Appointments & Briefings Committee — June 23, 2026

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

It is June 23rd, 2026.

And it is 7 o'clock and we're here in the chambers.

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.

My colleagues in government who has joined us is our Councilor-at-Large Ian Abreu, Council Ward 2 Scott Pemberton, Council Ward 1 Leo Choquette, Council Ward 5 Joseph Lopes, Councilor-at-Large James Roy, Councilor Ward 3 Sean Oliver, and Councilor-at-Large and First Vice President Shane Virgo.

Thank you all for coming.

Oh, and, and Ryan, right, and Councilor from Ward 6 is here, Ryan Pereira.

He just stepped out for a minute, but he should be back momentarily.

Okay, colleagues, we're going to start with number 2 because Mr. Ricard is downstairs at a licensing board meeting, so when he's done, he'll be up.

Okay, there are no letters to read into the record to get that onto the record.

Item number 2 is a communication, Mayor Mitchell to the City Council, submitting the appointment of Lara Harrington, uh, New Bedford, Mass., to the Airport Commission.

Ms. Harrington will be replacing Christina E. Costides, who resigned in January 2025.

This term will expire in December 2027.

It was referred here on May 28, 2026.

And number 2 is now before you.

Motion received and placed on file, made by Councilor Abrams, seconded by Councilor Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Yes.

And Laura, Miss Harrington, you are at the podium, so just give a little brief overview of yourself and why you want to sit on the Airport Commission.

Sure.

My name is Laura Harrington.

I've been in New Bedford since 2001.

I raised a daughter here, New Bedford Public Schools, opened a business, had the business for 14 years, just sold it last year, and now I work in New Bedford Research and Robotics.

Very committed to New Bedford, very committed to the community, to outreach.

When I was asked about this position, the question was, what do I know about the airport?

And I didn't really know much.

And then how would I feel if it was nonexistent, and I didn't like that either.

So it was an interesting opportunity to learn more in depth about an area I think that I've probably taken for granted the whole time I've been here, and ready to be helpful.

Excellent.

Um, let the record show that Councilor Gomes has joined us.

Thank you, Councilor Gomes.

Yes, Councilor Abril.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good evening.

Good to see you.

You too.

Good.

It's been a while.

I'm glad you're well.

Um, Thanks for coming in.

So I know you come from a small business background, and I know a lot of the work you've done back in the old Chamber of Commerce days and the stuff we had done together.

So taking your entrepreneurship background and that kind of skill set or that area of expertise that you may have, how do you interweave that into the airport operations as it relates to things like potential expansion, you know, looking into new leasing for new restaurant space there, really continuing the vibrancy and the resurgence of that airport to kind kind of get it to finally where we want it to be.

There's some good momentum going, but like anything, we can always make room for improvements.

And I don't want to hold you anything too crazy on the record because I know that, you know, I don't want you to bite off more than you can chew or, you know, say something you might have to walk back.

But just wondering, at 30,000 feet, not holding you to anything, but what are your thoughts about where we're at with the airport?

And where would you, if you had your druthers, you had the magic wand, Where would you like to see it go?

Well, I do know that the airport is positioned for growth and for renovation.

So obviously that instinctively is of interest to me.

My history with building a business, and I was also a mentor for E4All for 6 years.

So the idea of building community through business makes a lot of sense.

So it always has to do with synergy.

And, you know, what happens at scale outwardly has to happen at scale inwardly also.

So as far as a restaurant, I used to go to the Airport Grill way back in the day.

Yeah, me too.

Yeah, yeah, when it was tiny.

And then when it expanded, we also went there.

My husband used to work in Nantucket for winter, so he would be at the airport often.

So I feel like I've been a part of the airport enough to know that it's special, but I don't know enough about it to really give specifics on what I could do for it.

But you know what though, I think the fact that you don't come from an aviation background is a good thing because it's a fresh set of eyes on things.

Because I've been here now, you know, I'm into my 11th year here, but it's like since I've been here we've had 2 different initiatives where we had flights going to Florida.

Those flopped.

We had the puddle jump to Boston or the little hop, skip to Boston.

That flopped.

It's just a bunch of little misses and we get excited and these things don't— and I'm not saying it's our fault.

It's not the commission's fault.

It's not the airport director's fault.

It's not the council or the administration's fault.

It's just— I don't know.

I think we have to continue to try to market this region and We're very unique in where we are.

I mean, there's— between Barnstable and Hyannis to Providence, there's no other commercial airport like us.

We don't, you know, I mean, Taunton has one, you know, and Myricks has one, but it's all little runway strips for little private jets and having fun bopping around.

This is a real commercial airport.

So I just ask you to think about those things and Continue to do your sales pitch and market the region as best as you can.

So, and we'll know it, and we'll be here to help you any way we can.

Yeah, thank you, Lara.

Congratulations.

Good luck to you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilor Abram.

Anybody else for questions for Lara?

Make a motion to refer to the full City Council the positive recommendation.

Motion made by Councilor Lopez to refer to the full City Council with positive recommendation, seconded by Councilor Abril.

Anybody on the question?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it, and it will be on the June— June— July 16th agenda.

If you'd like to come, we can swear you in at that time.

Okay, great.

So thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Item number 3, communication, Mayor Mitchell to the City Council, submitting the appointment of Justin Olson New Bedford, Mass., to the Water Board.

Mr. Olson will be replacing the late Patrick E. Rogers, who resigned in January of 2025.

This term will expire in April 2027.

It was referred here on May 28th, 2026.

Item number 3 is before you.

Second.

A motion made to receive and place on file, made by Councilor Lopes, seconded by Councilor Roy.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I, I don't see Justin here.

Uh, motion to table made by Councilor Abreu, second by Councilor Oliver.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Number 4 is a communication.

Mayor Mitchell to the City Council submitting the appointment of Craig R. Espanola, New Bedford, Mass., to the Steamship Authority Board of Governors to fill the seat vacated by Nora Tierney.

It was referred here on May 28th, 2026.

Number 4 is now before you.

Second motion made to receive and place on file by Councilor Abrams, second by Councilor Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

And welcome.

Thank you, good to be back.

Yes, so most of us know you, but sure, give us an overview for the public.

And yeah, so, um, New Bedford resident, for the last 25 years, returned back from Boston when I was in law school.

That was following University of Massachusetts Amherst.

And previous to the last 3 years, I was an assistant city solicitor for just over 10 years.

So that's how I got to know many on the council.

I know them just from the community as well, from being involved.

When I came back to, to New Bedford I had a goal of participating in any way possible to further the interests of this city.

I have a love and a passion for the city that I've carried through for, you know, when you grow up here in this area, it is the economic force, it's the cultural force of the region.

And when I returned back, there was some question, oh, do you want to go to the suburbs?

Do you want to go here?

Do you want to get I said no.

So my wife and I lived on 7th Street for 13 years.

When I was on 7th Street, I joined the Preservation Society.

I was a board member for them for a number of years.

We did house tours.

A lot of people probably remember those holiday house tours that were so popular.

My house was on it.

I had an 1820 whaling captain house.

Then Mr. Baptiste Ward, I believe, over there on 7th, became very involved.

With the Preservation Society, and then when that slowed down, I moved on.

They asked me to be on the board of the Roach-Jones-Duff House.

I was a trustee for the Roach-Jones-Duff House and participated significantly in trying to get Abolition Row on that end of the street connected to the Nathan and Polly Johnson House.

It was a significant passion of mine.

I thought it was underutilized.

We had so many meetings and talks about that particular issue.

We were trying to get the RJD to be rear-facing so that folks could walk from the Nathan and Polly Johnson House, come down 7th Street.

Those houses on 7th Street, probably everybody knows here, are spectacular.

They're 1820s, some of the oldest existing houses still left in the city.

Because the Revolutionary War, when they came and they burned down— there was a recent column on that— the much earlier houses.

And then I had, you know, I had an opportunity to become an assistant city solicitor, as I said.

Met a number of folks here.

I wasn't always here before the council, but I represented the city in a whole host of issues.

It was a part-time position the first couple of years.

I probably made out okay because I was getting my footing.

But year 3 through 10, it was not part-time.

It was full-time.

It was a passion.

Anybody that worked with me during that period of time, from the police chief, the fire chief, from the insurance claims adjusters, I represented the city with integrity and always advocated for the best interest of, of the city.

Um, about 3 years ago, I was at my tipping point and was no longer able to juggle my private practice along with being an assistant city solicitor.

So I gave notice to the city that I had to step down.

It was certainly bittersweet because I love being involved on the day-to-day issues of the city.

But I have a young family, 2 young daughters, you know, 13 and 11.

Their activities were ramping up, so I had to take a little bit of a step away from doing all that I was doing.

The mayor's office had contacted me at one particular point about another board, and I just wasn't ready.

I was still recovering from, from all the work.

And then when this opportunity came up, I was— I felt it again, and I was like, okay, I'm ready to serve the city again.

I spoke— I met with the port director, Gordon Carr.

He's provided some great insight into what they're working on currently.

In some ways, I think, you know, it's a little bit underutilized, our relationship with with the Steamship Authority.

So we're hopeful to enhance that relationship with our partners on the islands.

But for certain, you can be assured that the city of New Bedford will be at the forefront of my mind in every decision that I make as it relates to that particular position.

I'm happy to obviously answer any questions.

Thank you.

Councilor Pereira.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Craig, good evening.

So, uh, first I would just like to say, uh, in hearing your speech, sounds like at this point you are ready to take on this step.

And I have had concerns in conversations with the administration about, uh, the attendance of the previous person on the board.

And are you able to commit to, to attending as many meetings as possible?

I, I am.

And one of the, you know, first questions I had for for Mr. Carr was, when are the meetings?

How often are they scheduled?

Am I going to be able to make them?

The meetings are Tuesdays at 10 o'clock, 12 o'clock, regular workday.

Much easier actually than the evening meetings with a young family when I have to shuttle the kids around at times.

And I don't like to miss their events, frankly.

And so that really enhanced— I was like, oh, okay.

So, you know, and of Of course, you know, I'm sure there'll be committee meetings.

The new chair of the authority is appointed to additional committee— to additional committees.

And so, you know, there'll be times when obviously I have to attend those as well.

But I don't have any doubt that I'll meet the needs of the attendance.

Great.

A significant number of New Bedford businesses utilize work on Martha's Vineyard.

I can think of a couple service industry-based.

I know a lot of tradespeople who go to the Vineyard every day.

Where, where is your priority in, in A, the possibility of working with the steamship, the fast ferry, to attempt to get year-round service out of New Bedford, especially in the wintertime for our tradespeople?

An early boat, a late boat, so that those folks can go to the island, do their work, and can skip the, the traffic or the commute down to the Cape and then have to get on another boat after a 45-minute drive to Fallna, to Woods Hole?

Candidly, I haven't spoken with Mr. Carr about that particular issue, but I do know that they had attempted year-round service previously, maybe not so similar to what happened at the airport, because I think you're right.

I think there's an easier need between here and the island via boat in the wintertime for the trades folks.

I have a personal friend that's a hygienist on the island that has to fly Cape Air over there because she doesn't have the ability to, you know, to take the boat.

So certainly that would be a priority for me to speak with, you know, the Port Authority director and then obviously also my contemporaries at the steamship.

Yeah, and having been on a number of boards, I, I find it to be extremely important to go in and really listen to, to what's happening.

I've done, you know, some of my homework.

I've met with Ms. Carr a couple of occasions already.

We've had great meetings, but I'd like to get in there.

There's a new— there's a new director at the, at the Steamship, so I'm hopeful with that because although The previous director got high marks by our representative and was well-liked, I think, and was there for a long period of time.

You know, there's an audit that's gone on that's looked back.

There's an inspector general report, not an audit, inspector general report that was quite scathing of some of the things that have occurred there.

So we're going to look at that.

But I've always found it prudent to listen first.

And then once I have my footing, certainly continue to advocate for everything city.

What we really— and also, you know, based on some of that reporting from the Inspector General's Office and everything, with the current reservation system that the steamship uses, I hear it a lot as I have a lot of friends and acquaintances that live on the island.

And run businesses there and survive off of tourism.

And when they can't get tourists in because the reservation system is booking boats half full, saying the boat is full, because maybe some elites on the island and some big shots on the island don't want as many tourists, it's hurting the little guys and the guys who have to survive year-round on 3 months to provide their, to make their nut for the year.

So we really need to be looking out for those folks, 'cause those folks are closest to like our folks here in New Bedford, our tradespeople who go out there, do work.

But those folks that are on that island, they're hardworking blue-collar individuals like a lot of the people in this city.

And to your point, and then the steamship doesn't— used to, not really be affected if their revenue wasn't up because as a quasi-governmental organization, they'd always be made whole by the state.

So there was never a need to generate a lot of revenue, a lot of revenue, a lot of revenue so they could appease a certain crowd that was asking for lower tourism on the islands.

I haven't heard that particular view before.

It's enlightening to hear it.

I'll certainly keep it in mind if I'm know, approved by the council to take on the position, be in the back of my mind as I engage with the other, you know, representatives.

But, you know, I'm a— I'm an attorney, but I'm a blue-collar family guy.

You know, my dad was a firefighter for the city of New Bedford for 30 years.

My grandfather worked, you know, for the Department of Public Waste for 30 years.

He was a World War II veteran.

He lived on Allen Street.

My parents who are on Allen Street.

You know, everything I think about revolves around that.

And we've always worked well, so that's one thing I can say, that I have no— I have the utmost confidence that when these issues continue to arise, and we'll work well through that and 100% talk through it.

Absolutely.

Sure.

Thank you.

Any concerns at any time, I'm reachable and available to talk with the council.

Perfect.

Thank you very much.

It's a good thing your father wasn't a firefighter under this administration, because then he might not have a job.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilor Pereira.

Councilor Abram.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good evening, Craig.

So I'm sure you may have done some homework about the voting allocation breakdown of the authority and how it kind of all plays out.

I mean, it's a 5-member board, as I know you know.

Yes.

Martha's Vineyard represents 35% of the vote.

Nantucket represents 35% of the vote.

And then us, 10%.

Barnstable, 10%.

And Falmouth, 10%.

So theoretically, the 2 islands can get together and a 2 to 3 vote, which you think would fail, would actually pass because it's weighted 70%.

They can't— so in other words, they carry a supermajority into every single issue.

I know there's some pending legislation, I think it's Senate Bill 1315 right now, that was filed by Senator Cyr to maybe try to fix that, to make it a little more equitable and fair for everybody.

But how do you foresee yourself, you know, working through some of that, knowing right off the rip when you get into those meeting halls and those subcommittees, you're already in the minority.

So you're already the minority vote and you're fighting for New Bedford.

Have you thought about that at all?

I'm sure you have.

And how you look to kind of, you know, strengthen the voice of New Bedford when you're at that table?

Sure.

Thank you.

You know, I think it's about relationships.

You know, we have a 10% vote, but we have a seat at the table.

Right.

So we are in a position where we have to convince, you know, either, you know, Barnstable or Falmouth, 20 and an island.

And I think in Looking at the history, you know, it's geared that way because it's a little bit different, the needs of the islands, right?

Because the steamship is a total lifeline, right?

They can't get off, you know, if there's wind and you can't fly, you might still be able to get on the boat.

But if you have to get off that island, you know, they got to get off the island.

Now, So I think that's why they— the intent of the legislation was with that in mind.

But I do think it's relationships, and I think it has to work, whatever proposal it is that we're thinking about, whatever economic development that we're thinking about, it has to work for not just the port, but it has to work for an island.

And likewise, shouldn't just be working just for the islands and not for the Port of New Bedford.

Right.

So that's what I would try to develop, the relationships, make smart points, have good thoughts about what we're intending to do, follow through on action items.

Yeah, no, I think your points are well taken.

I mean, I've dealt with folks down the Cape and Chamber of Commerce work, workforce development stuff.

I'm sure you have people and connections down the Cape.

They look at us differently.

They just do.

It is what it is.

You know, we're, we're from New Bedford, you know, and it's just the way it will always go.

We speak a different language than them.

They speak a different language than us.

And when you go over that bridge, right, it's— my wife works in Sandwich.

It's a whole other ballgame once you cross that bridge, right?

So I know you'll represent us with the utmost integrity.

So you will get a positive vote from me.

I wish you well.

And I know you'll always be a phone call away if there's a concern or a question that any one of us have.

As it relates to New Bedford.

So, you know, I have no doubt that you'll be a consensus builder, at least try your darndest to get the vote and do what's right for this community.

So I wish you well, Craig.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, sir.

Madam Chair, thank you, Councilor April.

Councilor Baptiste, thank you, Madam Chair.

How you doing, Craig?

How's everything going?

How are you?

I'm doing well, thank you.

Um, just a cut— like, you know, just a couple of questions because I understand how it feels like when you hold multiple hats, right?

First and foremost, thank you for all you've— all the service that you've given to the city and thank you, giving back to what you do.

I'm giving back to other people and being on boards and supporting other organizations.

Like, I think it's heavy in the city because a lot of people talk a lot of stuff and don't actually get involved with a lot of things.

So, you know, you have to give people credit for doing that stuff.

What I wanted to really say is like, I know how it feels to hold many hats and get burnt out.

And have to take steps back because of family.

What piqued your interest, seeing that you turned down another board, what piqued your interest in coming into the Steamship Authority?

And what do you think the greatest asset you bring to the authority and their board?

And just what do you feel like you— what you can bring to the board that's going to be a little fresher You know, then and help other people think out the box and bring it up, you know, and lift it up, I should say.

First, thank you.

Because being a city councilor, as you know, you guys are fielding— Don't thank me.

Nobody does.

I got it.

It's worse than being an assistant city solicitor because you're the public side of what we get on the backside from a law, from the law department.

So thank you.

So I have a passion for the port now.

You know, I think the Port of New Bedford is the greatest port in the country, right?

I think it's just so phenomenal.

And I do think, as I said in my opening remarks, that this particular relationship may be underutilized.

I think there's opportunity that we need to explore more deeply.

Order to see whether or not we can have developed economic partners with the islands, whether that's freight.

I know there was a contract with one particular freight service.

There was a license issued.

We've got to look at that, right?

But it's got to be right for our partners on the islands, but it's got to be right for New Bedford, right?

So I think what I bring is I bring a passion for the city of New Bedford.

And I think I am a consensus builder.

I think it's probably one of the best assets for me is I can— I try to build consensus.

So it's a challenge when you only have 10% of the vote when you need, you know, an island and you need, you know, one of the other ports.

But that's a challenge I'm ready to take on.

You know, I've been back in New Bedford for 25 years and have tried to participate under the radar for the most part, which is where I prefer to, to, to be.

Um, but you know, when I have an opportunity to help the city, if I think I can bring traits to that whatever board it is that I— that can be helpful, um, then that's what I do, you know.

Thank you.

Um, just never forget about the people.

Nah, nah, just never forget about the people, you know what I'm saying, man?

Just, you know, we— a lot of people come on here and, you know, they have their own agendas every time they get into different things and they get different titles.

And, you know, some people forget about what they do it for and the people.

I think you're working with a good group of people that understand what the people need and, you know, what's right for the people that work down there and making it a working waterfront.

So thank you for your service and good luck.

And, you know, man, and best of luck with getting them girls to all them functions, man, because I know that's, that's a job in itself.

Yeah, this, this red isn't the beach, it's softball field.

Yeah, I feel it.

I feel it.

I have, man.

Thank you so much.

I yield, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Baptiste.

Anybody else have questions?

Seeing none, your pleasure.

Second.

Motion made by Councilor April to refer out with a positive recommendation, seconded by Councilor Lopes.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

So we do have that meeting on July 16th.

If you want to attend, we'll swear you in then.

Okay.

If not, you know the drill.

You can go see Dennis later.

Excellent.

Thank you everybody for your time.

Thank you.

Item number 5 is a written motion, Councilors Abreu and Pereira requesting that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings discuss the ongoing construction project on County Street and further that the committee meet with local businesses to discuss the impact of the street disturbances.

It was referred here on May 7th, 2024.

It was tabled on July 13th, 2024, after it was heard, uh, and item number 5 is now before you, and it is on the table.

Motion made to remove from the table, made by Councilor April, seconded by Councilor Burgo.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

It is now in front of us.

Councilor Pereira, do you want Sean to give us a brief overview first?

Absolutely.

Yeah, that's all.

That's exactly— yep.

We're in another new year of this project.

Uh, it is now starting to be almost exclusively out of my ward, but I imagine the Ward 5 councilor was happy I'm bringing it up anyways as this progresses down County Street.

Um, I think it'd be just good to touch base.

We're in the middle of construction season— well, in the beginning of the, the busy time for construction season, beginning into it.

And just wanted Sean to give the committee and the general public an overview where we're at, timelines, any delays, how's it looking, and so on and so forth.

Excellent.

Okay, Sean.

Great, thank you.

Good evening, everybody.

Um, so happy to be here tonight to talk about our County Street project.

This is a very important important project for the city.

It's rehabilitating about a mile and a quarter of road right through one of the most historic areas of downtown and the city.

And it's spanning several wards as well, as you're familiar with.

This is an investment by MassDOT of more than $12 million.

So this is a significant undertaking.

And because it's such a large project, we ultimately divided the work up into 3 phases.

We didn't want the contractor just to be going crazy out on County Street.

So we really wanted to control them to mitigate traffic impacts, complete it in sections, and ultimately allowing us, the city, be able to work with MassDOT and control the contractor.

So as of right now, Phase 1 is almost done.

Phase 1 started in 2024, and believe it or not, the design of this project actually started in 2017.

So it's been going on for a while.

So Phase 1 goes from Nelson Street to Rivet Street, which is in Councillor Pereira's ward.

The second phase goes from Rivet Street up to, up to Allen Street.

And then the third phase goes from Allen to Union.

So the work in Phase 1 is essentially done.

They just need to finish final paving, do some site restoration, and work on some lights.

They're currently actively working in Phase 2.

So they're working on some signal upgrades.

They're working on basically digging the road out and building the road back up and reconstructing it.

They're going to be fixing some sidewalks, doing the ADA ramps.

And then when we're done with that at the end of this season, they'll, they'll proceed on to, on to Phase 3 and continue to do the same thing with the goal of being done by 2028.

So we still have a few more years to go until, until we're actually done.

The city is also planning on doing a 4th phase of County Street, which will start in 2030, and that'll go from Union Street to Kempton Street.

So that'll be another MassDOT-funded project.

So all in all, we're looking at, you know, $18 or $19 million worth of investment along the County Street corridor over the next— over the next 6 years or so.

So that's a tremendous investment.

Work has been going well.

Contractor's on schedule.

And as of right now, we don't see any delays to go beyond 2028.

Excellent.

So with that, I'll take any questions.

Yeah, Councilor Lopes.

Thank you, Council Chairwoman.

So Sean, my biggest gripe, and I've, I've talked to you, I've talked to Jamie, is when they close off both sides of the street and there are businesses that run that entire length of the street, and when they block it off, the detour basically alleviates any business traffic to those communities.

And when this originally started, myself, Councilor Gonzales, Councilor Dua— and that, that's how long this funding mechanism has gone on for— we were assured in this room, and the only people here would be Councilor Gomez, myself, and, and Councilor Carney, that the roads would be open to both pedestrians to use and traffic for the business community, that we would not shut off County Street, which, as you said, is the main thoroughfare, one of the main thoroughfares in the city.

And last summer, I don't know how many times I had to call Jamie because from St. James Church to right around the pizza parlor on the corner, you couldn't get anywhere.

And then miraculously, the next day, one lane is open.

We already lost one restaurant.

You know, the Portuguese restaurant that used to be the old— Nova Mundo.

Nova Mundo.

She closed.

She does live in Ward 5.

And one of the reasons why she closed was nobody could get to her restaurant.

So my biggest concern is making sure that the thoroughfare, at least one way is open for traffic to go either north or south.

Because as we're encroaching up, those next 2 years, are all in Ward 5.

And, and I love Jamie and I love talking to him, but he doesn't love it when I call him and say, what the hell is going on?

So my biggest concern is I want to make sure that the road is open to traffic.

And then the other thing is nobody wants a porta-john in front of their house for 45 days, 60 days, or when a snowstorm happens and the porta-john is destroyed and it stays there for 3 weeks after the snow's been removed.

And instead of replacing the old one, they plop a brand new one next to the one that's broken.

I understand it's a MassDOT project, so a little is out of our control.

But then at the same time, When I call District 5 and they say, yeah, we'll get to that porta-john, that's not the attitude that District 5 should have with the city either.

So my biggest concern is not just the equipment on the street, making sure it's open, but that also we're having it cleaned on a pseudo-regular basis because the dirt, the grime, all of that affects people's their air conditioning when they're turning it on, and the quality of life in the neighborhood does drop a little bit.

So those are my biggest concerns.

And those are all great concerns, Councilor.

Um, we have started— and you are 100% correct, this is a MassDOT-administered project.

They fund it, they oversee the contractor.

The city unfortunately is on the back side of getting all of the complaints from the residents.

And we have now started having routine meetings with the contractor on a weekly basis to discuss issues.

If we receive anything into our— into our department, we're bringing it up with them, like the porta-john issue.

The dust issue is now going to become more prevalent because it's becoming the summertime and it's been very, very dry.

So we want to make sure that they're keeping the site extremely clean.

Um, the issues with the detours, I know that has been a problem.

We have been trying to work with the contractor to make sure that he does maintain at least one lane of traffic, and it is written into his contract that he has to do that except for when paving.

Okay, now when he's paving, right, they can't have cars driving on the new pavement or it's going to get— or it's going to get ruined, right?

So I think we all understand that.

I do know that prior to the start of construction, Eversource Gas was working in there.

They had to do work prior to the current contractor.

We did have some issues with them closing down streets that we were unaware of.

We were working with them to try to mitigate that.

And if that was the case, then we would make some phone calls.

And as you noted, that the next day the road was open because we basically told them, you need to open this road, you cannot close this road.

So phase 1, you know, you're starting out.

It's a long project.

I think we worked out a lot of the kinks with the contractor.

I think he's starting to get into a good rhythm.

But as you pointed out, there are still things that we need to make sure that we as a city and a community stay on top of them.

We cannot have them simply just going in there and running, you know, running a fly-by-night operation, which we will not tolerate.

So these weekly meetings that we're having with them have been good.

We're working out issues and they're being told that they cannot do this or that.

You have to adhere to the contract.

And they've been very good with us, trying to work with us to address those issues.

Sean, I appreciate you and the entire team at DPI.

I really do.

So, and I know I can always call you or call Jamie.

So 100%.

And I appreciate that.

So thank you.

And I appreciate you listening to what I had for comments.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And thank you, Council Chair.

Councilor Gomes.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Sean, thank you for being here, and, um, thanks for your, um, approach to— even though it's a state project, it's our city.

You have to deal with those residents.

You dealt with them early on, the department, and then public meetings or whatever.

Know how they were concerned about their frontages of their houses and some walls that had been built by dads and stuff like that.

Yeah, I think it's been a good ride so far because I do check with some of them constituents.

But I— your attitude to be there to make sure that them residents are protected, I think, is very important.

I got a couple of things.

Can you tell me why some of these sidewalks are being being punched out into the road where they're extended, like on Union Street here.

Um, extension out, I think there's one around— what do they call them?

Bump-outs?

Pop-outs?

Yeah, bump-outs.

Yeah, bump-outs.

Curb extensions, bump-outs.

Yeah, yeah.

Why is that?

We're taking away some parking, and I find them to be in like the craziest areas, like that curve at South Street down down there.

Why?

I'm going to try to answer.

I also have Lisa Sherman of CDM Smith.

She's the designer of record if we have any other questions.

She may need to help me answer some of these.

But typically bump-outs are made to shorten pedestrian crossings to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street.

It also allows the pedestrian to have a better sight line when you're crossing.

So if you have a vehicle that's parked and you're trying to like walk across the street.

You sort of have to like nudge your way out, poke your head around the corner, and if there's somebody driving fast, you're gonna get hit if you don't see them, right?

So the bump-outs allow the pedestrians to basically be out, still safe in traffic— not in traffic— and being able to see around the parked cars.

The second thing that it does is it promotes traffic calming.

So it visually narrows the road for the drivers.

And slows speed down.

So that's why we do it.

It being a main street, and as you know, bus traffic, truck traffic going through the city, we have several businesses on County Street in that area or whatever.

Is there some consideration for just enough room so that— it just seems like— I had the same problem, you know, when we did down East Rodney French Boulevard.

That all of a sudden went from what it was Whoa, wait a minute.

Oh yeah, gotten kind of used to it.

It is what it is or whatever, but I'm just saying County Street just, um, it just seems to be narrowing up a little.

And, uh, it, it is, uh, and we said— I don't know how much we narrowed it.

I know that one foot on either side.

So except for where the box— you wanna— yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm Lisa Sherman.

I'm with CDM Smith.

I'm the project manager and engineer of record for the project.

Excuse me, could you bring the mic down?

Speak into the mic.

I'm Lisa Sherman from CDM Smith, and I'm the engineer of record, project manager for the project, for the design.

So it should be 7-foot parking lanes and 11-foot travel lanes.

That's consistent with what MassDOT standards are for an arterial corridor.

And so if memory serves, we were just taking 1 foot on either side away from the roadway.

So the parking went from 8 foot down to 7 feet.

And that was to give more room on the sidewalk.

More room on the sidewalk.

Okay.

But we've got streetlight— all new street lighting that's going in.

So we have to make sure we have that compliance around the street lighting, trees.

That was the next question, the street lighting.

Are you— who places the lights where they're going?

So those lights, we do— we have electrical engineers that work on the project.

And they do what's called a photometric analysis to make sure that the amount of foot candles that are put out by the streetlights is adequate.

Because we don't want to have dark spots in between streetlights.

So that's how that was calculated, and that's what those placements are all about.

I'm sure you heard about one complaint that came from around Washington Square area, right where the liquor store was, where that light was.

Yeah, Sean, I know you did.

And I think some of my colleagues also had to hear about that one.

Just thought it was just too close to the corner.

And as I tried to explain, it was a DOT project, and and they're mapping this out also, that them lights being placed on a corner such as that intersection was to light it up because of the pedestrian crossing that happens from 6th Street, County Street, Washington Street coming from the south side.

Is that why?

Yes.

I mean, it's really— it's all based on the photometrics, but we also want to pay attention to crosswalk locations to make sure there's adequate lighting for those.

I think there was an incident years ago because it was too dark near Blackmere Street.

Blackmere, that's where there was one south of Rivet.

Yeah, so we really wanted to— our design is intended to light.

Okay, so you also— where these trees— with these trees, I'm sorry, where these lights are being placed, but there is consideration where the tree is located, how it will grow grow into this and keep that lighting on County Street?

Yes.

And as visible as we possibly can?

Yes.

And there is— there will be some maintenance at some point when the trees grow to their mature height, which DPI was prepared for.

Okay.

Um, Cape Verdean Square, um, down there, um, any damages or equipment left on?

Are we going back in there as we have always done?

Is the DOT going back in there and make sure that the grass is put back, everything is the way it's supposed to be?

Yes.

Any damage to temporary easements that we acquired will be fully restored, including the sidewalks.

Well, we're putting the sidewalks on County Street, but anything in that square would be much appreciated.

Anything that's damaged by the contractor will be fully restored.

And remind me to talk to you before you leave because I got a project for you.

All right, um, the second thing is, um, we talked about the sidewalks.

They're called bump-outs now, so now I know the right term for that.

Yeah.

Um, the only thing is, a lot— Sean, is, is— and not necessarily to do with this project, but some of the other projects that I'm watching— these streets are just getting paved.

Why are we coming back and putting seal crack in the middle?

And seal crack's my friend, you know that from way back with Ron LaBelle when nobody knew about seal crack, and then I brought it up and we started using it.

Why are they putting that down the middle of the strip when we should be going curb to curb with the asphalt?

So crack sealing, as you pointed out— What is causing that?

Is it causing the way we're putting that asphalt down?

No, it's the seam down the middle of the road.

So it's a preventative maintenance type of activity.

So crack sealing prevents— for those of you that don't know what crack sealing is, it's rubberized liquid asphalt that's heated and basically injected into cracks in the pavement.

So if you're driving down the street, you see all these black lines all over the place, that's what this is.

So what councilor is asking about is on a new road, when you pave, the paver is only so wide, right?

So we can't pave in one swath down the road.

In addition, the road has a crown, right?

So that crown may be off-centered or wherever it ends up based on the design, but they'll pave up to that crown and then they'll pave the other side depending upon how the width of the road is.

And a typical city street, they can do it in 2 passes because the road is— the paver is enough to get both, just do it in 2 passes.

Where it meets, there's a seam.

So as a preventive maintenance activity, to prevent water from getting in there and causing the road to prematurely fail, we've been crack sealing down, down at those seams.

Okay, um, I'm, I'm going back in time, you know, like when we do a Cushion Avenue from, um, 140 to the Freetown line, uh, and I don't know if that was a deal.

That's, that's a Lisa project.

Was that yours too, way back then?

It seemed like we went curb to curb back then.

There had to be a seal.

Well, I see seal crack on it now and I get a little nervous because I say, well, Brian, you were here when they put that new road down back in the beginning in the '90s.

It's one of the first things— go ahead.

May I?

Yes, that was one of my projects too.

That was built in 2007, so we're actually coming up on its 20-year lifespan.

Span.

So the crack sealing is trying to help extend that life as much as possible.

And as Sean mentioned, we're trying to keep water from getting in because the second you get water in, now you've got the freeze-thaw cycle.

OK.

I was just wondering from— it seemed like back in the day we used to go curb to curb.

But now putting that down the middle, I thought it somewhat— the road didn't last as long.

Them things work.

But it makes sense what you're saying, and, and you educated me.

When you're meeting that peak or whatever, also has to do with waters coming down, such as this morning.

If that wasn't like that, the water is puddling up or whatever.

And I thank you for the education on that.

And, and that's it.

And, um, just always keep the public in, in mind and the businesses, as you've heard from my colleagues.

I think that is so important that they have their opportunity and to get to their homes and also to do business as they always do.

Agreed 100%.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Thank you, Councilor Gomes.

Councilor Baptiste.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry, answering a family call.

Sean, how you doing today?

Great, how are you?

And, um, I just want to just make sure everybody knows that, Councilor Lopes, this is not just going through Ward 5, it is Ward 4, so you can't be selfish about County Street.

Half of it is Ward 4's.

But Sean, just like the good councilor from Ward 5 said, the only couple of complaints I've had— and we've talked about the whole, you know, we know about the project and everything going on, and hopefully it goes smooth and everything gets fixed up correctly.

But the only problems that I had from constituents on the Ward 4 side of the street is blocking of driveways and people not being able to get into their houses and having late trash pickups because they can't put trash out and they don't know where to put the trash so the garbage can come pick up the trash.

So they was left with, you know, a couple of weeks with not getting trash and not knowing where to put it, not being able to park in front of their houses and not park in front of their houses, but get into their driveways and have access to get in and out, especially people that, you know, that work during the day.

And, you know, some people work from home and they have to shuttle in and out as well.

So those are the only concerns that I had.

And I just want you to understand that.

But thank you for all you do.

And if I have any problems, I call.

So have a good one, guys.

And thank you as well.

Thank you for coming.

Thank you, Councilor Baptiste.

Anybody else?

Councilor Pereira, would you like to keep this on the table?

I'll make motion to table at this time.

Right, okay.

So any more questions for either?

Second.

No?

Okay, so motion on the floor made by Councilor Pereira to table and seconded by Councilor Abreu.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you for the update, and we'll see you back in a few months for probably another update.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Item number 1 is now before you.

It's a communication, Mayor Mitchell to the City Council, submitting the reappointment of Ricard Rosendiz, uh, New Bedford, Mass., to the licensing board.

This term will expire in June 2032.

It wasn't— it wasn't on the table.

We know.

Yeah, no, we didn't.

We just We just pushed it back to the end of the agenda because motion made by Councilor Bergold to receive place on file, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Hello, welcome.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Okay, okay, so questions?

Do you want to just give them that little update on the license board, what's been going on?

Oh, well, um, as far as updates, what's going on, I learned recently that the office is going to be moved to the Health Department.

Uh, they cut one of the positions in the office, uh, this administrative clerk there that assisted Miss Amaral.

Uh, so she's going to be, uh, I believe, a one-person show for the time being.

She does a great job.

Also, we've had some turnover in the licensing board.

My commissioners, one of them has only been on for maybe a year.

I took over the chairman's position since last year, since last summer, I believe.

We— I apologize first off for being late for this meeting.

We had a 6 PM meeting tonight, and as soon as we finished, I made my way up here.

Uh, if anybody has any questions, I'd be more than happy to discuss.

Yeah, okay, so we get questions open.

Councilor Burgum.

Yes, uh, congratulations on your recent appointment, Chairman.

Thank you, Councilor.

Um, I guess I'll start off, um, on my concern around hearings being on Zoom.

There's been, you know, I had a situation I don't know if you're aware of.

I had spoken with the solicitor's office where I, as a city councilor, elected official, was attempting to be a part of a public hearing and I wasn't able to.

Which, which hearing was it?

It was for the Morna Lounge.

Was that with the ABC?

Yes, for their extension of their hours.

Um, and it's just, it's chaotic, I guess, is the, the thought process is like, I, I get it.

It's one of those things like we have hearings too.

That's why we typically have them in person because it's hard to kind of organize when it's virtual.

So I guess that's my question is how can we better facilitate that if we do decide?

I get the idea of having it virtual.

Sometimes it's more accessible for people.

But I think oftentimes we're finding, not just with the licensing board but with the planning board, with the zoning board, we're seeing it more and more that it's not very accessible for the people, maybe for the board.

So I guess that's my first question, is, is there other ways that we maybe can streamline that and make it more accessible for the people of New Bedford?

Councilor, I will go on record as saying I am not a fan of Zoom.

I am not a fan of Zoom.

When I first became a commissioner, we were in Zoom meetings.

The reason being is because we were dealing in— we're coming off of COVID So we transitioned back to live meetings.

If the ABCC posts a Zoom meeting, that's beyond our office's control.

I can— I don't foresee any circumstance that we would have a Zoom meeting go as it relates to a local meeting.

I don't— I'm not a fan of Zoom meetings.

I like the back and forth.

I like to see the individuals in person.

I'm not a fan of Zoom meetings.

I don't anticipate anything going forward.

She calls it Hollywood squares.

Yeah, she doesn't like it either.

So I guess that brings me to my next question about what do you believe is the licensing board's responsibility when it comes to ensuring meaningful public participation in proceedings?

Well, the licensing board responsibility as far as having the public engage is in posting our meetings and invite public to make input.

We just had a meeting downstairs with an establishment that we've been having problems with, and we gave everyone who was willing to speak ample time to to verbalize their frustrations with the establishment as it pertains to noise and so forth affecting that neighborhood.

We put great value on individuals coming to the meeting because we know they're taking time out of their busy lives, okay, to talk about an issue.

Okay.

So I think that's paramount.

And for, for the licensing board is to hear, you know, because we promote— we want to promote business in this city.

Okay, but my biggest concern is the residents who are living next to these establishments.

So any feedback I get from the residents, okay, we want to give them ample opportunity to address us.

Well, I, I hear you say ample opportunity.

I, and I do sometimes see that, like for example during the testimony I did get to hear on that Zoom call.

I think that oftentimes what's lost though is that you allow Whoever, like, if you, you know, this person next up, whoever's going to speak, you allow them to speak for however long.

But then when the board decides, okay, we've heard enough, only maybe 5 people have gotten to speak.

That's why here, for example, at city council, yeah, to make sure we hear from as many people as possible, we limit the amount of time.

Say, oh, we have 100 people in the room, we're going to limit comment to 2 minutes per person.

So that way it in that opportunity, it might not be ample amount of time.

Maybe someone wants to speak for 5 minutes, but we get to hear from more people, hear from a diverse group of people in that sense.

And the only reason why I bring that up is because, you know, obviously my most recent experience was with the, the Moana Lounge case, but we know there's been past experiences with the licensing board where the ample time that you're referring to, it was, it was cut off, where only a certain number of individuals were given the ample time to speak?

Uh, I believe the, uh, the, uh, meeting you were referencing was a couple years ago regarding the NIP ban.

Okay, I wasn't, I wasn't the chairperson, but when you have a room full of people, I think we want to hear as much feedback as we can, but we also have to be courteous to everybody in that room to give them an opportunity.

And give, you know, the appropriate amount of time and then start to cut it off because some people just ramble on.

You know, if I can just speak in layman's terms, as the commissioner, I probably need to do a better job running the meeting by giving people a little more time.

Okay.

But I think what comes into factor is how many people are there.

If you have a room full of people and you want to give everybody an opportunity to speak, Okay, unless you're going to have the meeting for 6 hours, you want to try to be courteous to everybody, but try to limit a speaker.

Again, as I mentioned, it's not about— I'm not sure if that's the answer you're looking for.

I'm not looking for any particular answer.

You say whatever your heart has you say.

I'm not looking for any answer that— Again, also, I'm not referring to any particular meeting.

To me, I'm showcasing a pattern that I think is showcasing— and again, the other part too I want to mention is not necessarily that I feel as though people should be able to speak for however long as they want.

As I just pointed out to you, the city council limits the amount of time.

You can't get up here during citizens input time and speak for 10, 20 minutes.

We limit— I think it's 3 minutes.

So that's what I'm trying to say to you now is that I don't that the licensing board should allow people to get up there and speak for an hour or however long.

What I'm saying though is that you should allow more than 1 or 2 people.

And by, by shortening and by stating at the top, like for example, I'm just using the Morning Lounge experience because it was the most recent one.

If you had said maybe at the beginning of that meeting, hey, we have a lot of people on this Zoom, I see.

Because there's about 30 people I'm seeing right now, I'm not sure if all 30 are going to speak.

However, because all, all 30 might speak, I'm going to limit each person to 2 minutes, and I'm stating that right now.

So when you get on, you will be timed, and at the 2-minute mark, you will be cut off.

So that way we can get to as many people as possible.

That— if that's stated.

But instead, what typically happens at these meetings is you allow someone to get on They ramble on for however long.

They try to get in all these points.

And I think you're doing it to be fair, which I'll give you that credit, which I appreciate.

And you're trying to navigate that fairness.

And they're speaking maybe 5, just like I am right now, rambling on, talking for 5, 10 minutes.

I won't cut you off.

I appreciate that.

But you're talking for 5, 10 minutes.

And then before you know it, you know, like you're saying, we're halfway through the meeting.

You only got through 2 people, and then you have to say, obviously, as a commissioner, all right, now we've heard enough testimony.

And you might be right in that sense.

We've heard 30 minutes of testimony, but only 3 people have spoken, and now 10 people are still waiting.

So then you— the general public that are there feel disenfranchised in that moment.

So that's why, just for me, I just wonder, for the city council here, what confidence do we have that if you continue on with this board, how will you— what changes, especially now that you're the chairman?

I, I don't know how the terms work, um, if you'll, uh, if you get voted on as chairman every year or if they have a vote for that.

If you'll continue on in this leadership role, what changes will you make to ensure that accessibility will change?

Councilor, the points you just brought up, I will, I will, uh, going forward, I will work towards improving that.

I appreciate that.

And I guess my last question I'll ask is just about when you're coming to the decisions that you have to make on the licensing board, which I think are really important in a city like New Bedford with the amount of licenses that we have out there.

What information do you typically rely on when making a decision?

What I rely on is if we have abutters, okay, constituents that live in the neighborhoods, Okay, because I give them a lot of weight.

I get— I give their statements a lot of weight.

I rely on the police reports, okay?

I rely on the calls for service, okay?

Not only the police reports, but how many times the officers are being dispatched there.

Because what if they're being dispatched to that location, okay?

They're not patrolling a neighborhood, okay?

They could be— they're being tied up because of the disturbances or whatever the case may be at that particular establishment.

So I put great weight in that.

Also.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Burgos.

Anybody else have any questions?

Councilor Pereira.

Thank you.

So, Ricardo, basically just building a little bit more off of the— my colleague who spoke before me's points, but when building and framing up a in hearing these testimonies.

One thing that I have concerns with a lot of boards is, you know, obviously you're going to take advice from the police department, great resource, the ABUTAs, great resources, legal advice from the city's staff, absolutely.

But at the end of the day, the decision rests with you.

You serving as a commissioner, almost even more on a smaller board, right?

You have— it's a 3-member board.

There's a lot of weight per vote, and you have that sole discretion of how to vote, how to make the motion.

And I think a lot of times the city doesn't do a very good job explaining that to you, and not just you, but boards in general.

And now that you're in a leadership role, I just want you to continue to remember that at the end of the day, the authority rests with you, no one else.

And while you might have procedure to fulfill, you execute that authority the best way you see fit.

And I have concerns sometimes that the lawyer sometimes might throw in some language to scare— not scare, but direct and influence where they should be just giving neutral legal advice.

The decision rests with you, and the decision rests with your board and your fellow commissioners commissioners and board members in every board in the city.

I agree.

Okay.

I agree.

At the end of the day, I have to look in the mirror.

Yeah.

Okay.

Exactly.

I agree.

I agree with what you're saying.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

That's that.

Councilor April.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good evening.

Thanks for coming in.

2 of your colleagues on the licensing Board who are somewhat newer appointees, as you referenced, Mr. McHugh and Mr. Dee.

I asked them both the same questions about being free thinkers, right, despite what the political pressure might be from the corner office or from any special or regular interest groups out there, abutters.

And they both pledged that they would be free thinkers and they would go through that process based on the information they've gathered.

I don't know if we had the chance to talk about that, but talk about yourself and trying to be a free thinker and not kowtowing to any kind of maybe political pressure you may be getting.

And, you know, I think about, like, for example, the knit ban that came, you know, that was instituted by the board back in 2023.

I know obviously it's before the courts now, and there was an injunction put forth by the courts, and It's in discovery phase, and there'll be a pretrial end of this year, so that's still before the courts.

But talk about that a little bit, about kind of making a decision, or at least trying to, based on the information you're getting or how you feel, despite whatever political pressure you might be getting, calls from mayors and so forth and so on, about being an independent voice voice and threading that needle, right, between public safety and accountability, but also not being bureaucratic in the sense of stalling business, stalling commerce.

So can you talk a little bit about that?

Sure.

Uh, just for the record, uh, the mayor has never called me.

I've never had a conversation with him on the phone.

Never.

Uh, well, I didn't say you had.

No, no, but I'm just put— I'm just, I'm just I'm going into— I'm just giving a background.

Okay.

When I took this position, all right, I served on the police department for 32 years, and I just before I retired, I ran an investigative unit.

Okay.

I'll bring up the knit ban.

Okay.

There was a lot of— there was a lot of talk in the media about the proposed knit ban and so forth.

How I approached that, I went for a walk.

All right?

I live in the far north end of New Bedford.

Okay?

I went for a walk a week before because I was on the fence because I'm not a big regulation guy.

I'm not.

Okay?

But I went for a walk.

I went for about an hour walk on Christian Avenue in the Sasquatch area.

I counted.

I started counting all the little nip bottles I'd see along the roadway during my walk.

I was kind of shocked because I never looked for them before.

I was kind of shocked how much I actually saw.

I also got information from a neighboring police department.

I still may have the information where a police chief gave an interview and he indicated that Nip bans, okay, are good for public safety because what happens is individuals are going— just to summarize, individuals will go to a liquor store, buy a can of soda, buy the nip, pour it into their can of soda, and drive down the road drinking an alcoholic beverage.

Okay?

This way, if they get pulled over and they're tossing the nip bottles out the window, so if they get pulled over, there's going to be no evidence of alcohol in the car.

Power.

All right, so as a police officer, 32 years, yeah, that, that, that played a, uh, that played a lot of weight on my person, in my mind.

Okay, but I based my decision on my walk and how much litter I saw on the ground.

Now what's interesting, Councilor, I didn't know we're going to be talking about this tonight.

I spent a lot of time walking my daughter's dog And I see less on the ground now.

I don't know if all the media hype concerning the NIP ban and the pending litigation and so forth and the reason why with littering and so forth, I didn't know if that was— if that acted as some sort of public service announcement.

I still find bottles on the ground, but I'm not seeing as many as I used to.

So again, when I— at the end of the day, I look in the mirror and I got to base my decisions on how I feel.

This is, uh, this, this job on the licensing board, okay, it doesn't— it, it's not my sole source of income, as I, I'll say, okay?

I, I do it as a service to the city, okay?

I'm not a— I'm not a person that bows to political pressure because at the end of the day I have to look in the mirror and that's how I make my decisions.

Well, I appreciate your candor and your service.

I'm not going to get into the rabbit hole of bureaucracy and fearmongering and all that and the reefer madness around alcohol.

We're not here to talk about that.

We've litigated that in these chambers.

That's not on the question right now.

So we'll leave that for another day.

But And I believe you when you say the administration hasn't called you to vote a certain way, but I just— the regulation to institute the NIP ban, where did that come from then?

Because you had a piece of paper that was before you with a written motion that was there to adopt it, so that came from someone and somewhere.

Who— I was provided some material from the solicitor's office to read.

So it was from the administration though?

I'm assuming so, yes.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilor Avril.

Anybody else?

Councilor Gomes.

Thank you very much, Madam Chairman.

I, I don't really have any questions for— I still want to call you Officer Resendiz, and, um, I've just known you for a long time, and I know your caliber of person that you are, and you're exactly right what you have told this council tonight.

You're not politically pushed.

You're not motivated by political mayors or anything like that.

And you never was like that, even on the police department.

You, as what I have seen from you, and I know you because I'm here already, I'm showing the time that I've been here when you get on, and you always was a good officer on the street, even when you got into your rank.

You continue to be the same officer that I knew when you got on the force, and that was no nonsense.

Do my job, I go home, I sleep soundly.

You have done this job to the best of your abilities, and I just want to commend you.

You have had some tough issues to deal with.

You— I've been to a couple of license boards where you're dealing with some of the problem areas of the city, and you take the appropriate action.

I am basically a fan of yours and have been a fan of yours, whether you know that or not, even while on the department.

So what I'm saying to you is just keep doing the job that you're doing, the leadership role that you're playing.

We always have a space in positions where we can grow, we can open our minds, we can listen to others and make that decision.

I think you're that type of guy.

And I just wanted to make that statement.

And I appreciate what you do, and not only your years of service on the department, but coming to the licensing board, which is one of the most powerful boards in the city.

I was just talking to my colleague to my left.

I've known about this board for a long time, going way back when I worked in the industry, when Morris Levesque is the chairman and he has his members or whatever.

There is one thing I want to ask you.

Do you— do you still go out on Friday, Saturday nights doing some calls on the bars?

I, I haven't gone out on a Friday, Saturday night.

A lieutenant from the South End Station reached out to me on my cell phone maybe a month ago, and he had some concerns about a package store.

So I made an unannounced visit at the package store.

As soon as they opened.

Is that something that the license board would consider?

I'm not saying every Friday and Saturday night, because, um, you know as well as I do, going back in your years, when the license board did hit the streets on a Friday or Saturday night, by the time you left the first, um, bar, they— the phones were ringing across the city that the license board is out and there's a possibility they may come in.

I, I'd like— I'd like not that fear, but that idea of you can pop up anytime, you and your staff, just to make sure that things are running properly, not to invade.

And as you have said earlier tonight, you're a guy about regulation, but you're not a guy about regulating people.

But just making that appearance, letting them know that the license board is functioning and we could come in at any time, especially when you've had complaints from a neighborhood.

Or whatever to get your first eye look on it.

Yeah, absolutely.

I'd be in favor of that.

I'd be— I, I would support that.

Thank you very much.

And I hope you would take that into consideration, especially during the warm, um, uh, weather times when a lot more people are out in the evenings, just to make sure that everybody's up to standards.

And, and it's, it's not because we want to be evil in any way, or you're looking to suspend anyone's license or whatever.

We just got rules and regs that we have to run under the laws of the liquor establishments throughout the city.

And again, you, you, you have the biggest power in this city under that licensing board because of what you control.

And I appreciate it.

Thank you, Councilor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Yes, thank you, Councilor Gomes.

Councilor Roy.

Hi.

Thanks.

I just, I'm just curious, the licensing board is a stipended position, right?

Correct.

One of the only boards in commissions, correct, in the city that provides— what's the stipend just for the public?

Mine is $66 a week.

$66 a week?

Yeah.

Is that enough to go out on Friday nights?

Like, like, counselor, I'm not— I don't drink, so maybe enough for me, but thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

Okay.

Yeah, I'm good.

What are you getting at, council?

Thank you, Councilor Roy.

Anybody else?

Seeing none, gentlemen, motion to refer to the full City Council for confirmation.

Motion made by Councilor Gomes to refer to the full City Council for confirmation.

Councilor Lopes seconded it.

All on the question?

Councilor Barraza, um, I just wanted to mention that this, uh, Chairman Resendiz sent his paperwork, um, to the mayor's office back in March.

Which is great, but it took the mayor 2 months to send it down to us.

I'm only highlighting it because of the fact that this is the administration that tells us they're so efficient and they do such great work.

This is why, for example, his term technically expires in a week and it will not make it in time.

It will be on July 16th's council agenda.

By that time, his term will technically have expired, but by Mass General Law, he can continue serving.

So there will be no interruption.

But I'm just making that note that this is the type of administration that we have, that even with all the staff that they have, they continue to make all of these mistakes and delays, even when people properly notify them and give them all of the things that they need to send down to us.

And I also want to take this opportunity to thank Captain Resendiz for his 32 years and his service on the license board.

I will say also that I appreciate his comments that he is looking to make some reforms to license board.

I will hope to see some of those changes, and I appreciate his time tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Burgow.

Anybody else on the question?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

And we'll see you if you want to come in on the 16th, um, the 16th, and we can swear you in then.

If not, you know the drill.

You can go see Dennis, um, Farias in the office to get sworn in after.

Thank you, Councilor.

Thank you very much, and thank you for your service.

Madam Chair, motion to waive items 6 through 13 and refer up to the full city council for no further action.

And waive the reading.

10.

Yeah, I know.

Made by Councilor Burgos, second by Councilor Pereira.

Severing item 10.

Excuse me, did you say severing number 10?

Severing number 10.

I understand trying to get rid of all the other stuff, but yep, no problem.

Okay, severing number 10.

Okay, second was Councilor Burgos and Councilor Lopes.

Oh, there was multiple.

Madam Chairman?

Yes.

And the reason I'm asking for the survey, I understand the other stuff going away, but it's on record of what this council did to address the parallel project right from the get-go and along the way.

The second thing is with the Berkeley School, we did meet last year once with Jackie Santos, professor, and some other people.

I, I would like to keep this where it is for now.

Absolutely.

And if at our earliest convenience, I will talk to Jackie and get back to you and, and let you know whether we should come before you or we're going to let this go.

But it was something that is still on the— Absolutely.

Okay, it's a good motion.

I just put there because I was looking to clean the agenda and to put new motions on so we could just readdress it, new motion.

And we're going to be doing that with the other the other motions, they'll be putting something new.

I understand the current stuff, and I understand Councilor Burgos was trying to clean that up real quick.

Yeah.

Yes.

Okay, all in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Motion to adjourn.

Motion made to adjourn by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Pereira.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

We are adjourned at 8:17 PM.

Thank you all for coming.