Appointments & Briefings Committee — April 21, 2026

Master Naomi.

Good evening everybody and welcome to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.

It is April 21st, 2026.

My name is Naomi Carney, a councilor-at-large and the chair of the committee.

Um, in the— my colleagues in government, we have Councilor Ian Abram, councilor-at-large, Ward 2 Scott Pemberton, Ward 1 Leo Choquette, Ward 5 Joseph Lopes, Councilor-at-Large Brian Gomes, Councilor-at-Large James Roy, and Councilor from Ward 3 Sean Oliver.

Thank you all for coming.

Note, this meeting is being live streamed and record— 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 3 letters to read into the record.

This one is from Councilor Baptiste.

I am writing this letter to inform you that I'll be unable to attend the committee on a pre- Appointments and Briefings meeting on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 7:30 PM due to a prior commitment.

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

This one's from Councilor Burgos.

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.

This one's from Councilor Pereira.

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.

Motion made to receive and place on file by Councilor Gomes, second by Councilor Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Okay, now I'm sorry, okay, item number 1 is citizens input time, not to exceed the first 30 minutes of of each meeting.

Each recognized individual has the ability to speak for a total of 3 minutes.

1A is Mr. Lamontagne, Chris Lamontagne.

Okay, you have 3 minutes.

So I had a, had a speech.

You want to— 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 crises that have occurred throughout the city over a period of time, 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.

I mean, go on Zillow.

Good luck finding a place that's affordable.

It is what it is.

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 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. Gomes, 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 at another time.

Um, I, I do want us to have a meeting.

There's somebody else in the crowd that I'd like to meet with as well, and, uh, I'm going to 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 6 months has been a pattern of oppressive ways.

And I've combated some, some semi-serious situations.

And I think they should be noted.

They should be recognized.

So if, 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 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.

All right?

So I hope that you will take this into consideration.

This is my third time here.

And maybe we can get something done.

All right?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item number 2 is a communication.

City Clerk— 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, 14 Beetle Street, Apartment 1, New Bedford, Mass.

Term of license July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

It was referred here on March 12, 2026.

Number 2 is before you.

Motion received and placed on file.

Motion made by Councilor Oliven to receive and place on file, seconded by Councilor 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 and address for the record?

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

Okay, you need to talk into the mic a little bit, your voice is so soft.

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

Thank you.

Um, do we have questions for Miss Taylor?

Okay, Councilor Oliver.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

6.

And they're all operating out of this address?

Yes.

Okay.

And the 6 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, Beale Street.

Okay.

Um, the, the, 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 essentially you're running a business out of there with 6 cars.

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

Yes, but I don't have 6 cars parking on the street.

How many would you have on the street?

So I would say 3 or 4.

So let's say 4 instead of 3 or 4.

If we're saying 3 or 4 there's normally 4.

The parking in that— what's the parking situation like on Beetle Street?

To be honest, I have a yard that can fit all my cars, 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 sometimes when my tenants get home, because I have a 4-unit, I have a law student from Oregon and my tenants.

They can't find parking, and most of the people that park in the street don't live on Beale Street.

So what I'll do is I'll take some of my cars from out of the yard 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 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.

Just because I don't have to park in the street.

I— so 6 cars is plus your tenants having cars.

So you had 4 units, right?

You said?

Yes.

When my cars park in the street, my tenant don't park in the street.

They park in my yard.

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

They all can fit on the property.

Yes.

Okay.

I, um, because there is some concern in the neighborhood, just, just so you're aware.

Okay.

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

And, um, I think 6 cars is a, 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.

2 of them never park in the street.

You will never see 6 cars on the street.

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

There's nowhere to probably park on their street.

'Cause I, but the extra cars on the street are only an additional burden.

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

Sure, no problem.

Okay, I can do that tomorrow morning, I would say.

Thank you.

That's all I have, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilor.

Councilor Abram.

I'm good, Madam Chair.

Those are my questions, actually.

Thank you.

Anybody else?

Motion referred to the full City Council for approval.

Motion made by Councilor Oliver, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

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 3 is to remain on the table, Madam Chairperson.

Mr. Escobar is not able to attend tonight, he's in Boston.

Right.

Item number 4 is communication, Mayor Mitchell to the City Council, submitting the appointment of Renee Ledbetter New Bedford to the Election Commission, replacing Donald Goddard Jr., who has resigned.

This term will expire April 2027.

It was referred here on March 12, 2026.

Item number four is before you.

Motion made by Councilor Abrams, second by Councilor Lopes.

All in favor say 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, 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 fair democracy and in the election proceedings.

And I'm just excited about it.

That's about it.

Awesome.

Councilor Abram.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Good evening.

Good to see you.

I think, you know, 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, 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?

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 voted.

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

So 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 in the low economic standing, because it's not just the Black and brown that don't vote.

It's a lot of people, a lot of executives.

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

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

No, I think your answer is well-placed.

I think, too, there's something to be said about those 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 Voc Tech, and I'm sure 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 in the community with my job or my other job with my 2 churches that I work with, I always talk to them once they turn 16, teen about preregistering to vote because that is something that can happen.

So that way they could already get a head start 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.

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

I wish you nothing but luck and the best in 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 Abram.

Anybody else?

Councilor Oliver.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Renee.

Thank you for being here and seeking this.

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.

So I just, you know, priority first.

Yeah, I understand.

So that, that's all I wanted to just make sure.

I, I know, uh, Miss Ledbetter is very active in the community.

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, Councilor Oliver.

Anybody else?

Seeing none, your pleasure.

Motion to refer to the full city council.

Motion made by Councilor Gomes, seconded by Councilor Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

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 5 is communication, Mayor Mitchell to the City Council, submitting the appointment of George Bulger, New Bedford, Mass., to the Human Rights Commission, replacing Zoe Hanson DiBello.

Whose term has expired.

This term will expire April 2028.

It was referred here on March 26, 2026.

Item number 5 is now before you.

Motion been made by Councilor Abreu, seconded by Councilor 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 councilors for questions?

I've lived in New 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.

Give back.

So that's why I'm here.

Excellent.

Questions?

Councilor Abril.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good evening, George.

Good to see you.

Good evening.

I'm 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 visibility in the community and the great work that's already happening?

Well, to be honest with you, I almost think that I'm 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 you'll be getting a positive vote from me tonight, so I know you'll do great work.

Thank you, George.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilor Abram.

Anybody else have any questions?

Seeing none, your pleasure.

Motion made by Councilor Abram, seconded by Councilor 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, our next city council meeting.

Okay.

Item number 6 is a communication.

Mayor Mitchell to the city council submitting the appointment of Zachary Snyder, 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 in place on file by Councilor Gomes, second by Councilor Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Mr. Knight, we have your address, so you can just state your name for the record.

Zachary Neider.

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

Yeah, I mean, 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 Commission is be an honor.

Thank you.

Any questions?

No questions.

Motion referred to the full city council.

Motion made by Councilor Gomez to refer to the full city council for approval.

Seconded by Councilor Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

And like I told the prior, um, Candidates.

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 in that night.

Thank you.

Thank you.

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

Okay.

Councilor Lopes.

789.

Oh, sure.

I'm going to make a motion to follow the recommendation of the chair, waive the readings, and follow Motion made by Councilor Lopes, second by Councilor Oliver.

All in favor say aye for no further action.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Motion to adjourn.

Motion adjourned by Councilor Lopes, second by Councilor Pemberton.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

We adjourned at— we adjourned at 7:51.

Thank you all for coming.

Thank you.