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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

New Bedford City Council Committee on Ordinances Meeting - March 10, 2026

Default View — Tuesday, March 10, 2026

BodyNew Bedford, Massachusetts

SessionDefault View

DateTuesday, March 10, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 57:53

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

1:01

Dana all the way here.

1:06

Are we looking almost?

1:07

Okay.

1:10

We're live.

1:15

It is 7.01 PM on March 10th in the year of 2026.

1:23

Note this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.

1:26

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

1:33

I am joined in the chamber tonight by my colleagues in government, Ward 2, Councillor Scott Pepperton, Ward 1, Councillor Leo Choquett, Ward 5, Councillor Joseph Lopes, Councillor at Large, James Roy, Councillor at Large and Second Vice President Naomi Carney, and I am your chairman, Shane A.

1:50

Burgo.

1:51

I'll ask the clerk if there's anything to be read into the record.

1:55

Mr.

1:55

Chair, we do have one communication from Councillor Abreu writing to inform you that he is unable to attend tonight's committee meeting due to a prior commitment.

2:09

Motion received and place unfile made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Pemberton.

2:14

Anyone on the question?

2:16

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

2:18

Aye.

2:19

Any opposed?

2:20

The ayes have it.

2:21

All right.

2:22

Uh item I'll ask the clerk to read item one, one A and one B.

2:28

Into the record.

2:31

Oh, actually, that is a lie.

2:34

I'm going to ask.

2:35

Sorry.

2:36

Um due to the length of these presentations for items one and two, without objection, I would ask to take item three out of order.

2:45

Seeing no objections, I'll ask the clerk to read item three.

2:48

Thank you for that.

2:49

Sorry.

2:50

Mr.

2:51

Chair, item three is a communication.

2:52

Mayor Mitchell to City Council submitting an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article Six, Section 2-105 of the City of New Beford's Code of Ordinances to conform with Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024, signed into law by Governor Healy regarding payment agreements for delinquent taxes referred to committee on June twelfth of twenty twenty-five.

3:20

Anyone on the question?

3:23

Any opposed the ayes have it.

3:24

Treasurer Taxiarcos.

3:30

Thank you, Chairman Burgo and uh honorable counselors.

3:34

I am submitting for your approval an amendment to the ordinance chapter two, Article Six, Section 2-105 of the City and Bedford Code of Ordinances.

3:44

And essentially what this is is when someone goes into tax title uh and they're delinquent on their taxes, this gives them the ability to enter into a payment agreement to pay those delinquent taxes.

3:57

Um before or the current ordinance requires them to put twenty-five percent down as a as a down payment towards that payment agreement, and the maximum term is only five years with the new law that was passed and the amendment of this ordinance it would allow us to take ten percent down and the uh extend the term to ten years.

4:20

So that's what this is for.

4:23

Any questions from the body?

4:33

Will there be any interest on that account?

4:36

Um there is extended out ten years.

4:40

We can there is interest, but we can waive that interest um up to uh the fifty percent that we have now uh in order to if what if they pay on the agreement um according to the schedule uh with no other default then then we can waive that interest at the end.

4:58

Okay, thank you.

5:00

Thank you, Mr.

5:01

Chair.

5:01

Chair recognizes Councillor Lopes on his first.

5:04

Thank you, Mr.

5:04

Chairman.

5:05

So John, I am looking for more how many people right now would this benefit?

5:10

Do you have that number in your like in your office?

5:12

How many people are currently I believe we have uh possibly sixty or so that are on a on a payment agreement?

5:21

I really think we would have more but because of the constraint of the 25 percent down, it's it's blocking or preventing them from doing it.

5:30

Now, does this have to be owner occupied or can it be an investment property as well?

5:34

Uh it it does apply to commercial as well, I believe.

5:38

Okay.

5:38

Thank you for the additional information, John.

5:41

Thank you, Mr.

5:42

Chair.

5:42

Chair recognizes Councillor Carney on her first.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████54%

Procedural███████████████████23%

Fiscal Sustainability███████████13%

Government Operations████5%

Housing██2%

Economic Development██2%

Affordable Housing█1%

Summary of Proceedings

New Bedford City Council Committee on Ordinances Meeting - March 10, 2026

The New Bedford City Council Committee on Ordinances met on March 10, 2026, at 7:01 PM in the City Council chamber. The meeting was live-streamed and recorded. Chairman Shane A. Burgo presided, joined by Councillors Scott Pepperton (Ward 2), Leo Choquett (Ward 1), Joseph Lopes (Ward 5), James Roy (At-Large), Naomi Carney (At-Large and Second Vice President), and later Brian Gomes (At-Large) and Sean Oliver (Ward 3). Councillor Abreu was absent due to a prior commitment. The committee considered three agenda items: an ordinance amending payment agreements for delinquent taxes, a comprehensive zoning ordinance amendment regarding dimensional requirements and residential infill development, and an amendment to the Table of Principal Use Regulations regarding special permit granting authorities. All items were advanced to the full City Council with favorable recommendations.

Public Comments & Testimony

During the public hearing on the zoning dimensional changes (Items 1, 1A, 1B), local resident and architect Michael Perra spoke in favor of the proposed changes. He urged the committee to define "story" as "habitable story" in the building code to simplify permitting and avoid requiring elevators for mezzanine parking levels. He also recommended reducing rear yard requirements by 50% for mixed-use buildings with underground parking to facilitate development. No other public testimony was offered for or against the items.

Discussion Items

Item 3: Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, Article Six, Section 2-105 – Delinquent Tax Payment Agreements

Treasurer John Taxiarcos presented the amendment to conform with state law Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024. The current ordinance requires a 25% down payment and a maximum 5-year term for payment agreements on delinquent taxes. The amendment would reduce the down payment to 10% and extend the term to 10 years. Interest can be waived if the taxpayer pays on time and stays current on taxes. Councillors inquired about the number of affected properties (approximately 60 currently on payment agreements, but more could benefit), applicability to commercial properties, and the mechanics of interest waivers. The committee voted unanimously to refer the ordinance to the full City Council.

Items 1, 1A, 1B: Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Dimensional Requirements, Residential Infill, Multiple Buildings per Lot

Assistant Director Michael McCarthy and Acting Planning Director Anne Lauro presented the proposed changes. The amendment aims to reduce minimum lot sizes in multifamily districts (RB, RC, MUB) to match existing built patterns, reset front setbacks in mixed-use business districts to zero feet (with a maximum of 20 feet), clarify residential density, allow for residential infill development on small lots via special permit from the Planning Board, and eliminate the prohibition on multiple buildings per lot. Data showed that 87-94% of multifamily lots are below current minimums. The amendment would reduce the need for variances. The public hearing was closed after Mr. Perra's comments. The committee voted 8-0 to refer the ordinance to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.

Items 2, 2A: Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Table of Principal Use Regulations (Special Permit Authority)

Mr. McCarthy summarized the Planning Board's recommendation. The board supported most proposed changes to shift special permit authority from the Zoning Board of Appeals to the Planning Board, but raised concerns about outright prohibition of contractor yards and batch asphalt/concrete plants. The committee did not reopen the public hearing for this item. After brief discussion, the committee voted 8-0 to refer the ordinance to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation.

Key Outcomes

Item 3: Approved referral to full City Council (8-0).
Items 1, 1A, 1B: Approved referral to full City Council with positive recommendation (8-0).
Items 2, 2A: Approved referral to full City Council with favorable recommendation (8-0).
The meeting adjourned at 7:57 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Dana all the way here. Are we looking almost? Okay. We're live. It is 7.01 PM on March 10th in the year of 2026. Note 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 am joined in the chamber tonight by my colleagues in government, Ward 2, Councillor Scott Pepperton, Ward 1, Councillor Leo Choquett, Ward 5, Councillor Joseph Lopes, Councillor at Large, James Roy, Councillor at Large and Second Vice President Naomi Carney, and I am your chairman, Shane A. Burgo. I'll ask the clerk if there's anything to be read into the record. Mr. Chair, we do have one communication from Councillor Abreu writing to inform you that he is unable to attend tonight's committee meeting due to a prior commitment. Motion received and place unfile made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Pemberton. Anyone on the question? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. All right. Uh item I'll ask the clerk to read item one, one A and one B. Into the record. Oh, actually, that is a lie. I'm going to ask. Sorry. Um due to the length of these presentations for items one and two, without objection, I would ask to take item three out of order. Seeing no objections, I'll ask the clerk to read item three. Thank you for that. Sorry. Mr. Chair, item three is a communication. Mayor Mitchell to City Council submitting an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article Six, Section 2-105 of the City of New Beford's Code of Ordinances to conform with Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024, signed into law by Governor Healy regarding payment agreements for delinquent taxes referred to committee on June twelfth of twenty twenty-five. Anyone on the question? Any opposed the ayes have it. Treasurer Taxiarcos. Thank you, Chairman Burgo and uh honorable counselors. I am submitting for your approval an amendment to the ordinance chapter two, Article Six, Section 2-105 of the City and Bedford Code of Ordinances. And essentially what this is is when someone goes into tax title uh and they're delinquent on their taxes, this gives them the ability to enter into a payment agreement to pay those delinquent taxes. Um before or the current ordinance requires them to put twenty-five percent down as a as a down payment towards that payment agreement, and the maximum term is only five years with the new law that was passed and the amendment of this ordinance it would allow us to take ten percent down and the uh extend the term to ten years. So that's what this is for. Any questions from the body? Will there be any interest on that account? Um there is extended out ten years. We can there is interest, but we can waive that interest um up to uh the fifty percent that we have now uh in order to if what if they pay on the agreement um according to the schedule uh with no other default then then we can waive that interest at the end. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Chair recognizes Councillor Lopes on his first. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So John, I am looking for more how many people right now would this benefit?

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