Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the committee on appointments and briefings.

It is April 21st, 2026.

My name is Naomi Carney, a council at Lodge and the chair of the committee.

In the my colleagues in government, we have Councillor Ian Abram, Council at Lodge, Ward 2, Scott Pemberton, Ward 1, Leo Choquette, Ward 5, Joseph Lopes, Councillor At Lodge, Brian Gomes, Council Lodge, James Roy, and Counselor from Ward 3, Sean Oliver.

Thank you all for coming.

Note this meeting is being live streamed and recorded recorded.

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

Do we have anything to read into the record?

I have three letters to read into the record.

This one is from Council Baptiste.

I am writing this letter to inform you that I'll be unable to attend the committee on a pre on appointments and briefings meeting on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 7 30 p.m.

due to a prior commitment.

I ask that you read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and those in attendance in the public aware of the reason for my absence.

This one's from Councillor Burgle.

I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend tonight's committee meeting due to a prior personal commitment.

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

I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend tonight's committee meeting 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.

Second by council loops.

All in favor say aye.

Okay, now I'm sorry.

Okay.

Item number one is citizens input time, not to exceed the first thirty minutes of each meeting.

Each recognized individual has the ability to speak for a total of three minutes.

One A is Mr.

Lamingtane, Chris Lamontang.

Okay, you have three minutes.

So I had uh had a speech.

Some of you some of you may recognize me.

A lot of you might know me or remember me as the uh the angry rat guy, right?

Um but I'm here tonight.

I came here to speak about some crisis that have occurred throughout the city um over a period of time.

Um, one of them being the opioid crisis.

I'm sure everybody has probably known somebody who suffered through that.

We have a housing crisis, we have a migrant crisis, and that gets me to where I've observed I feel we are today.

Which I like to call the class cleanse.

And it looks like the removal of the working class individual.

Um I mean, go on Zillow.

Uh good luck finding a place that's affordable.

It is what it is.

Um it doesn't look good.

And I come here because honestly, I look for leadership.

And I haven't really found it.

I haven't seen it.

I called some of you out last time I was here.

What happened?

Nobody's ever reached out to me.

You know what?

One of the greatest things that's happened.

I want to thank you, Miss Carney, for the times that you called me.

She called me about the rat infestation.

She called me today, actually, to tell me about the time that was very considerate, and I really appreciate it.

It means a lot.

And Mr.

Gombs, I'd like to thank you for the time that you did call me as well.

But I think there's still business that has to be handled, and I do not like the way I was spoken to tonight.

All right.

We can discuss that on at another time.

Um I I do want us to have a meeting.

There's somebody else in the crowd that I like to meet with as well.

And uh I'm gonna give him the opportunity.

I hope that he'll do that, because what I've experienced in the city over, I don't know, say six months has been a pattern of oppressive ways, and uh I've combated some some semi-serious situations, and uh I think they should be noted, they should be recognized.

So if um if leadership could take the time to reach out at some point, I would appreciate it.

All right, nobody likes having their rights violated.

And um I don't think there's anything special about me, really and truly.

I'm just a regular guy.

So if it's happened to me, it's happened to others, and it's unacceptable.

All right.

So I hope that uh you you will take this into consideration.

This is my third time here, and uh maybe we can get something done.

All right?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item number two is a communication city clerk, uh clerk of the city council submitting an application for the renewal of a private livery license on behalf of Camille Taylor, doing business as CT Live, your best life transportation, fourteen Beatle Street Apartment one, New Bedford Mass.

Term of license July one, twenty twenty-six through June thirtieth, twenty twenty-seven.

It was referred here on March twelfth, twenty twenty-six.

Number two is before you.

Motion received a place on file.

Motion made by Council Oliver to receive and place on file, second by Council Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Is Miss Taylor here?

Good evening, Miss Taylor.

Can we have your name in there just for the record?

My name is Camille Taylor and I live at 14 Beatles Street.

Okay.

You could need to talk to the mic a little bit.

Your voice is so soft.

My name is Camille Taylor and I live at 14 Beatles Street.

Thank you.

Um do we have questions for Ms.

Taylor?

Okay.

Council Oliver.

Thank thank you, Madam Chair.

Um Ms.

Taylor, um, you have this is a renewal, but how many vehicles do you have right now?

Um I would say six.

Six.

And they're all operating out of this address.

Yes.

Okay.

And the six that you have, where where are those being stored when they're not being operated?

Are they some of them on the street?

So on the on in front of the in on just on the public way?

Yeah, Beatles Street.

Okay.

Um the r the reason why is there's been quite some concern, I guess, of the neighborhood with the amount of cars that are out there, because uh essentially you're running a business out of there with six cars.

It's it's quite a bit of cars, is it is it not?

Yes, but I don't have six cars parking on the street.

How many would you have on the street?

So I would say three or four.

So let's say four.

And so three or four.

If we're saying three or four, there's normally four.

Um the the parking in that what's the parking situation like on Beatle Street?

To be honest, um I have a yard that can fit all my cars.

Yeah.

Which when I start, that's what I used to do.

I park it in the back because I do have place.

But what happened is sometime when my tenants get home, because I have a poor unit, um, I have uh law student from Argon, and my tenants, they can't find parking, and most of the people that park in the street don't live on Beatle Street.

So what I'll do is I'll take my some of my cars from all the yards so my tenants could park when they get home.

But I think it's an easy fix because like I said, I can just remove my cars if it's a problem.

Plus, I do reach out to the neighbors and I neighbors across from me and neighbors down the street.

I said to them, if you get on the street and you can't find a parking, just reach out to me and I'll move one of my cars or two of my cars.

Yeah.

So I did speak to the neighbors as well about that.

Okay.

Um I don't have to park in the street.

I so six cars is a is uh plus your tenants having cars, so you had four units, right?

You said yes.

They're parking my yard.

But all those all those livery vehicles that you have can fit on your property.

They all can fit in the on the property, yes.

Okay.

I um because there is some concern in the neighborhood.

Uh just just so you you're aware.

Okay, no problem.

Um and that was that was kind of the reason for uh bringing you in to see what was going on.

And um I think six cars is uh is a little excessive.

Um but if they all fit in your property, so long as you're willing to keep them on your property when they're not being used.

I have no problem.

Sure, no problems.

Two of them never park in the street.

You will never see six cars on the street.

Um because the you were saying you know the reason for the parking, uh other cars from other neighborhoods are parking on the street because they're facing the same parking problems too.

There's no way to probably park on their street, because I I but uh the the extra cars on the street are um are only a uh uh additional burden.

So if you have the ability to keep them off the street, um I I I ask you to do so so that way your your license we can I can approve your license.

Sure, no problem.

Thank you.

That's all I have, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Council Oliver.

Councillor Abro.

I'm good, madam chair.

Those are my questions, actually.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Motion referred to the full city council for approval.

Most motion made by Council Oliver, second by Council Abrew.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

So this will be reported out to the full city council on May 12th.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

All right, thank you.

Item number three is to remain on the table, madam uh chairperson.

Mr.

Escobar is not able to attend tonight.

He's in Boston.

Right.

Item number four is communication mayor Mitchell to the City Council submitting the appointment of Renee Ledbetter, New Bedford to the election commission replacing Donald Gardat Jr., who has resigned.

This term will expire April 2027.

It was referred here on March 12th, 2026.

Item number four is before you.

Made by Councillor Abreu, second by Councillor Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Renee, would you like to approach the podium?

We have your address on file.

Just say your name for the for the record.

Renee Ledbetter.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Do you want to say a couple of words before I entertain um the c my colleagues for questions?

Um I I'm just like real excited about doing this because I'm hoping to collaborate with the other people on the election committee in order to increase the voter engagement in our city because it's very low.

And I think it's important to have their um democracy and in the election proceedings, and I'm just excited about it.

That's about it.

Awesome.

Council Abrew.

Thank you very much.

Madam Chair, good evening.

Good to see you.

Um I I think you know you're you're uniquely positioned to do good things with this committee and this commission based on the work you do in the community.

I was just wondering, um, through all your community work being out there in the neighborhoods and everything that you do.

Have you heard from folks that maybe feel disenfranchised or maybe of whom that, well, my vote doesn't matter.

I don't want to register to vote, or why should I even bother voting?

And I was wondering if you could speak to that and how you plan to engage them to show them that and explain to them that their voice does matter.

Um so yes, I've heard a lot of that, and I'm hoping to engage them by giving them facts.

Like at the end of the day, there's a lot of questions on the ballots too, and how local elections are just as important as national elections.

I think a lot of it is just education and not really understanding what happens in the you know when when they do vote, I think they think that their vote doesn't matter.

But even and like I tell people, when you don't vote, you already vote you voted.

You might as well say you voted when you don't vote.

Um I'm hoping that I can be a good influence on some of the black and brown people in our community as well as others uh in the low economic standing, because it's not just the black and brown that don't vote, it's a lot of people.

Even executives.

You you know, you look at a list and it I'm sure you'll see executive names on that list because they don't vote either.

Um I think our city has forgotten that voting is essential in order for us to make positive changes.

No, I think your answer is well placed.

I think too, there's something to be said about those uh college freshmen or those high school seniors that are just turning 18 or about to about really getting them excited, right?

About when you turn 18, make sure you go do this.

I think there's a role to play in New Bedford High and Greater New Bedford Volk Tech, and I'm sure uh you'd be interested in doing some of that work too, considering the work you do with the youth of the community.

Right.

So the work the youth that I do work with, whether it's uh in the community with my job or my other job with my two churches that I work with, I always talk to them when once they turn 16 about pre-registering to vote because that is something that can happen.

So that way they could already get a head start um ahead of the game, and hopefully they can influence their parents to vote.

So I mean that's that's a thing too.

So parents don't vote either.

So well, I appreciate your responses.

Uh you will be getting a positive vote from me tonight out of this committee and then on the full floor.

So I wish you nothing but luck and the best and uh your future endeavors here, and I'm sure uh you and the committee will do great work as we try to increase voter participation, because to your point, the local elections are so important.

We need to kind of bring up those numbers.

So I look forward to seeing those numbers rise under your leadership.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, I'm all set.

Thank you.

I'll yield.

Thank you, Councilor Abreu.

Anybody else?

Council Oliver.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Renee.

Thank you.

I I think you're you're a great fit.

I think you're you've always been involved.

My biggest thing is that sometimes the election commission, there's not a whole heck of a lot going on, and then when elections come up, there is there's a little bit of stuff going on.

So you are very active in the community.

You're able to fulfill the proper like record requirements and meetings and things like that that would need to take place for this, correct?

Yes.

I just you know priority first.

Yeah, I understand.

So that that's all I wanted to just make sure I I know uh Ms.

Ledbetter is very active in the community, and I want to make sure that she's able to do that, and I'm sure she will.

So thank you again, and thank you for the time.

That's all I have.

Thanks.

Thank you, Council Halliver.

Anyone else?

Seeing then your pleasure.

Motion referred to the full city council.

Motion made by Councillor Gomes, second by Council Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Oppose, the ayes have it.

And this will be um reported out to the full city council on May 12th.

So you can be at that meeting, we can wave and we can sign, we can swear you in at that time.

Okay, thank you.

All right, thanks.

Thanks, Renee.

Item number five is communication mayor Mitchell to the City Council submitting the appointment of George Bulger, New Bedford Mass, to the um human rights commission, replacing Zoe Hanson de Bello, whose term is expired.

This term will expire, April 2028.

It was referred here on March 26, 2026.

Item number five is now before you.

Motion been made by Councillor Abreu, second by Council Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

George, would you like to take the podium?

We have your address on we have your address on file.

You can just state your name into the microphone.

George Patrick Bolger.

Thank you.

Okay.

Would you like to have say a few words before I open up the floor to the counselors for questions?

I've lived in Bedford for 20 years.

A little over 20 years.

And I retired and I love my city.

And I just felt it was something I could do.

So that's why I'm here.

Excellent.

Questions?

Council Abreu.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good evening, George.

Good to see you.

Good evening.

Um just wondering, are there any ideas or initiatives or programming you'd like to bring to this uh commission or any ideas you may have?

And I'm not going to hold you to it, but I'm just curious what your thoughts are to really help elevate the commission and the visibility in the community and the great work that's already happening.

Well, to be honest with you, I almost think that I'm the like the donkey in terms of I need to learn a lot of stuff and interaction.

We all have our opinions, we all think what's just what's right.

But a committee dedicated to that certainly has procedure and understanding of how to how to proceed.

So I'm asking to be put on a learning curve and allow myself to understand the position and help where I can.

Well, I appreciate your candor and your honesty.

Um were you um looking to serve and you were looking on the city's website and you just wanted to take the plunge or did the administration reach out?

I'm just curious how this kind of maybe came about for you.

This was completely my decision.

Great.

Well, I wish you luck.

And uh you'll be getting a positive vote from me tonight, so I know you'll do great work.

Thank you.

Thank you, George.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor April.

Anybody else have any questions?

Seeing none, your pleasure.

Motion being made by Councillor Abraham, second by Council Pemberton.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

And it will be reported out on May 12th.

You are more than welcome to come.

We can waive the rules and and swear you in that night.

So May 12th is our next city council meeting.

Okay.

Item number six is a communication.

Mayor Mitchell to the City Council submitting the appointment of Zachary Nider.

Uh New Bedford Mass to the Human Relations Commission replacing Chris excuse me, Chad Freitas, whose term expired.

This term will expire in April of 2028.

It was referred here on March 26, 2026.

Item number six is now before you.

Motion made to receive and place on filed by Councillor Gomez, second by Council Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Mr.

Knight.

We have your address, so you can just state your name for the record.

Zachary Nyder.

And if you'd like to say a couple of words.

Yeah, I mean I'm I'm very excited to serve on the commission.

I think in some ways connected to the conversation on the election commission.

I think the Human Rights Commission has an important role in engaging and strengthening community as it relates to I mean everyone should feel and actually have access to the same rights, the same rules, the same structures in the city.

And so playing even a small part on that commission is the important.

Thank you.

Any questions?

No questions?

Motion referred to the full city council.

Motion made by Council Gomes, referred to the full city council for approval.

Seconded by Council Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

And like I told the prior um candidates, um, it'll be reported out on May 12th.

You're more than welcome to come.

We'll waive the rules and we can swear you win that night.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And thank you for your time for everyone that would like to serve.

Okay.

Council Lopes.

Council Lopes.

7889.

Oh.

Item 7, 8, and 9.

Motion been made by Council Lopes.

Second by Council Oliver.

All in favor say aye for no further action.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Motion to adjourn.

Motion adjourned made by Council Lopes.

Second by Council Pemberton.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

We are adjourned at 751.

We adjourned at 751.

Thank you all for coming.

I owe.