Environmental Affairs Committee Special Meeting - June 9, 2026

This special meeting of the New Bedford Environmental Affairs Committee was called to discuss the status of a trucking and shipping agreement related to the transportation of materials through the Shaman Avenue neighborhood behind the New Bedford Airport. The agreement, stemming from a 2022 Superior Court stipulation, allowed Pico Stone to remove remaining aggregate from the A1 Asphalt property at 1861 Shaman Avenue. The meeting included public testimony, statements from legal representatives, the City Solicitor, and the Building Commissioner. The committee tabled the item pending further investigation and a site visit.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gregory G. Sarroy (1930 Shaman Avenue) stated the agreement required Pico Stone to cease cleanup by January 24, 2026, and the property to cease as a contractor's yard, but noted additional contractors had moved in and Pico Stone was still moving material. He had been told by the city's first assistant that the city would oppose an extension. He questioned whether the property was unsellable due to environmental issues and noted that a 2009 study for the airport project found the runway asphalt was too contaminated to be recycled on airport property.
• Tom Welsh (1878 Shaman Avenue) expressed concern that the site would revert to being an aggregate recycling facility, describing past problems with dust, dirt, traffic, and trucks coming every two minutes. He said the previous owner operated without an allowed use and the building department denied appeals, but the owner continued operating. He hoped the situation would not return to that level of disturbance.
• Gregory G. Sarroy (returning) added that the agreement was made in Superior Court, not City Council, and any extension would need to be done there. He noted other businesses (cold storage, boat and camper storage) were operating, and the agreement had expired five months prior without any appeal to council or court for an extension.

Discussion Items

• Attorney Sean Hurley (representing the estate of Tony DeCosta and current owner Nina Matos) explained the background: a zoning lawsuit from about eight years ago was dismissed after a settlement agreement allowing removal of materials within four years. The property can still be used as a contractor's yard (permitted in Industrial B zoning). Since the owner inherited, Pico Stone bought equipment and agreed to remove remaining material. As of the meeting, 40,000 cubic yards had been removed, with about 3,000 yards left (approximately 7% of the total). He requested a six-month extension based on attorney Kevin Medeiros's suggestion. No new material has been brought in recently. The property was never listed for sale despite unsolicited offers.
• Paul Maddows (8 Burke Street, Acushnet, brother of owner) confirmed he manages the property. He stated Pico Stone had done a good job and was almost done but having trouble selling processed material. He acknowledged possibly not monitoring closely enough but said no new material is being brought in. He expressed willingness to work with neighbors.
• City Solicitor Eric Jakes clarified the agreement was a stipulation of dismissal, not a court-ordered judgment, so it can be amended by the parties (Zoning Board of Appeals and the owner). He noted no one from Pico Stone or the estate had contacted the city to amend the agreement. He stated the property is technically in violation of the agreement because material remains. He emphasized the agreement prohibits bringing in material (except for construction improvements) and crushing. He suggested an enforcement action could be taken if an extension is not sought.
• Building Commissioner Daniel Romanowitz confirmed he had not visited the site recently but agreed to inspect it. He noted that Fernandez Masonry, which is storing materials and trucks on site, does not have a permit for that use. He stated that as a contractor's yard in IB zoning, a permit would be required for storage.
• Councilor Ryan Pereira advocated for obtaining a report on current site uses and ensuring compliance with zoning. He suggested that aggregate should be removed and other uses (like boat storage) be verified as permitted. He requested a site visit with the building commissioner, the councilor, and the property manager.
• Attorney Hurley (returning) clarified that Fernandez Masonry is using the property as a contractor's yard (permitted) and is not involved with aggregate processing, which is solely Pico Stone's activity.
• Paul Maddows (returning) confirmed that Fernandez is only storing material and trucks and doing nothing else.

Key Outcomes

• The committee voted to receive and place on file the court stipulation from January 24, 2022 (motion by Councilor Pereira, seconded by Councilor Choquette).
• Councilor Choquette made a motion to table the item, seconded by Councilor Pereira. The motion passed unanimously. The item will be brought back after the city budget process.
• A site visit was arranged for the following Monday (June 15, 2026) with Building Commissioner Romanowitz, Councilor Choquette, and property manager Paul Maddows to assess the property and remaining material.
• Councilor Pereira indicated he would submit written questions to Solicitor Jakes for further legal clarification.
• The meeting adjourned at 7:36 PM.