New Bedford City Council Meeting: March 12, 2026

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the New Bedford City Council convened in the City Council Chamber at 7:02 P.M. The meeting was called to order by City Council President Ryan Pereira. The council addressed several items including utility hearings, mayoral communications, and new business motions. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 P.M.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1 & 2 (Hearings – Eversource Energy): The council held public hearings for NSTAR Electric Company (doing business as Eversource Energy) to install underground conduit: 158 feet of duct in concrete on Coffin Avenue (part of a 215-foot total project) and 58 feet on Acushnet Avenue, both to provide upgraded service to 2299 Coffin Avenue. A representative stated construction would take one to two days with a detail requested for safety. The hearings were closed and the orders adopted unanimously.
• Item 3 (Hearing – Eversource Energy): A hearing was held for installation of 118 feet of conduit on Foley Drive (lot 132, number 32 Foley Drive) to provide service to that lot. The representative noted work would take about a day, weather permitting, and no service interruption was expected. The hearing was closed and the order adopted unanimously.
• Items M1 & M2 (Appointment – Kendra Parker): A communication from the mayor submitting the appointment of Kendra Parker as acting administrative assistant to the Board of Assessors and a request for a waiver of education and experience requirements. The items were tabled after a motion by Councillor Burgo.
• Item M3 (Loan Order – Gomes Elementary School): A communication from the mayor submitting a loan order appropriating $13,787,624 for replacing the roof and accessibility upgrades at Alfred J. Gomes Elementary School (286 South 2nd Street). The council passed the item to a second reading.
• Item M4 (Stormwater Management Ordinance): A communication from the mayor submitting an ordinance amendment in Chapter 16, Article 8 for Stormwater Management. Referred to the Committee on Ordinance.
• Item M5 (Municipal Facility Conversion Ordinance): A communication from the mayor submitting an ordinance amending Chapter 9, Section 4100A relative to municipal facility conversion. Referred to the Committee on Ordinance and the Planning Board.
• Item M6 (Appointment – Expiring Term): A communication from the mayor – term expires April 2027. Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.
• Item M7 (Veterans Advisory Board Appointment): The mayor submitted the appointment of Virginia J. Senna Davis to the Veterans Advisory Board, replacing William Andrews. The council waived rules 38 and 40 and approved the appointment (10–0 vote).
• Items 7 & 9 (Private Livery License Renewals): Renewals granted for Franklin Lobo (Frank's Transport Service) and Isabel Gomez Hernandez (Jessica Correa's Transportation).
• Item 10 (Community Preservation Committee FY26 Recommendations): Referred to the Committee on Finance.
• Item 11 (Ordinance Notification Letter): Received and placed on file.
• Items 4, 5, 6, 8: Processed as separate new business motions.

Discussion Items

• Item 4 (Cable Channel Change): Councillor Gomes introduced a motion requesting the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Cable Access Director James Marshall to discuss why the educational channel was changed from 9 to 96 and the government access channel from 18 to 97, and to request return of the channels to their original listings. Councillor Gomes expressed suspicion about the move and stated the public was not adequately notified. Councillor Burgo noted that federal regulations may dictate channel assignments but agreed that better public notification was needed. The motion was referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.
• Item 5 (Blizzard of 2026 Review): Councillor Gomes introduced a motion for the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to meet with DPI Commissioner Jamie Pont, Police Chief Jason Thody, Fire Chief Brian Medeiros, Emergency Management Director Brian Nabriga, Cable Access Director James Marshall, and a mayoral representative to recap the blizzard of 2026 and create a storm playbook. Councillor Gomes praised first responders and city workers but noted a lack of equipment (e.g., Hummers, Jeeps, snowmobiles) and suggested placing backhoes at fire stations for future storms. The motion was referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.
• Item 6 (Street Renaming – Charles Manuel Bishop Daddy Grace Way): Councillor Gomes requested, on behalf of Pastor Harold Taylor of the United House of Prayer for All People, that Emerson Street between Mill Street and Kempton Street be renamed Charles Manuel Bishop Daddy Grace Way. The motion noted no addresses would be affected. The entire council co-sponsored the motion, and it was referred to the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications.
• Item 8 (Private Livery License – Camille Taylor): Application for renewal of a private livery license for CT Live Your Best Life Transportation Inc. was referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.

Key Outcomes

• Orders Adopted Unanimously: Items 1, 2, and 3 (Eversource Energy conduit installations).
• Loan Order Advanced: $13,787,624 loan order for Gomes Elementary School passed to second reading.
• Appointment Approved: Virginia J. Senna Davis to Veterans Advisory Board (10–0).
• Motions Referred:
  • Cable channel change (Item 4) to Appointments and Briefings.
  • Blizzard 2026 review (Item 5) to Public Safety and Neighborhoods.
  • Street renaming (Item 6) to Memorials and Dedications.
  • License renewal for Camille Taylor (Item 8) to Appointments and Briefings.
• Items Tabled: M1 and M2 (Kendra Parker appointment and waiver).