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Record of Proceedings

Special Committee on Environmental Affairs Meeting - April 21, 2026

Default View — Tuesday, April 21, 2026
BodyNew Bedford, Massachusetts
SessionDefault View
DateTuesday, April 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 13:40

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0:00

We're all thinking of coming in about five or ten minutes.

0:03

Yes.

0:05

Okay.

0:06

All right.

0:06

Uh counselors.

0:07

We're going to get started in about 20 seconds, 30 seconds here.

0:14

We're good.

0:14

Give me a go no go.

0:15

All right, let's do this.

0:18

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:20

It is 7 p.m.

0:21

on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026.

0:24

I'd like to call to order this special committee meeting on environmental affairs here in the New Bedford City Council Chamber, room 214.

0:32

Note this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.

0:36

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

0:43

I am joined in the City Council Chambers tonight by my colleagues in government who are members of this committee.

0:49

We have Ward 1 Council Leo Shoket, at large Councillor Brian Gomes, at large, Councillor James Roy, and Ward 5 Councillor Joe Lopes.

0:58

Joe Lopes is not a member of this committee, but I want to thank him for being here nonetheless.

1:02

I'll ask the clerk, are there any letters to be read into the record?

1:04

I have one letter to read into the record.

1:06

This is from Councillor Pereira.

1:08

I am ready to inform you that I am unable to attend tonight's committee meeting due to a personal commitment.

1:12

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

1:21

Made by Councillor Roy, seconded by Councillor Should.

1:24

Anyone on the question?

1:24

All those in favor say aye.

1:26

Aye.

1:26

Opposed, the ayes have.

1:27

I'll ask the clerk to read item one that's before us.

1:29

Item number one is a written motion, Councillor Choquett requesting that Wendy Morrill and Tracy Wallace of South Coast Neighbors United appear before the Special Committee on Environmental Affairs to present community-based waste solutions for Greater New Bedford.

1:42

It was referred here on March 26, 2024.

1:44

On February 19th, it was heard and tabled.

1:48

February 19th, 2026, the next time this matter is placed on the agenda.

1:52

Invite Anthony Novelli, Executive Director of GMB uh Regional Refuge Management District and Matthew Thomas, a legal counsel for GMB Regional Refuge Management.

2:03

The item was tabled.

2:05

Item one is before you and on the table.

2:07

I have motion to remove this item from the table.

2:13

Point of order.

2:14

Yes, Councillor Roy.

2:15

Are the invitees here?

2:17

Mr.

2:18

Thomas is here.

2:19

And Mr.

2:20

Novelli, yes.

2:21

So I didn't see yes, they're both here.

2:23

Yes, sir.

2:24

Motion or remove from the table.

2:26

Seconded by Councillor Choquett.

2:28

All those in favor say aye.

2:29

Aye.

2:29

Aye.

2:29

Opposed the ayes have it.

2:31

So this item is now properly before us.

2:32

Counselor Choquett, you filed this motion, so whom would you like to call up first to speak with?

2:38

I would say let's speak to uh Mr.

2:41

Novelli.

2:42

Ms.

2:42

Novelli, would you mind taking the podium, please?

2:48

Would you please just state for the record your name and address, please?

2:52

Good evening.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Waste Management█████████████████████████████████████████████77%
Procedural███████████18%
Public Engagement███5%
Summary of Proceedings

Special Committee on Environmental Affairs Meeting - April 21, 2026

The New Bedford City Council's Special Committee on Environmental Affairs met on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chamber (Room 214). The meeting was livestreamed and recorded. Committee members present included Councillor Shocket (Ward 1), Councillor Gomes (At-Large), and Councillor Roy (At-Large). Non-member Councillors Lopes (Ward 5), Oliver (Ward 3), and Pimentel (Ward 2) also attended. Councillor Pereira was absent.

The sole agenda item was a motion from Councillor Shocket requesting that Wendy Morrill and Tracy Wallace of South Coast Neighbors United appear to present community-based waste solutions. The motion had been referred on March 26, 2024, and tabled on February 19, 2026. The committee voted to remove the item from the table and heard from Anthony Novelli, Executive Director of the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District, and Matthew Thomas, legal counsel.

Discussion Items

  • Landfill capacity and lifespan: Mr. Novelli reported that the Crapo Hill landfill currently operates six cells within Phase Two (Phase One is fully capped). Existing cells have an estimated remaining lifespan of approximately five years at current waste acceptance rates. A new cell in planning would add about seven more years. The district has reduced waste acceptance from outside municipalities to extend capacity, though this reduces revenue.
  • Waste diversion and recycling: The district promotes recycling and food waste diversion through programs like subsidized backyard compost bins and FoodCyclers. Mr. Novelli noted that organics represent a significant portion of the waste stream. He stated that approximately 50% of all solid waste generated in Massachusetts is disposed of in other states, but all of New Bedford's curbside waste goes directly to the Crapo Hill landfill.
  • Outreach challenges: The district operates the New Bedford Recycling program through social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, NewBedfordRecycling.org). Councillor Roy asked about recycling rates and outreach. Mr. Novelli acknowledged challenges in reaching a multilingual community and addressing contamination, but did not provide specific recycling rate data. He expressed willingness to collaborate with the council on education efforts.
  • Future planning: The district is exploring rail diversion options for long-term waste management after the landfill closes.

Key Outcomes

  • The committee voted to return the item to the table (motion by Councillor Shocket, seconded by Councillor Roy) to allow the originally invited speakers (Morrill and Wallace) to present at a future meeting, likely in May 2026 before the budget season.
  • The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 PM.

Note: The original motion invited Morrill and Wallace; however, the district representatives Novelli and Thomas appeared instead. The committee chose to keep the item tabled until the originally invited speakers can attend.

Meeting Transcript

We're all thinking of coming in about five or ten minutes. Yes. Okay. All right. Uh counselors. We're going to get started in about 20 seconds, 30 seconds here. We're good. Give me a go no go. All right, let's do this. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026. I'd like to call to order this special committee meeting on environmental affairs here in the New Bedford City Council Chamber, room 214. 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 City Council Chambers tonight by my colleagues in government who are members of this committee. We have Ward 1 Council Leo Shoket, at large Councillor Brian Gomes, at large, Councillor James Roy, and Ward 5 Councillor Joe Lopes. Joe Lopes is not a member of this committee, but I want to thank him for being here nonetheless. I'll ask the clerk, are there any letters to be read into the record? I have one letter to read into the record. This is from Councillor Pereira. I am ready to inform you that I am unable to attend tonight's committee meeting due to a personal commitment. Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues and the public aware of the reason for my absence. Made by Councillor Roy, seconded by Councillor Should. Anyone on the question? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, the ayes have. I'll ask the clerk to read item one that's before us. Item number one is a written motion, Councillor Choquett requesting that Wendy Morrill and Tracy Wallace of South Coast Neighbors United appear before the Special Committee on Environmental Affairs to present community-based waste solutions for Greater New Bedford. It was referred here on March 26, 2024. On February 19th, it was heard and tabled. February 19th, 2026, the next time this matter is placed on the agenda. Invite Anthony Novelli, Executive Director of GMB uh Regional Refuge Management District and Matthew Thomas, a legal counsel for GMB Regional Refuge Management. The item was tabled. Item one is before you and on the table. I have motion to remove this item from the table. Point of order. Yes, Councillor Roy. Are the invitees here? Mr. Thomas is here. And Mr. Novelli, yes. So I didn't see yes, they're both here. Yes, sir. Motion or remove from the table. Seconded by Councillor Choquett. All those in favor say aye. Aye.

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