City Council — April 23, 2026

Testing 1, 2, 3.

Testing 1, 2, 3.

All right, thank you, guys.

Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the City Council meeting, Thursday, April 23rd.

It is now 7:03 and we're ready to begin.

I am Naomi Carney, Second Vice President, and I'll be presiding over the meeting this evening.

In prayer, we have Dr. Sandra Whitley from the Beth AME Church.

Reverend Whitley, thank you for coming.

Good evening.

Good evening.

All right, well, let us pray.

Amen.

Eternal God, gracious and loving Creator, our Heavenly Father, we declare that we love you and thank you that you have made the way of love known through your Son Jesus Christ We pray that you will continue to reveal this great love to us all tonight as we've gathered one more time to tend to the business of this great city, New Bedford.

Lead us by your spirit to praise you.

So as we've gathered this evening to do the work of our community, aware that we are sustained by your unmerited favor, and as we convene, we ask for an abundance of grace, a triple portion of your wisdom, patience, and love to fill this room.

I pray for the agenda set before these, your chosen and called out ones, will give an assurance of what would please you and what would benefit those who live and work and around this city.

The decisions that are made here tonight will be marked by grace, bringing healing, unity, and progress to our city.

So may your amazing grace, which meets us where we are, but refuses to leave us in selfishness, inspire our leaders, the mayor, the city staff, the city councilors to act with integrity and compassion.

We ask for the humility to listen to different viewpoints and the courage to serve all citizens, particularly those most vulnerable among us for such a time as this.

Prepare the city to receive an outpouring of your Holy Spirit, empowering each one of us our families and the citizens, foreigners, individual and their families of the city to receive your breath of your Holy Spirit.

We pray that you strengthen us and help each one to trust you more, more than fears and our wounds and even our accomplishments.

May we lean on your everlasting arms tonight for peace that will bring forth rejoicing in you, Lord, always.

So let us not be anxious about anything, But every situation, we bring it before you in prayer and petition with thanksgiving, presenting our requests to you.

Thank you for the opportunity you have given these, your elected officials, to serve this beloved city of light and salvation.

That peace be with each one of us in the loving and forgiving name of our Savior Jesus, who cares all about New Bedford, the light of Christ.

And so as we say it together, Amen and amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Reverend Whitley.

And tonight we'll be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Council Ward 3, Sean Oliver.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you, Councilor.

Okay, 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.

Just so the public will know, the next regular scheduled City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 12th, to the holy day of obligation on May 14th, 2026.

The deadline to submit agenda items is Thursday, May 7th, 2006 at 10:00 a.m., and the agenda will be published on Friday, May 8th.

Thank you.

Joining me in, in, in the chambers are my colleagues in government: Councilor-at-Large Ian Abreu, Councilor Ward 2 Scott Pemberton, Councilor Ward 1 Leo Choquette, Councilor-at-Large Brian K. Gomes, Councilor-at-Large James Roy, Councilor Ward 3 Sean Oliver, and Councilor Ward 4 Derek Baptiste.

Thank you all for being here.

Do we have anything to read in the records?

Madam President, we have 3 letters.

The first is from Councilor Brigo.

Dear Council Vice President Carney and honorable members of the council, I am writing to inform you that I'll be unable to attend the city council meeting on Thursday, April 23rd, 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.

Excuse me.

Sincerely, Shane A. Burgrow, Councillor at Large.

Second is from Councillor Lopes.

Dear Second Vice President Carney and honourable members of the council, I am writing to inform you that I'll be unable to attend the city council meeting on Thursday, April 23rd due to a work commitment.

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

Sincerely, Joseph P. Lopes, Councillor Board 5.

And the third letter, Madam Vice President, is from Councilor Pereira.

Dear Second Vice President Carney and honorable members of the council, I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend the city council meeting on Thursday, April 23rd, due to a personal commitment.

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

Sincerely, Ryan J. Pereira, Councilor for Ward 6 and Council President.

Motion to receive and place on file.

Motion made by Councilor Roy to receive and place on file.

Second by Councilor Choquette.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Number 1 is before us.

Madam President, item 1 is a hearing from CSL Consulting LLC on behalf of Old Dartmouth Historical Society and the New Bedford Whaling Museum for the location of conduits to be captured and buried below the pedestrian crossing being established in William Street.

This work is necessary to connect the 11 William Street site to the existing museum Site at 18 Johnny Cake Hill, and 1A is the order.

Motion to receive and place on file and open the public hearing.

Second.

Motion made by Councilor Oliver, second by Councilor Gomes.

All in favor of open public hearing say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Public hearing is now open.

Do we have something— do we have somebody here from CSL Consulting LLC?

Yes, right here.

Okay, would you like to approach the podium?

Okay, so you can explain about the project and then we'll open for— Sure.

Oh yeah, I need you— excuse me, I'm sorry— name and address for the record.

Absolutely.

Amanda McMullen, President and CEO of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, 02740.

Brian Pioli, Senior Project Manager, CSL Consulting.

Thank you.

You're on.

Tell you a little bit about it.

So this is for our expansion project on William Street.

Essentially, the petition for location is so that we can put the conduits underneath this.

Thank you.

Lift the mic up some.

Essentially, so we can put the conduits to connect our systems, security systems, electric systems, data between the 2 locations?

That's correct.

So we essentially have the new building adjacent or across the street from the existing museum.

These connect the 2 or allow us to connect the 2 digital systems and electronic systems between the 2 buildings.

Thank you.

Do I have any questions?

Councilor Baptiste.

Thank you, Madam President.

How you doing, guys?

Hi, Amanda.

How's everything?

Thank you.

Good, good.

Thank you.

You're already doing work over there, correct?

Yes.

Will it— will it hinder any of the work that you're doing now?

Will it take any longer?

Like, will the process, you know, like by putting that in there, will it— will it extend the project or will it just be part of the project that you're— that you're doing right now?

I believe it's part of the project, but I'm going to defer to Brian.

I don't believe this petition extends the timeline for the construction at all.

All right.

All right.

That's correct.

Yeah, it does not extend the timeline.

All right.

No, that's all I had to ask because you're already doing the work over there and it's already cut and the street is already blocked off over there.

My question was just to ask if you had any extended time to do it and if it's just going to be done part of the project and all part of the project still on track to open spring of 2027.

That's great.

I can't wait.

I can't wait.

Exciting.

All right.

Thank you.

That's all I have to ask.

Thank you, Councilor Baptiste.

Anybody else?

Have any questions?

Councilor Roy.

So the— hi.

So the street is open to pedestrian traffic right now, the bottom of William, right?

William right now does have sidewalk access, um, at the moment.

That is closed off and fenced for the roadway for cars.

So how, how long will, uh, will this— will this work close the street off to pedestrian traffic?

And if so, for how long?

There's a couple— I'll jump in quickly because there's also work on the plaza that is not related to this petition that will also close it off.

And we're sequencing all of that so that there's not a long duration of any of the pedestrian traffic being, uh, you know, having any conflict with that.

How long do you— the total closure of the plaza in that area is 8 weeks.

8 weeks.

So the total closure of the— for pedestrian access for the plaza in that area.

But keep in mind that That does include, as you mentioned, the work within the plaza to renew the area in front of the museum.

So that's all kind of one large area of work, 8 weeks starting.

There's a sequence on the plaza.

That work is not— we actually had a great neighbors meeting and they all— they asked some of that work to be pushed off to the fall as much as we could.

This is funded by public dollars that do have to be expended by a certain period in 2026.

So threading the needle of pushing that into as far into late August, early September for that.

But there is a whole sequencing of all of the different areas that will be, uh, worked on in terms of the roadway and the plaza.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Roy.

Any other questions?

Seeing none, does anybody in the audience like to speak in favor of this project?

Speak in favor.

Does anybody would like to speak in opposition?

Speak in opposition.

Would anybody like to be recorded in favor?

Be recorded in favor.

Be recorded in opposition.

Recorded in opposition.

Seeing none, colleagues, your pleasure.

Motion to close the public hearing.

Second.

Motion made by Councilor Baptiste to close the public hearing.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

I'm also going to make a motion to grant the street closure as well.

OK.

Adopt the order.

Second.

Yep.

Motion made by Councilor Baptiste to adopt the order, seconded by Councilor Roy.

All in favor of adopting the order say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Madam President, item 2 is a hearing from Enstar Electric Company doing business as Eversource Energy for the location of approximately 100 feet of conduit and one handhole in County Street.

This work is necessary to provide service to 840 County Street, and 2A is the order.

Motion to open the public hearing.

Motion received and placed on file and open the public hearing, made by Councilor April, seconded by Councilor Oliver.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Okay, do we have anybody here from NSTAR?

Nobody's here.

Motion to close the public hearing or suspend the public hearing?

No, we're going to continue the public hearing.

Madam President, uh, motion to continue the public hearing to the Tuesday, May 12th New Bedford City Council meeting at 7 PM in the New Bedford City Council chambers.

Second.

Motion's been made to continue the public hearing to Tuesday, May 12th.

Um, and since we have nobody here, can we take the same action on 3 and 4?

That's fine, yes.

Uh, so I make a motion for items 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 4, 4A to continue all 3 hearings to the full New Bedford City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 12th at 7 PM in the New Bedford City Council chambers.

Motion made by Councilor Abrams, seconded by Councilor Pemberton.

Um, before we take a vote, is anybody in the audience here to speak on any of the petitions on County Street or Bellevue Avenue?

Seeing none, motion made to continue the public hearing.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Okay, number 1 is now before us.

The mayor's papers.

Madam President, M1 is a communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $422,720 from employee benefits purchase of services to auditor salaries and wages in the amount of $6,979, assessor salaries and wages in the amount of $6,939, Treasurer salaries and wages in the amount of $5,703.

City Clerk salaries and wages in the amount of $9,501.

Elections salaries and wages in the amount of $2,493.

Licensing salaries and wages in the amount of $1,238.

Facilities and Fleet salaries and wages in the amount of $100,423.

Police salaries and wages in the amount of $78,379.

Fire salaries and wages in the amount of $3,118.

EMS salaries and wages in the amount of $606.

Inspectional services salaries and wages in the amount of $26,938.

Traffic salaries and wages in the amount of $8,429.

Public infrastructure salaries and wages in the amount of $66,913.

Health salaries and wages in the amount of $20,958.

Veterans salaries and wages in the amount of $5,720, library salaries and wages in the amount of $28,178, Parks and Recreation salaries and wages in the amount of $1,809, and zoo salaries and wages in the amount of $48,396.

This order funds the contract between the City of New Bedford and the Local 851 AFSCME union employees.

M1A is the order.

Colleagues, motion to adopt the order.

Motion made to adopt the order made by Councilor Abreu, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.

Anybody on the question?

Seeing none, roll call vote please.

Roll call vote.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Gomes.

Yes.

Councillor Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Pemberton.

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 8 to 0.

Motion passes 8 to 0.

Madam President, without objection, could we take item M2 through M5 up altogether?

Without objection, we'll be taking items M2, M3, M4, and M5, and we'll, we'll read them, and then we'll take a vote on all of them.

Madam President, M2 is communication from, from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $9,620 from airport stabilization to airport salaries and wages.

M3 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $7,998 from the downtown enterprise fund free cash to downtown salaries and wages.

M4 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $44,837 from Wastewater Enterprise Fund free cash to wastewater salaries and wages.

And M5, Madam President, is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the transfer of $137,293 from Water Enterprise Fund free cash to water salaries and wages.

All of these orders are to fund the contract City of New Bedford and the Local 851 AFSCME union employees.

Motion to adopt items M2 through M5 and waive Rule 38.

Second.

Motion been made by Councilor Abreu to adopt orders M2 through M5.

Second by Councilor Pemberton.

Roll call vote.

Councilor Abreu?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 8-0.

Motion passes 8-0.

Madam President, item M6 is a communication from the mayor to the council submitting the reappointment of Celeste Paleologus of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

This term will expire in December of 2030.

Motion to be received and placed on file and grant the reappointment.

Second.

Motion made to receive and place on file and grant the reappointment by Councilor Baptiste, seconded by Councilor Oliver.

I don't see Celeste here.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

No, no.

Okay, roll call vote.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Oliver.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy.

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 8 to 0.

Madam President, motion passes 8 to 4, and Celeste isn't here, so we can move on to item number 5.

Madam President, item 5 is a loan order appropriating $12,610,194 for the purpose of making critically needed repairs to city-owned buildings.

This was passed to a second reading on March 26th, 2026.

Motion to table.

Motion made to table, made by Councilor Abrams, seconded by Councilor Oliver.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Number 6 is before us.

Madam President, item 6 is an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article 6, Section 2-105 of the Municipal Tax Payment Agreements.

This was passed to a second reading on March 26th.

Applause.

Councilors, motion to pass to be ordained.

Motion passed to be ordained by Councilor Abreu, seconded by Councilor Oliver.

All in favor say aye.

Roll call.

Okay, roll call vote.

Councilor Abreu?

Yep.

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Councilor Oliver?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 8 to 0.

Motion passes 8 to 0.

Madam President, item 7 is a report from the Committee on Finance recommending to the City Council adoption of the orders for the transfer of $1,070,555 from state aid and for the transfer of $314,530 from state aid $8,950 to the School Department General Expense.

7A and B are the orders.

Pleasures, colleagues.

Motion to adopt.

Motion made to adopt by Councilor Abrams, seconded by Councilor Choquette.

Roll call vote.

Councilor Abrams?

Yep.

Yes.

Councilor Baptiste?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Carney?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Choquette?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Gomes?

Yes.

Councillor Oliver?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Pemberton?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor Roy?

Yes.

Yes.

Passes 8 to 0.

Motion passes 8-0.

Number 8 is before us for no further action.

Madam President, item 8 is— do you want me to read it?

Um, motion waive the reading.

Motion made for no further action by Councillor April to waive the reading, seconded by Councillor Oliver.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Madam President, item 9 is an ordinance from Councilor Baptiste submitting an ordinance amending Chapter 17, Section 17-9.1, relative to the repeal of a single-use plastic bag prohibition.

Uh, motion to be received and placed on file.

Motion received and placed on file and referred to the Committee on Audits.

Second.

Seconded by Councilor Oliver.

Anybody on the question?

On the question?

Councilor Baptiste.

Thank you, Madam President.

I know, you know, I don't mind catching a little flak over a couple of things.

And I know the last time that, you know, we got rid of the plastic bag ordinance, we wanted to be in the forefront of southeastern Massachusetts and how that we can shape our environment.

But unfortunately, while we was in the forefront, everybody else around us didn't change their ordinances.

So we're surrounded by, you know, towns and cities that do allow these plastic bags.

And I'm not doing it to kill the environment.

My main thing is with, with as many elderly apartments I have in my ward, housing developments, people that take public transportation.

You know, I know everybody in here when they go shopping, I don't know how many of you have bags that are broken and food that fall down your stairs or, you know, just imagine if you have a family and you don't have a car and you have to walk across the street at Stop and Shop to get to Blue Meadows and your groceries are falling around, right?

So, you know, I'm, you know, as much as I care about everything else, I do care about the constituents that I have in my ward.

And this is one of the big arguments that they have.

Right.

And we sit up in here talking about dog poop in the parks all the time.

Right.

And we didn't have that problem until we started getting rid of plastic bags in shopping centers as well.

Right.

And I think that just kicking this to ordinance and then we can find different ways to still work with the environment.

Right.

So whether it's having these shopping centers having the good reusable bags, the good plastic bags that are recyclable, or having recycling stations for their plastic bags at their spots.

So the thing that didn't change was small stores and variety stores.

So you can go to a liquor store and get a plastic bag.

You can go to a corner store and get a plastic bag.

And it's just stopping some of these places, these bigger establishments from doing it.

And I think everybody would love to have 10 bags at once and bring them all in the house and get, you know, but, you know, we've been having some different problems, some difficult problems.

Problems.

And I think that we have to look out— um, I understand we have to look out for the environment, but I have to look out for my constituents, and that's what they're asking for.

So hopefully we can have a good discussion in, um, ordinance and we can pass this through.

So thank you.

I yield.

Thank you, Councilor Baptiste.

Anybody else on the question?

Councilor Gomes.

Thank you very much, Madam President.

I stand to support this motion.

As you know, not too long ago I came before the city council looking to take this back for many of those reasons that have been stated this evening.

Not that we are not into the environment.

We are into the environment, and we want to make— protect it as much as we can with reasonable actions.

I'm a supporter of bringing the bags back simply for the reasons that have been stated tonight.

And these bags, while they can be a problem within the city, A lot of people reuse these bags.

There's a second use to these bags, like the councilor said, with the dog doo, wastepaper baskets within the house, the bathroom, in the office, whatever.

These paper bags, plastic bags are being reused.

It's a very big inconvenience to many of our elderly, as it's been stated here tonight, and I've stated it here before, and I see it many times.

I go to the grocery store, so I get an opportunity to see the paper bags.

I've had the paper bag rip on me.

I've seen people in the parking lot just lose everything all over the ground or whatever because some of the stores, they're making a paper bag that's strong and some of them are just giving you what they have to give you because it's an added cost to that business that has been imposed.

So again, while we send this to ordinance, we'll stand in the front line of telling people, look, buy the reusable bags.

That helps the environment.

But give the businesses the opportunity to stay in line with what's happening.

And we stated that in this city council back then, that we had to do this as a whole.

And if it wasn't a whole, it was going to be pieces all over the place.

And the council has pointed that out tonight.

They'll forgive plastic bags in the package store.

I can get a plastic bag in Dartmouth, but I can get it when— Fair Haven can't get it in New Bedford.

Doesn't make sense.

Let's do the right thing.

And at the same time, again, protecting the environment the best that we can.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you, Councilor Gomes.

Anybody else on there first?

Seeing none, the motion is to refer to ordinance.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Madam President, item 10 is written motion from Councilor Gomes requesting that the Committee on Ordinances meet to discuss drafting an ordinance that would address Airbnb rental properties in the city.

And further, these properties would come under the hotel guest tax and be classified as commercial properties.

Furthermore, key aspects of the proposed ordinance should be primary residence requirement— operators must live at the address for at least 9 months of the year.

Occupancy limits— maximum of 8 guests or 2 guests per bedroom, whichever is fewer.

Registration and inspections— annual registration with the city's Inspectional Services Department is required.

Required.

Safety requirements: strict standards for smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.

And restrictions: renting of separate bedrooms to multiple parties is prohibited.

Only one party of renters is allowed at a time.

Motion— motion made by Councilor Combs, seconded by Councilor Baptiste, to refer to ordinance.

On the question, I'll be very brief, Madam President.

We have discuss this issue.

This issue was brought to my attention by a constituent, a businessman, and had some concerns.

And as I listened to him speak about this, I said, he's got something here.

And only to find out, like, Far River is imposing an ordinance that deals with all of this.

And this has somewhat become somewhat of a— not so much of a problem, because we had some problems early on with a couple of places where There was an abundance of people.

You remember the one down in the South End that we visited one night.

It's become a business.

And when you run a business and you affect the quality of life within those neighborhoods, within those business districts or whatever, I do have a problem with it.

And I've seen through the light on this one, and there's a revenue generator here.

You want to run an A&B, you have to come under some strict regulations.

And you also have to pay the price for it.

That's why this is here.

We send it to ordinance to see if we can work it out and put the best thing forward that would be in the best interests of the city of New Bedford.

I don't want to run the AMBs out, but you're going to stand to be counted as a business and some ordinances that protect the neighborhood and the city of New Bedford.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Cohen.

Councilor Abril.

Thank you, Madam President.

I support this motion because I feel— and we saw something analogous like this happening with Uber and Lyft with taxis.

They were undercutting them.

And I'm a firm believer in same game, same rules.

An Airbnb is lodging.

It is a hotel or a motel and should be treated as such.

It is a business.

It is a revenue generator for said business or just for your own personal bank accounts and coffers.

I think there should be accountability from us here with the city.

And those who know me know that I'm as anti-bureaucracy as far as business goes as it can get.

I hate red tape.

I hate bureaucratic measures.

But again, health, wellness, safety, and accountability have to be factored in once in a great while when appropriate.

And this certainly is a conversation worth having.

Again, same game, same rules.

Mr. LaFrance has to pay the hotel occupancy tax right down the street.

We have other hotels in this community.

They are subject to inspections at the state level.

At the local level to make sure that obviously everything is safe, that the Board of Health has gone through these, these facilities.

We're not having that happen here.

So I support this.

Let's see where it goes.

At the very least, I think it's worth a conversation.

I'll yield at this time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Abram.

Anybody else on there first?

Seeing none, we have a motion to refer this to ordinance.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Number 11 is before us.

Madam President, item 11 is written motion from Councilors Choquette, Abreu, and Roy requesting that Airport Director Scott Service, in conjunction with the city's conservation agent, explore all options for the location of a new hangar at the New Bedford Regional Airport, and that the special committee on airport invite the airport director and the conservation agent to a meeting to discuss such options, and further, that any plans to move forward with the construction of a hangar be be suspended until such time as the committee has opportunity to consider any and all options that best serve the combined interests of the airport and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Motion to receive and place on file and refer to the Airport Committee.

Motion made to receive and place on file and refer to the Airport Committee, made by Councilor Choquette, seconded by Councilor Roy.

On the question— on the question, thank you, Madam President.

Councilor Choquette.

Quickly, I just want to rise and, and speak on behalf of many of my constituents here.

Who've joined us from behind the airport.

Um, the issue at hand— and I'll keep it brief because we're going to discuss this obviously in detail on the May 18th airport meeting— but many of my constituents, they were not correctly included on an abutters list from the planning department.

And there was a Zoom meeting and many of them did not know about it.

And the issue here is that There may be additional data and input from our conservation agent who's going to come to the meeting.

And so on the 18th— and I put this, this motion together because I wanted to give everyone who wanted to speak a chance on the 18th, much like when we had the kind constituents of mine from the New York China Buffet that time come in.

But, you know, it may seem like trivial to some of us, but it's not a trivial issue to these people.

It's a quality of life issue.

And I want to make sure that even though they were left off the abutters list, that they're not left behind and that we listen to their concerns.

And hopefully, you know, the— our conservation agent will have some input that can help with figuring out this issue.

And I was able to get Mr. Leon Shabbat, who is the holder of the lease over there, to not do any construction for the next 30 days out of courtesy until the, you know, the neighbors here were heard.

So I'd like my colleagues to support me in this motion to send this to my airport committee, and I yield.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Chauquet.

Anybody else on the question?

Seeing none, the motion— Madam President, just a point of information through you to the maker of the motion.

I was just thinking, because you know, and it's his motion, but the Airport Committee is a committee of 5, which is fine.

But like, for example, I'm not on it, um, many others aren't on it, and I know we can all go and speak, but would he be open to a friendly amendment to maybe sending this, Madam Chair, to your committee, Appointments and Briefings, where all 11 of us, including all 5 at-large who represent that area, like myself, like you, and others, um, could attend?

So just a suggestion, or, uh, you know, I, I, I beseech the councilor to consider what I'm saying.

If He wants to keep it in the Airport Committee.

That's fine.

But I'm sure— not speaking for you, Madam Chair— you would have an expeditious hearing on this.

Absolutely.

Well, I'll yield the floor, Madam Chair, through you to the Ward 1 councilor.

I'll see what his thoughts are.

Madam Chair, I'm in agreement with my esteemed colleague from Ricketts Street.

I would be more than happy to send this instead of the Airport Committee to the Appointments and Briefings meeting.

So therefore, all 11 councilors could be, you know, in attendance and hear the concerns of the— of my constituents.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

So the motion is to now send it to Appointments and Briefings and not the Airport Committee.

All in favor of sending the motion to A and B, say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam President, without objection, could we take items 12, 13, and 14 all together as they're all demolitions?

Second.

Absolutely.

Clerk, would you read the items and we'll take them all together?

Yes, ma'am.

Madam President, item 12 is communication of demolition and from Ann Laurel, the preservation planner, to the City Council regarding a building demo review at 532 Rivet Street, map 28, Lot 188.

This is a circa 1910 concrete block garage structure.

She's advising the structure is not located in a National Register Historic District.

The structure is of no notable historic significance, either recorded or found with the existing condition of the structure.

In light of those findings, the preservation planner has determined that the concrete building garage building structure located at 532 Rivet Street is neither historically significant Nor is it preferably preserved.

Item 13 is the same, Madam President, for a communication of a demolition review for a building at 105 Ashley Boulevard, Map 92, Lot 48.

This is a circa 1901 partial demolition of a one-story concrete block and brick storefront.

And Item 14 is a building demolition review of And building at 3436 Corville Street, Map 112, Lot 196.

This is a circa 1924 wood-frame shed structure.

And again, advising the structure is not located in historic district and none of these are preferably preserved by the historical planner.

Thank you, sir.

We have, we have a motion.

Okay, motion been made to grant the demolition by Councilor Abram.

Second by Councilor Oliver.

And these items are 12 through 14.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Madam President, I have a motion to take up items 15 through 17 altogether.

Second.

Without objection.

Madam President, item 15 is communication from the clerk to the council submitting an application for the renewal of a private livery license on behalf of Ali Bakari and Samara Bakari at 3 Revolutionary Way, Apartment 110 in Hopkinton, Mass.

They do business as Magic Wheels Transportation, which is located at 44 Liberty Street in the city.

This term of the license will expire from— it runs from July 1st of this year to June 30th of next year.

Item 16 is for the renewal of a private livery license on behalf of Glenda Reyes, doing business as Glenda Reyes Transportation LLC at 68 Erin Port, New Bedford.

And item 17 is a renewal of a private livery license on behalf of Brittany Botello at 369 Calvin Street in Fall River, doing business as Project Independent Services Incorporated, located at 250 Elm Street.

And again, all these licenses run from July 1st, '26 to June 30th, 2027.

Thank you, Mr. Cutler.

You're welcome.

Motion to renew, place a file, and grant the reappointment.

Motion reserved.

The motion has been made to grant the livery license, the renewals, made by Councilor Pemberton, seconded by Councilor Abreu.

All in favor granting the livery license, say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Madam President, motion to take items 18 and 19 together with a referral to the Special Committee on Licensing and Permitting.

Second.

A motion has been made by Councilor Abram to refer 18 and 19 to the Special Committee on Licensing and Special Permitting.

Okay, Madam President, item 18 is communication from the city clerk to the council submitting a petition from Paul N. Bryant of Round Rock, Texas, doing business as Fall River Pond Brokers, located at 1351 on Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford.

He's requesting a waiver of residency in accordance with Section 15-38 of the city code.

This is to obtain a license to deal in junk, old metals, or any other secondhand articles.

And Item 19 is from the same individual at the same home address, uh, for fall river pawnbrokers as well.

This one is located at 268 Union Street in the city.

Madam President, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Um, so the motion's been made.

All in favor say aye.

Anybody on the question first?

Nope.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Madam President, item 20 is communication from the assistant, assistant city solicitor Mason Matthew, the city council, submitting a list of properties that have been acquired by the city as a deed in lieu.

The following properties are located on Chaffee Street, plot 130A, Lots 30, Lot 40, Lot 135, Lot 35, Lot 106, and Lot 125.

On Fairfield Street, Plot 130A, Lot 96, Lot 106, and Lot 116.

On Ruth Street, Plot 16, Lots 130, 131, and 137.

On Congress Street, Plot 125A, Lot 191.

And on Ashley Street, Plot 16, Lot 118.

Motion to receive and place on file.

Motion received and placed on file, made by Councilor Abreu, seconded by Councilor Roy.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Madam President, item 21 is communication from the department— the Department of Environmental Protection Waterways Regulation Program providing public notice of the waterways application by BS Realty LLC care of Andrew Bishens, to drive 16 30-inch steel anchor piles securing 2 floating steel barges with a vehicle access ramp to shore at 92 Kilburn Street.

Motion to replace on file, made by Councilor Roy.

Second by Councilor Pemberton.

Made by Councilor Abrams, second by Councilor Pemberton.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Motion to take up and adopt consent.

Okay, we have 2 items on the table list.

We're going to remain on the table.

Okay, motion to take up and adopt consent.

Motion made by— taking up— to take up and adopt consent made by Councilor Oliver.

Do I have a second by anybody?

Second by Councilor Baptiste.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Motion to adjourn.

Motion made to adjourn.

Second.

Would you like to— you second it or you're making the motion?

Motion by Councilor Pemberton, second by Councilor Oliver.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

We are adjourned at 7:43.