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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

New Bedford City Council Special Meeting – March 5, 2026

Default View — Thursday, March 5, 2026

BodyNew Bedford, Massachusetts

SessionDefault View

DateThursday, March 5, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 14:22

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

0:48

Hey Pemberton, can anyone of your colleagues?

0:51

I showed you call.

0:52

I don't have your phone number.

0:53

You have to give it to me.

0:54

You have to send it to me.

0:55

Check.

0:55

Check.

0:58

How's that?

1:01

The friendly science event.

1:03

Saturday.

1:08

So obviously you didn't, since you look at all my calls.

1:11

Every time I sent up the thing, I said somebody get in touch with you because I don't have your number.

1:15

Good.

1:16

I think I can work.

1:18

It's on Saturday night.

1:22

This Saturday night.

1:29

Oh, cool.

1:31

Oh, nice.

1:38

Get a letter.

1:41

You're on.

1:46

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

1:47

It is Thursday, March 5th, 2026 at 7 p.m.

1:51

And special city council meeting of the New Bedford City Council.

1:55

Opening of the session is by myself, City Council President Ryan Pereira.

1:59

This time we don't have a member of the clergy, but I would like to offer up a moment of silence and uh special recognition too for those service members who have fallen overseas.

2:09

Uh but if we can have a moment of silence, please.

2:19

Thank you.

2:20

Tonight we'll be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Ward 1 City Councilor Leo Chocette.

2:26

Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

2:33

One nation under God invisible liberty and justice for all.

3:52

A motion to receive in place on file.

3:54

The communication was made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Roy.

3:57

Any discussions on receiving and placing on file?

4:00

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

4:02

Aye.

4:02

Opposed the eyes have it.

4:04

I would just uh also before I ask the clerk to read the rest of this.

4:08

I would just like to thank my colleagues and the public for bearing with us uh with that monstrous snowstorm we had last week and uh calling the special city council meeting to get through the business that we had, and uh I'd also would think on behalf of all of my colleagues, I say thank you to the members of DPI, DFFM, and the city staff who worked diligently to clear the city streets and worked uh multiple multiple days uh without sleep and seeing their families to get our streets open.

4:35

So thank you.

4:36

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

4:39

Mr.

4:39

President Item one is a communication from the council president to Dennis Farris, the city clerk calling a special city council meeting for Thursday, March 5th, 2026 at 7 p.m.

4:48

for the purpose of hearing the items on the city council agenda meeting agenda, meeting agenda previously scheduled for Thursday, February 26th, said meeting was cancelled due to severe weather conditions.

5:02

A motion to receive and place on file was made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Carney.

5:07

Any questions?

5:08

All those in favor say aye.

5:09

Aye oppose the I Sabit.

5:11

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

5:13

Mr.

5:14

President, M1 is a communication from the mayor to the council.

5:16

Submitting an ordinance submitting Chapter 10 by inserting a new section 10-86.1 voluntary electronic email delivery of real estate and personal property tax bills after section 10-86.

5:29

M1A is the ordinance.

5:32

Second.

5:32

A motion was made to refer to the committee on ordinance by counselor lopes, seconded by counselor Carney.

5:37

Any discussion on referral?

5:38

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

5:40

Aye.

5:41

Opposed, the ayes have it.

5:42

I'll ask the clerk to read item M2.

5:44

Mr.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████50%

Zoning And Land Use███████████████████21%

Personnel Matters█████████████14%

Historic Preservation███████8%

Snow Removal██████7%

Summary of Proceedings

New Bedford City Council Special Meeting – March 5, 2026

The New Bedford City Council held a special meeting on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM, rescheduled from February 26 due to a severe snowstorm. The meeting included several routine approvals, a new ordinance on electronic tax billing, budget transfers for school funding and snow removal, appointment confirmations, and licensing decisions.

Consent Calendar

Approved unanimously (9-0) the transfer of $1,070,555 from state aid and $314,530 from State Aid 950 to the School Department General Expense.
Approved unanimously (9-0) the reappointment of Mark O'Neill St. Rose as a constable.
Approved unanimously (9-0) the livery license for Suzette Rose (TSU Zet Transportation) at 38 Trinity Street, expiring June 30, 2026.
Approved unanimously (9-0) the appointments of Jeffrey David Foise and Daniel Lewis Reyes Ortiz as constables.
Approved the demolition of the former Eversource Office Building at Southwater Street (Map 47, Lot 199), a circa 1911 brick masonry and aluminum clad vacant building, deemed not historically significant.
Items 7 through 11A were waived without further action.

Discussion Items

Ordinance on Voluntary Electronic Tax Bills: A communication from the mayor introduced an ordinance (Chapter 10, new section 10-86.1) allowing voluntary electronic email delivery of real estate and personal property tax bills. Referred to the Committee on Ordinances.
School Department Budget Transfers: Two orders transferring a total of $1,385,085 from state aid to the School Department General Expense were referred to the Committee on Finance.
Snow Removal Funding: An order transferring $368,000 from the general fund stabilization to snow removal services was adopted unanimously (9-0).
Zoning Amendment for Solar Energy Systems: Ordinance amending Chapter 9, Section 4200 D (Solar Energy Systems) was passed to ordain unanimously (9-0), having been passed to a second reading on January 8, 2026.
Special Permit for Motor Vehicle Sales/Repair: The committee on appointments recommended approval of a special permit for Laguerre Pierre Mark (LNS Transport Inc.) at 725 Ashley Boulevard. After receiving a communication from Commissioner Romanowitz confirming the applicant has the proper MDC trap, the council approved the permit. Councilor Burgo noted that the approval would then move to the licensing board, which he characterized as redundant and requiring additional fees.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments or testimony were recorded.

Key Outcomes

All votes were unanimous (9-0) on every item brought to a roll call or voice vote.
The special permit for LNS Transport Inc. was approved and will proceed to the licensing board.
The meeting adjourned at 7:14 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Hey Pemberton, can anyone of your colleagues? I showed you call. I don't have your phone number. You have to give it to me. You have to send it to me. Check. Check. How's that? The friendly science event. Saturday. So obviously you didn't, since you look at all my calls. Every time I sent up the thing, I said somebody get in touch with you because I don't have your number. Good. I think I can work. It's on Saturday night. This Saturday night. Oh, cool. Oh, nice. Get a letter. You're on. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is Thursday, March 5th, 2026 at 7 p.m. And special city council meeting of the New Bedford City Council. Opening of the session is by myself, City Council President Ryan Pereira. This time we don't have a member of the clergy, but I would like to offer up a moment of silence and uh special recognition too for those service members who have fallen overseas. Uh but if we can have a moment of silence, please. Thank you. Tonight we'll be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Ward 1 City Councilor Leo Chocette. Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God invisible liberty and justice for all. A motion to receive in place on file. The communication was made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Roy. Any discussions on receiving and placing on file? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed the eyes have it. I would just uh also before I ask the clerk to read the rest of this. I would just like to thank my colleagues and the public for bearing with us uh with that monstrous snowstorm we had last week and uh calling the special city council meeting to get through the business that we had, and uh I'd also would think on behalf of all of my colleagues, I say thank you to the members of DPI, DFFM, and the city staff who worked diligently to clear the city streets and worked uh multiple multiple days uh without sleep and seeing their families to get our streets open. So thank you. I'll ask the clerk to read item number one. Mr. President Item one is a communication from the council president to Dennis Farris, the city clerk calling a special city council meeting for Thursday, March 5th, 2026 at 7 p.m. for the purpose of hearing the items on the city council agenda meeting agenda, meeting agenda previously scheduled for Thursday, February 26th, said meeting was cancelled due to severe weather conditions. A motion to receive and place on file was made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councillor Carney. Any questions? All those in favor say aye. Aye oppose the I Sabit. I will ask the clerk to read item number one, please. Mr. President, M1 is a communication from the mayor to the council.

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