City Council — March 12, 2026

New Bedford City Council Mar 12, 2026 Watch source Clip View meeting agenda

The New Bedford City Council meeting on March 12, 2026, was presided over by President Ryan J. Pereira. The session began with routine formalities, and a letter was read into the record regarding the absence of Councillor Ian Abreu. The council held public hearings for three Eversource Energy projects to install underground conduits on Coffin Avenue, Acushnet Avenue, and Foley Drive, all of which were unanimously approved. Following the hearings, the council addressed several communications from Mayor Jon Mitchell. A loan order for $13,787,624 for roof replacement and accessibility upgrades at the Alfred J. Gomes Elementary School was passed to a second reading. Two proposed ordinances, one for stormwater management and another for municipal facility conversion, were referred to committee. The appointment of Kendra Parker to the Board of Assessors was tabled, while the appointment of Renee Ledbetter to the Election Commission was referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings. The council waived its rules to immediately approve the appointment of Virginia J. Senna Davis to the Veterans Advisory Board with a 10-0 vote, a measure taken to help the board meet its quorum requirements. Under new business, several motions from Councillor Brian K. Gomes were discussed. A motion to investigate the recent change of public access channel numbers was referred to committee, with several councillors expressing concern about public notification. Another motion to hold a debrief on the "blizzard of 2026" and create a storm playbook was referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods. A motion to rename a portion of Emerson Street as "Charles Manuel Bishop Daddy Grace Way" received unanimous co-sponsorship from the entire council before being referred to the Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications. The council also approved two private livery license renewals, referred one to committee, and referred the Community Preservation Committee's FY26 funding recommendations to the Finance Committee before adjourning.

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