Because the next time some of us need votes from these folks, they may knock on you may knock on their door and they may say, nope, the time has passed, not interested in talking to you.

So going forward, I want this to go back to committee.

And again, we're not we're not trying to beat the Russians to the moon.

One additional meeting is not going to end the city in New Bedford and the ability to make zoning changes.

Some of it, some of which I do agree with, but some of which I don't agree with.

And as President Kennedy once said, some of the best ideas in government come by letting the people speak.

This is the people's house.

Counselor, I stole your your your quote.

But this is the people's house.

And you know, we need to let the people speak.

Because if not, then why are we even here?

I yield.

Thank you.

Councillor Schoquette, uh thank you, Councillor Schoquette.

Uh, just for clarification purposes, I just would like to say that our office staff properly advertised this uh as required by Mass State Law in the Standard Times and the City's website for both the planning board and the committee.

Um just just for the record.

The Chair will recognize please no applause.

Thank you.

Uh Chair will recognize Councillor Burgo.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President, uh, for making those remarks.

That was the first thing I wanted to address about being well advertised, because one of the criticisms I think of the public hearing uh was well, first of all, there's a picture of a long line of individuals, some of which don't even live in New Bedford, and that was one of the criticisms.

So people who don't live in New Bedford apparently got the advertisement, but some residents in Ward 1.

Um, I think theatrically I might say raise your hand if you were going to attend that meeting.

I think they were aware of it, but just assume that it wasn't going to go through.

It's also insulting to, I think, our planning board that did a lot of work crafting this.

I know there's a lot of talk around just housing in particular, but this parking ordinance does a lot more than just around housing and single-family housing or multifamily housing.

It has to do with a whole myriad of uh parking situations, and I think that it's very short-sighted to get angry about one particular type of housing that Ward 1 in particular has tried as hard as they can to keep out of their particular ward and the whole not in my backyard mentality, while the rest of New Bedford from Ward 2 to 6 has tried their best to make it uh possible for people in New Bedford to live.

So it's frustrating to me to see the work of government do this and see a small amount of people try to insult the work that has been done here and make it seem as though something is being rushed through when that is the the last thing that has uh taken place here.

Um at the appropriate time, I'd like to make a motion to pass to a second reading.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

Chair recognizes Councillor Gomes.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I kind of feel compelled to stand right now.

You know, you just heard a few minutes ago about the people's house.

This is the people's house, and we work for the people.

And if the people weren't notified or if people didn't know about it, and they know about it now, they should be given the opportunity because we have the power to give them the opportunity.

Please, no applause.

Thank you.

We must remember why we're here and who put us here.

The people put us here.

And when the people have a request, we should stand up for the people.

And we should grant them that request.

Tonight they are asking the districts go back to committee so that we get some public import.

Some public import that probably wasn't heard before.

This has nothing to do with our staff.

Our staff does a fantastic job.

The planning board does their job.

Everybody did their job.

But I'm kind of broken to hear, you know, for a small amount of people.

Let me tell you that area is not a small amount of people.

That area is a lot of people.

And a lot of people who have lived there for a long damn time.

I've been here 36, 34 going on my 36 years.

Many of these faces that you see, they have been in that neighborhood, own them properties, or got the properties from their parents or whatever, as as things move along on our journeys in life.

So I I I don't really want to get into uh an unhassle with my uh my colleagues, but uh I really believe, again, that this is the people's house.

And when the people request you to hold a meeting so that they have an opportunity, because they did not know, or whatever the factor is, that's our job.

And we are the brokers for them, and that's why I'll pass the I'll I'll vote in favor of this tonight, because they should have the opportunity.

That's all they are asking.

The people's house, it belongs to them, not us.

Thank you, Councillor Gomes.

Anyone else on there first?

Chair Eggness, Councillor Carney.

Yes.

Um I was wondering if we could um ask our legal counsel to step to the podium.

I have a question for him about the public hearing?

Okay, so um.

On this ordinance that we had as a public hearing, can we put bring it back to committee just to hear from the people without re-advertising and changing, you know, going back to a public hearing?

Or can we move uh put a related motion to move it to maybe appointments and briefings so we can address the concerns of the neighborhood so we can hear what they have to say about a parking ordinance.

I understand it was probably advertised and whatever.

It was the holidays.

Um a lot of people were busy around that time, so um, you know, I'm just wondering how the procedure would go.

You could do it either way.

You could you could send it and have a re-advertised public hearing to open the public hearing.

You could then just send it there for more discussion and invite certain people that were not all able to speak.

My recommendation would be that you send it back and you do a public hearing that is advertised so that all people can come.

People who are who here want to speak one way about it, or if they want to speak for it or against it.

But my recommendation would be that you if you choose to do this and open it back up for more public input that you send it to the audience committee, and when that meeting is called, it's an advertised public hearing to reopen the public hearing and do it again and take more testimony from everyone.

That would be my recommendation.

Okay.

Thank you.

Just a point of clarification uh piece of this, Attorney Garatowski.

Can you speak to the timelines as well associated with this?

I believe the planning board would have to rehear it as well because we would elapse uh from my recollection serving as chairman of the ordinance.

So, yes, um uh Chapter 48, Section 5 requires so much time after you hold a public hearing that you need to vote on it.

Um so you I don't know what the date of that was, but if you it says you have to vote it, I believe it's within 90 days of the public hearing, but if you're having a public hearing again, you are starting that clock again.

So you can send it back to the committee to you can send it back to the ordinance committee to have a public hearing.

It says you cannot if you don't vote within 90 days of the public hearing, you can't vote on it without a subsequent public hearing.

This would be the subsequent public hearing that would start the 90-day clock from running again.

And just for clarification, the 45-day clock from the planning board has already been satisfied.

That doesn't have to be That's correct.

Okay, thank you.

Anyone else on the question?

On there first.

Council Shouquett, did you request a second?

Uh I am I did not, but I am ready to do a roll call vote on this motion.

Uh as counsel uh counselor, as attorney Goratowski instructed us.

Okay.

A roll a roll call vote was requested.

On the question of sending this back to the committee on ordinances for an additional.

I will ask the clerk to call the roll.

Counselor Abre.

No, Council Baptiste.

Yes.

Yes, Council Burgo.

No.

No, Council Carney.

No.

No, Council Schockett.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Oliver.

No.

No, Council Pemberton.

No.

No, Council Pereira.

No.

No, Council Roy.

No.

No.

Bills 3 to 7.

The items 3 to 7.

Motion to pass to a second reading.

Motion to pass the item to a second reading made by Councillor Burgo.

Seconded by Councillor Oliver.

Any discussion?

Chair recognized Councillor Burger.

Oh command.

So I just to explain what's happening here.

This is not final action.

This what's happening now is we're passing this to a second reading.

This will appear on the next schedule agenda.

What I would recommend to those that are upset right now in this room that are heckling right now, send emails, call us.

We are here.

We're willing to listen.

Please, please send to us.

What I will say is since the last excuse me.

Excuse me, if everyone could just please keep while the debate is ongoing.

Since the last meeting, I have not heard from one person in this room that objects uh to this parking requirement.

I have heard from people who are in favor of it.

So if you do object to it, I will I will meet me, please.

Please, everybody.

Councillor Schoquet, you will refrain yourself, please.

Councillor Burgo has the floor.

Thank you.

So what I want to say is this is not a final action tonight.

This is passing to a second reading, and I'm willing to hear from you.

I am your uh elected official, and I that's my job is to listen to you.

To listen to to those who object and those who approve.

So that's why I want you to know that this is not final action tonight, you will still be heard.

I will be voting to passing this to a second reading.

It is not over.

You still will have an opportunity to be heard.

So please, if you'd like to, at the end of the meeting, I will be here to listen to it.

If you want to send an email, if you want to make phone calls, please do so.

So I just want to encourage you to make sure that you are heard and that even though there's not a public forum for it, we are still here to to listen to you.

I just want to make that known.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair recognizes Councillor Carney.

Yes.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um I did hear from a couple of people in board one after the meeting that was that we had after the public hearing.

Um I did let them know that you know that we'd have the public hearing.

Um it was duly advertised, like my colleagues have said, and there was uh quite a span of that.

Unfortunately, um they weren't relayed the message, they didn't see um what was going on, but I I have heard for it, and like my colleagues said, it is going to a second reading.

Um I do have a couple I talked to a couple of constituents.

I believe I have one more I need to call back.

Fortunately, it was just too much of a rush today because I got the call today before the meeting.

Um and not only spoke to one person after the meeting that wasn't um happy with the with the ordinance.

Um I do I know which property they are looking at, and I know what um what their concerns are.

And I would like to listen to the concerns.

I did take pictures of the property.

I did look at the footprint.

I know that they're gonna knock it down and build a bigger footprint, but they do have to realize that this ordinance for the one in two bedrooms is the one parking.

If anything goes over that, it reverts back to the old ordinance that we have that requires more parking.

So we're looking at one or two.

And when the when the developer comes to the footprint um and we hear these concerns, we can talk to the planning board, we can talk to the building department, and we could say, hey, listen.

You know, we want to make sure there's that that those parking restrictions are there.

And it's the one in two bedrooms.

So I know that these days everybody has one and two cars.

So if there's two people living there, most likely there will be two cars.

Um the the area is quite fast.

You know, it is a populated area.

So on Ashley Boulevard, there's businesses all over the place, and I've looked at their parking area, so um I'm willing to, you know, they can call me and listen.

Um long as I'm no and I don't have another meeting on that same night.

I understand there will be more meetings with this developer.

And I'm hoping Council Shocket reaches out to all of us so we can get there and listen to the concerns.

But we are looking at citywide, and we are looking at reducing the taxes in the city.

And it's really everybody is paying so much in wards.

Please refrain yourselves, folks.

This is please.

Yeah.

Ward one, ward one pays an exorbitant amount of taxes as Ward 6 and Ward 5.

I get that.

But what we're trying to do is minimize these things and trying to get this this city so when so everybody's taxes will come down.

And without these developments going on, it's making it very difficult.

So we are here for your concerns.

Please reach out and call me.

It is going to a second reading, and we will be there to discuss with the developers to make sure that this does not hinder that neighborhood.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Carney.

Chair recognizes Councillor Schocat.

So respectfully I just kind of shocked.

I really thought that with the folks here tonight that many of us would remember that we're supposed to be legislators in a democracy.

The people are here right now.

All we're asking, or all we did ask, because the point is now moot apparently, was to allow this to go back for an additional public hearing so that people could speak.

This is the United States of America.

We pledge allegiance to that flag.

We pay taxes to the Massachusetts flag.

We pay taxes to the Commonwealth flag.

I don't know why you're laughing, Councillor Burgo.

This is this is not a laughing matter.

Mr.

President, tell me to direct your car his comments to you, please.

Counselor Schocat, please redirect all comments to the Chair.

Thank you.

Again, I apologize to the people of Ward 1 and any other ward in here who um have been let down tonight.

Representative government is supposed to allow the people to speak.

There is no wrong time to let folks speak in a public hearing.

Ever.

In a democracy.

Area.

If you represent or you really represent.

It doesn't belong there.

So that's number one.

Number two is these people should be heard.

And I don't give a dime.

That's how I work.

And I'm not grandstanding, because we'll hear that song later.

You'll hear that song.

I grandstand around here.

I grandstand for the people of the city.

And that's what they recognize.

And that's why I feel I figure I'm still here.

You know?

That's why I'm still here.

They don't have to love me.

I don't have to do everything they want, but when they know they got representation, they'll they'll put it back.

That's why I never supported that um the petition that's out there from the mayor's office um for uh term limits and whatever.

They are the term limits.

They'll make the decision.

I know my voice is raised because I'm a little shocked tonight.

I'm a little shocked with this body that you couldn't respond to the people.

Oh, it's a little amount of people.

Who are you talking to, man?

These are people just like the people of the South End, people of the West End, the people of this whole Don City, and they deserve the same respect and the same representation.

And I'm going to give them the representation.

You can pass it to a second reading.

I could do something, but I'm not going to do it.

You'll see if you pass it to the second, because there's already a coup in here tonight taking care of business.

And I'm noticing that in the past couple of nights, maybe the past 24 hours.

So we'll play that game.

It's going to be quite the year.

Thank you, Councillor Gomes.

Anyone else on their first?

On their second, Councillor Schocat?

At this time, I'd like to make a motion to table this, and we will take a roll call vote.

Motion to table has been made.

Is there a second?

Second.

Motion to table.

We're in the middle of the motion.

Thank you.

Motion to table has been made by Councillor Schocat.

Seconded by Councillor Gomes.

I will ask the clerk to call the roll.

Counselor Abroom.

No, Council Baptiste.

Yes.

Council Burgo.

No.

No, Councillor Carney.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Schocket.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Oliver.

No.

No.

Council Pemberton.

No.

No, Council Pereira.

No.

No.

Council Roy.

No.

No.

Feels four to six.

The item fails four to six.

The item before us is to pass the ordinance to a second reading.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Mr.

Chairman.

Yes.

Motion to waive the reading for items eight through eleven A and pass uh take no further action.

Motion has been made to take items eight through 11A, waive the readings, take no further action by Councillor Burgo.

Second.

Seconded by Councillor Oliver.

Any discussion on the item?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item number 12, please.

Mr.

President, item 12 is a written motion from Council President Pereira and Councillor Abrew requesting that the Traffic Commission install no parking from 10 p.m.

to 8 a.m.

signage on Coral Street, spanning the entirety of the street from Brock Avenue to West Rodney French Boulevard Corners, due to the volume of late evening and early morning parking in the neighborhood, which oftentimes disrupts the quality of life of the residents.

Motion to follow the recommendation.

Motion to refer the item to the traffic commission by Councillor Abreu, seconded by Councillor Burgo.

Counselor Abrew on the question.

Thanks a bunch, Mr.

President.

I'll be quick.

I have received the calls the closest city council to that neighborhood.

I live literally, you could flick a pee off my front porch and you would hit Coral Street and the SCYAA field.

And I know you get the calls, and I'm sure others in this room who are at large have gotten the calls as well.

It's a problem in this neighborhood for sure, in particular during the spring, summer, and fall seasons when it whether it's SCYAA baseball, whether it's Whalers Youth Football, and even folks throughout the night, especially uh in the warmer to milder months of the season.

We're talking fireworks, we're talking late-night partying, drinking, um, and just a lot of actions of ill repute.

So um this isn't the panacea to solve all that ails this neighborhood right now, Mr.

President.

I know you and I have talked with others in the neighborhood.

We've spoken with um uh not only neighborhood stakeholders, but folks um who run the South End, uh Youth Athletic Association, folks who run the South End neighborhood meetings, and there's more to come perhaps on this, but uh this is a step in the right direction to at least give some teeth um to in the way of whether it's an ordinance or in this case a traffic commission order uh to erect some signage to try to um enact some type of uh semblance of a quality of life for this neighborhood.

So with that being said, Mr.

President, I'll yield at this time, but the motion pretty much does speak for itself, and uh I'm sure you and I and others in this room will be sure to let the neighborhood know when this goes to the traffic commission for the hearing so that they can come and speak in support of this.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Avery.

Anyone else on the question?

Okay, all those in favor say aye.

Aye, opposed, the ayes have it.

I will ask the clerk to read item 13.

Mr.

President, item 13 is a written motion from Councillors Pemberton and Abrew, requesting that Mr.

Paul Brooks Jr., Director of Real Estate and Development for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River appear before the Committee on City Property to discuss the feasibility of leasing the diocese 25,000 square foot parking lot on the corner of Ashley Boulevard and Earl Street to the City of New Bedford for municipal parking purposes.

Motion to follow the recommendation refer the items to the Committee on City Property, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, the Mitchell administration and the purchasing department made by Councillor Abril.

Second by Councillor Pemberton.

On the question, Chair recognizes Councillor Pemberton.

Thank you, Mr.

President, for allowing me to uh speak at this uh uh motion.

Uh first I would like to uh thank my colleague to the right of me for uh for helping me and support me of this motion, uh learning how to uh write a motion for the first time.

I I appreciate it.

Uh you know, all through my campaign, uh it's one of the things I've heard is about is uh parking in housing.

Uh so I you know I realize it's a problem across the city.

Uh so I'm proposing this motion.

Uh you know, so we can uh eliminate some of the problem this was also uh go hand in h hand in hand on that next motion uh that I have so you know I I just uh make this motion so we can uh see what the diocese uh has plan what they want.

Uh I just want to uh you know see if we can uh take it over.

Uh you know, it's it's just it's been empty for years now.

Uh so you know I just am asking for everybody's support on this.

Um I also realize that we don't have any assigned committees yet, but I'm also but I'm asking whoever the chairman or the chairwoman may be if they can put this on the agenda uh ASAP, please.

And with that, Mr.

President, I yield.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Pemberton.

Thank you, Councillor Pemberton, for your first floor speech.

The Chair will recognize Councillor Gomes.

Oh, thank you, Mr.

President.

Um I stand to um object to this this evening, because maybe my colleagues are not aware of what has transpired here.

As you know, uh some of you that have been here, I'm the one that put the motion forth several years, two years ago to meet with the diocese on the churches across the city on what what we should do with them, many of them being vacant, whether we should turn them into housing, what we do.

We did that.

We did that.

Myself, Council Morrad, um, counselor um Giesta and myself.

The last meeting was actually attended by myself, Councillor Burgo, and um Councilor Giesta, where the proposal was given to us for this.

So I don't mean to throw you know bad apples into the basket here, gentlemen, but you can't do this because there's a proposal that has been made, and I'm surprised some of you don't have it in your hand that counselor um um Giesta originally had it or whatever, but there's a proposal to take down the church, to put housing there.

They're going to use the parking lot across the street.

It's all interconnected.

Um it's it's a fantastic looking project.

I tried to find it before I came here tonight, but I couldn't find it.

I might have put it somewhere else.

But um I I I don't again don't mean to throw bad apples on uh what you're requesting, but um why why would I want this parking lot for uh public parking?

Why would I want this public?

We just finished talking about raising um getting tax money.

We're gonna get taxes from the proposal.

And the proposal is a beautiful proposal from the diocese, and we continue to meet with them.

So we'll meet with um um Mr.

Brooke or whatever from the diocese.

That's fine.

But uh I I didn't mean to throw the apples on you.

You probably would pay attention to what's going on around here because uh I don't know why no one knows about this project, and it's in the forefront.

Thank you, Councillor Gomes.

Chair recognizes Councillor Abru.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'm not sure uh things have changed, but that property has been on the real estate market for over six hundred days, listed at 1.1 million.

There's no movement on there.

In fact, there's a number for a realtor to call.

You can go online right now and check.

It's for sale by the diocese for 1.1 million dollars, including the parking lot and the church.

So if a development is happening, I don't know why it's that's not the case.

And I've had conversations with folks in the diocese, as what I was told from folks within the diocese, as of right now, there is no buyer for that property.

Now, speaking with the ward counselor, my rationale, my thought, and uh won't speak for him, but my understanding is that um uh by creating more municipal parking, this could alleviate the heartburn that could cause over the Phillips Avenue development.

That was the issue with Phillips Avenue a few years ago.

It was parking, it was too dense.

Where were folks gonna park?

Well, it's one block north.

This could alleviate that problem.

That was the rationale behind this.

Again, the property has been on the market for over six hundred days.

The diocese is asking for over a million dollars.

No one's buying it, no one's biting, unless I'm unless we have information otherwise, but it's listed right now online, and I'm told by the diocese that they're still looking for a buyer for that property.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Abru.

Chair recognizes Councillor Burgo on his first.

Thank you.

Uh yeah, uh to echo some of the sentiments from my colleague from Clara Street.

Yeah, that's right, Clara.

Thank you.

Um I think some of the confusion that uh might be here is because of the fact that uh this project is a multi-layered multi-year project.

Um a lot of it hasn't been submitted yet.

Um that's why I think a lot of it hasn't really been out there.

It was a preliminary meeting.

Um I know I was invited at the time because I was council president, uh, Councilor Giessa, because it was her ward, and uh she had extended it to some of the at-large counselors.

Um it's still in a very early phases.

Um, but uh that's also why at this time, as much as I congratulate our new colleague and uh uh in his first floor speech, um I too think it would be somewhat of a waste of a time to send it to city property for um uh a piece of property that we know is under development and based on the plans that we have looked at uh would be much better suited for housing at this time rather than parking.

Um so I just wanted to rise to support my colleague from Clara Street to add some validity to what he was uh speaking to and the meeting that uh myself, uh Councilor Giesta and um our colleague from Clara Street all attended.

Uh and with that I'll just sit.

Thank you, Councillor Burgo.

Anyone else on there first?

Councillor Gomes on his second.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'm gonna tell you how important this meeting was.

We didn't only meet with the diocese.

We went with the financial people, we might with the land people, we met with all kinds of people.

I can't uh there was a whole table down the street here when we met with them.

So I don't know who the good counselor from the South End is talking to, but I know that Mr.

Brooks has been dealing with us since this uh came to fruition and I put this forth.

He has been the contact man.

And um I have not heard anything from him or whatever.

And if this is to t alleviate what's happening at the Phillips Avenue School, why did we ever let what happened at the Phillips Avenue School?

Did we want to recap that?

Did we want to recap the petitions that were passed into the city council that had 75 false names of residents that didn't even live here, and we drove crews right out of here that night when that property could be developed right now.

Phillips Avenue could be developed, and no when since when did we take public parking or did we buy a park a parking lot so that we could put the public in it?

Since when?

They took over the Phillips Avenue School, and that's what happened, and they wanted to keep it.

One guy that lived right across the street with a big apartment complex, the same guy that took me to court, if for some of you that were here, didn't win.

Another one of them times, take him to court.

You didn't win.

Know what we're doing.

I know what I'm doing.

We stopped that project up there.

We stopped the project.

It was for him to use it for parking, for them to use it for pocket.

Look what it looks like.

Look what it looks like.

I'm not here to get in arguments.

I'm here to take care of the people's business.

I'm here to deal with my colleagues when they want to put something forth that is in the best interest of the city.

This is not the in the best interest of the city.

And again, I'm gonna repeat.

I see counselor from the South End sitting here, like he's talking, you know what.

I'm not talking.

We sat there with him.

I just had my colleagues stand up and tell you.

I see his head shake as I tell you about the finance people.

They had everybody there.

They've got a plan.

And I'm gonna get the plan and I'm gonna get it to our clerk's office so that we can get copies to everyone of what was proposed for that area.

And I thank my colleagues for listening to me.

And I didn't think this was the kind of night we're gonna have, but I believe that there's going to be more nights like this.

Because when you don't come here as an individual, you come here as a team.

This is what happens.

And I know about the team because see, I've been here a while.

You see, I've been ambushed here.

And you know I let you guys go.

I let some of you go.

You know, I never said anything to you.

The silence is better than arguing with you.

You think you won?

Right it.

Right it.

Gives me the character of who I'm dealing with on the city council.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Councillor Gomes.

Anyone else on their first or a second?

All right.

On the question uh the item before us is referring to the committee on city property.

All those in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 14.

Mr.

President, item 14 is a written motion from Councillors Pemberton and Oliver, request that the Committee on City Property meet to begin the process of disposition for the Phillips Avenue Elementary School located at 249 Phillips Avenue.

To receive and place on file refer to the Committee on City Property and the Mitchell administration motion to refer to the items to the Committee on City Property and the Mitchell administration made by Councillor Oliver.

Is there a second?

Seconded by Councillor Pemberton.

Anyone on the question?

Chair recognizes Councillor Pemberton.

Again, I want to thank you, Mr.

President, for allowing me this time.

Uh and I also want to thank my uh colleague in front of me to the left here uh we support uh and write this motion up.

Um this kind of uh the the first motion, the reason why I made that first motion is because with this motion here, I noticed that everybody you know was parking in that Phillips Avenue School.

Uh you know, I like to put it back up for RFP.

Um the idea behind the uh St.

Killing's parking lot was just a shift.

It was just a shift.

I figured if the cars were parking at Phillips Avenue and they also needed another uh place to park, then the St.

Killian's parking lot would have been uh uh uh just the answer because it's only two blocks away from the Phillips school.

Uh so that's the only reason why I was suggesting uh that parking lot as well.

But going back to uh to the motion on 14 is uh I just would hope uh that uh my colleagues here uh would go ahead and put this on the uh agenda on the city property.

And again, I know we don't have that committee yet, but whoever the chairman or the chairwoman may be if they could put this on the agenda uh ASAP.

And uh, you know, this should have been built a long time ago.

Uh we shouldn't be able to discover nation but the Phillips Avenue School now.

Uh like I said, it's it it's a shame that it didn't get developed like it should have.

Uh I wish it had.

Uh but here we have another opportunity.

Uh so with that again, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

I yield.

Thank you, Councillor Pemberton.

Chair recognizes Councillor Oliver.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um although this is a pretty straightforward motion, um, it is something that we need to address.

Uh I think today there's been a lot of talk about housing and parking, um, and this is uh another one of those uh motions.

Uh yeah, there was some action that was taken by this body um a while back where it's uh kind of um extinguished uh the the development of this property and we talk about putting tax uh things back on the tax rolls and and uh getting housing.

Uh we don't know what this uh what what is in store for this property, but we do know that we need to relinquish it or we're gonna be stuck with either demolishing it, taking care of it, or or or or whatnot.

So let's not hinder any building or any development of this uh anymore.

Let's not drive any other developers out of here and address the concerns of uh the neighborhood as they arise, as we typically do.

Um my colleague from the far south end um spoke uh about the uh a gentleman that was um uh a big um proponent of um preserving the use of that parking lot for the local neighborhood.

Um and uh if you drive by that neighborhood, all you see is uh the same cars in the same spot, and uh it's almost more of a storage lot than it is a parking lot.

Um so it's time that this body take action, and I hope that this is gonna be the beginning of putting that back on the tax roll and having a nice building to look at in that stretch of uh the boulevard.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Oliver.

Anyone else on the question?

Chair recognizes Councillor Gomes.

Thank you, Mr.

Breck.

Mr.

President, I'll support the motion.

Anything that gets a property such as that, but as I'm going to read uh mine everyone again, that property is like it is because this council drove the developer out of there for the simple factor of holding the property for what it looks like today.

And in the interim, it has decayed.

As you know, we have put blocks in there because on one side you can't go because the building is i i is crumbling or whatever.

I don't know if we'll get the same reaction on sending this out in our RFP to have it developed as before.

But um it it there's always a good chance of that happening.

And and uh I'll support that.

But uh I wish that's uh some of the same people supported the project when it was before us before instead of killing it because of who knows.

Who knows?

I'm still mind-boggled about that that night.

After showing you proof, showing you the proof that the petitions that were before us were rotten, no good.

They didn't belong here.

It was just a big fossil that's all it was to try to keep that property and see what it looks like today.

And again, we are not in the business of shifting parking spaces.

You should have never been parked in there anyway.

It was a school, and that's what happens around this city.

They just some people just take advantage of things and start.

Next thing you know, we've got 24 or 30 cars in there, and now they own it.

No, they don't.

No, they don't.

Them cars did not belong there.

I'm not shifting any cars to any parking lot.

I'm not buying a parking lot to shift any cars.

You live in a neighborhood, you you've got to adjust yourself.

And we know what the parking situation is.

We know how hard the parking situation is.

But I'm not about to start spending the taxpayers' money so that I've shifted some parking that shouldn't have been there in the first place if we had developed the project.

And again, some people that voted against that project as the ambush went on.

I know.

Roll your eyes, Mr.

President.

I'm sorry to have to do it, but I'm not letting anybody get away with anything here.

No more.

No more.

And especially when it has to do.

Thank you, Councillor Combs.

Anyone else?

Seeing none, all those in favor say of referral to committee, say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Item 15 is before us.

Mr.

President, item 15 is a petition sponsored by Council Oliver for an indemnity agreement with LM MLM Realty Trust Partners at 297 Ashley Boulevard in New Bedford for the permission to encroach on a city property with an 80-foot by three-foot awning.

Uh motion received and place on file to communication.

And uh do we have the send this property?

No.

Just receive and place on file.

Adopt the order.

Yeah, adopt the order.

Okay.

Motion to adopt the order made by Councillor Oliver, seconded by Councillor Abreu.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 16.

Mr.

President.

Mr.

President, item 16 is a communication from the City Clerk to the Council submitting an application for a new private liberty license on behalf of Celestine Wilkend of one Warwick Street in New Bedford.

Doing business as Chris Transportation at one Warwick Street in New Bedford.

This license will it will run from now till June 30th of 2026.

Motion received place on file referred to the point.

Motion to refer the item to the committee on appointments and briefings made by Councillor Burgo, seconded by was that by Councillor Baptiste?

Seconded by Councillor Baptiste.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

I'll ask the clerk to read item 17.

Mr.

President Item 17 is a communication from Council President Pereira.

Submitting a copy of a letter sent to Sean Seed of City Engineer regarding his inability to attend the meeting at the sewage treatment plant regarding the CSO capital improvement plan on Tuesday, December 9th of 2025.

Motion receive and place on file.

Motion to receive and place on file the communication by Councillor Burgo.

Is there a second?

Seconded by Councillor Oliver.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

Motion to take up and adopt the motion to take up and adopt consent made by Councillor Baptiste.

Second.

Seconded by Councillor Burgo.

Anyone on the question?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Seeing no further business before us, the chair receives a motion to adjourn from Councillor Burgo.

Seconded by Councillor Baptiste.

Any discussion on adjournment?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

And we are adjourned to 802.

Thank you.

Council Choquette, can I speak to you for a second, please?