Councillor Burgo Condemns Mayoral Veto of Paid Family Leave Ordinance
City Council Approves $39,303 Grant for Hillman and Purchase Street Signals
Councillors Criticize Mayor Over Last-Minute Election Commission Nomination
Councillor Lopes Calls for Complete Removal of Flock Surveillance Cameras
Councillor Roy Urges Clear Standards and Public Oversight for City Surveillance Tech
Flock Camera Debate Disrupted by Gallery Outbursts, Forcing Abrupt Adjournment
The New Bedford City Council meeting on August 20, 2026, was marked by a significant legislative override and ended abruptly due to public disruption. The council unanimously voted 11-0 to override a mayoral veto of an ordinance establishing paid family leave for non-union city employees. Councillor Shane A. Burgo led the debate, refuting the mayor's claims that the ordinance was legally defective or a budgetary burden, and argued it was a necessary benefit for recruitment and retention. The council also approved several other items, including a resolution commemorating the 250th anniversary of the USA, an appropriation of $39,303.75 for intersection improvements, various sewer abatements, and several reappointments to city commissions. A contentious discussion arose regarding the mayor's appointment of Brian J. Souza to the Election Commission. Councillors Burgo and Shawn Oliver criticized the mayor for delaying the nomination for months and submitting it just before the September 1st primary, forcing the council to either rush the process or follow procedure by referring it to committee. The council chose to refer the appointment for a proper screening. The meeting's final agenda items, a series of motions concerning the use of Flock safety cameras and other surveillance technologies, sparked a heated debate. After several councillors spoke on the need for transparency, public oversight, and privacy protection, outbursts from the public gallery repeatedly interrupted Councillor Brian K. Gomes. Unable to restore decorum, Council President Ryan J. Pereira tabled the items and abruptly adjourned the meeting at 7:53 PM.
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Council
Public Safety
Public / Other
All right, colleagues, we're good?
2:29Good, Sue?
2:34Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
2:37Today is Thursday, August 20th, 2026, at 7:02 PM, and I am calling together this meeting of the New Bedford City Council in the City Council Chambers.
2:49Tonight we'll be led in prayer by Reverend Leona Fisher of In the Name of Jesus Church.
3:01Good evening, everyone.
3:03You know, they really wanted me to do a church service.
3:06Is everybody ready?
3:08They really wanted me to do a church service.
3:10Everyone ready?
3:11No, sir.
3:11I'm kidding.
3:12Good evening.
3:13Thanks for the invitation.
3:15I greet you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
3:22Father God, we take this pause between the busy day that is now behind us and the busy evening that is still before us, to acknowledge you and to invite your presence.
3:39I pray you provide each council member rejuvenation of body, mind, and spirit in order to process and resolve the agenda items set before them.
3:55May their labors and commitment result in positive change and growth for the city and the citizens of New Bedford.
4:08Father, I pray you empower them with courage and patience to hold fast to what is right.
4:19And at the end of the day, God, Bless them with peaceful rest, knowing that they did what is right.
4:31I pray you keep your hand of grace and mercy upon our city, our nation, and all nations of the world.
4:41This I pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
4:49Amen.
4:50Thank you, Reverend.
4:52We'll be led tonight in the Pledge of Allegiance by Councilor of Ward 3, Sean Oliver.
4:57I 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 liberty and justice for all.
5:14Thank you, Mr. President.
5:17Thank you, Councilor.
5:20Tonight I am joined in the City Council chambers by my colleagues, Councilor at Large Ian Abreu, Councilor of Ward 2 Scott Pemberton, Councilor of Ward 1 Leo Choquette, Councilor of Ward 5 Joseph Lopes, Councilor at Large Brian Gomes, Councilor at Large James Roy, Councilor at Large Naomi Carney, Councilor of Ward 3 Sean Oliver, Councilor at Large and Vice President Shane Burgow, Councilor of Ward 4 Derek Baptiste, and I'm Councilor of Ward 6 Ryan Pereira.
5:50I'd like to note this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.
5:54City Council and committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Bedford's homepage under Quick Links, then Meetings.
6:00I'll ask the clerk if there are any letters to be read into the record at this time.
6:04Mr. President, there are none.
6:05Okay, thank you.
6:07This time I'll ask the clerk to read item number 1.
6:10Mr. President, item 1 is a resolution from City Council President Pereira commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
6:22Second.
6:23And adopt.
6:24Motion and adopt.
6:26Made by Councilor Abrams, seconded by Councilor Burgo.
6:29At this time, um, should we All those in favor of adoption say aye.
6:34Roll call.
6:35Roll call vote has been requested.
6:40Councillor Abreu.
6:41Yes.
6:41Councillor Baptiste.
6:43Yes.
6:43Councillor Burgos.
6:44Yes.
6:45Councillor Carney.
6:46Yes.
6:47Councillor Chauquet.
6:47Yes.
6:49Councillor Gomes.
6:50Yes.
6:50Councillor Lopes.
6:51Yes.
6:52Councillor Oliver.
6:53Yes.
6:54Councillor Pemberton.
6:55Yes.
6:56Councillor Pereira.
6:56Yes.
6:57Councillor Roy.
6:58Yes, yes, passes 11 to 0, Mr. President.
7:01Item passes 11 to 0.
7:03The resolution has been adopted, and I will ask the clerk to read the resolution.
7:06Accompanied with the resolution is a replica of the Declaration of Independence that was given to the city of New Bedford and the residents of New Bedford through the state delegation representatives Antonio Cabral, Chris Hendricks, Senator Mark— Senator Tigney.
7:26Jeez, what a brain fart.
7:27Sorry.
7:28And the entire delegation.
7:29So I'll ask the clerk to read the resolution.
7:32Mr. President, the resolution reads as follows: A resolution commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
7:39Whereas July 4th, 2026 marked the 250th anniversary, semi-quincentennial, of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1776, signifying the founding of the United States of America; and whereas the Declaration of Independence proclaimed timeless principles of profound significance to the national heritage of the United States, including that all are created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed; and whereas the founding of the United States established the principle of federalism, emphasizing a decentralized system of government wherein powers are divided between national and state governments, fostering liberty, accountability, and responsiveness to local communities; and whereas this decentralized governance model has allowed for innovation, diverse policy approaches, and stronger accountability to the citizens of each state, ensuring that government remains close to and reflective of the people's will; and whereas the founding of the United States initiated a journey toward forming a more perfect union marked by historic achievements, struggles, and progress in realizing the nation's founding ideals for all citizens; and whereas the State of Massachusetts has played a significant role throughout the history of the United States, contributing to the nation's development, culture, economy, and defense through the efforts and sacrifices of its citizens; and whereas the Semi-Quincentennial offers a unique opportunity for the people of Massachusetts to reflect on our shared history, honor the diverse contributions of all Americans, celebrate our heritage of liberty, and look forward to the future we strive to create for subsequent generations.
9:25And now, therefore, be it resolved that the New Bedford City Council hereby recognizes and commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, celebrated on July 4th, 2026, and formally accepts this replica of the Declaration of Independence presented by State Representative Antonio F.D.
9:44Cabral to the New Bedford City Council at a City Council meeting held on August 20th, 2026.
9:52Be it further resolved that the New Bedford City Council encourages all residents, visitors, educational institutions, civic organizations, businesses, and surrounding communities to take the opportunity to view this remarkable piece of American history.
10:05Be it further resolved that this replica of the Declaration of Independence shall be available for public viewing through December 31st, 2026.
10:13Thereafter, it shall be permanently displayed in the New Bedford City Council Chambers as a lasting tribute to the principles of liberty, democracy, and the nation's founding for generations to come.
10:25Thank you.
10:29All right, moving on to mayor's papers.
10:32I will ask the clerk to read item M1, please.
10:34Mr. President, M1 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting a veto of the ordinance amending Chapter 19 of the city code relative to paid family leave.
10:43This veto was received in the city council office on July 10th, and the order was spread on the record on July 16th.
10:50M1A is the ordinance.
10:52Move to approve notwithstanding the objections of the mayor.
10:55Second.
10:56Motion to approve notwithstanding the objections of the mayor made by Councilor Burgos.
11:00Second.
11:00Waiving Rule 40.
11:01And waive Rule 40, made by Councilor Burgos, seconded by Councilor Roy.
11:05On the question, the chair recognizes Councilor Burgos.
11:11Thank you, Mr. President.
11:12After nearly 3 years of work, this veto is a bad faith attempt to kill legislation that was developed carefully and in good faith.
11:22This conversation started in August of 2023 when a city employee came to me with a very real problem.
11:29Problem.
11:30Since then, we have worked through this issue in committee, considered the financial implications, and developed a reasonable policy to allow city employees to care for their families without exhausting the vacation and sick time they have earned.
11:45And now, after all that work, we're being told this is the product of special interests, that it's legally defective, and that it will somehow burden the tax These are all foolish claims.
12:00First, let's address the special interests.
12:03The employees this ordinance helps are not represented by a bargaining unit.
12:08They are Unit C employees.
12:11They don't have a union negotiating these benefits for them.
12:15They have us.
12:16That's why we are here, to fill a gap in our city's employee benefits.
12:21And I have to say, it seems this administration has a problem when someone other than the mayor identifies a problem, develops a solution, and actually gets something done.
12:31A good idea doesn't become a bad idea simply because it didn't come from the corner office.
12:37Second, these alleged legal defects.
12:43This ordinance does not take away a single right protected under state or federal law.
12:48It does not prevent anyone from taking FMLA.
12:52Or other legally protected leave.
12:54It simply determines when the city will continue paying an eligible employee while they are out on that leave.
13:02Unpaid protected leave and paid municipal leave are not the same thing.
13:08So if the administration is claiming that this ordinance violates state or federal law, then show us the law, show us the legal opinion, show us the specific provision we supposedly violated.
13:20Because after 3 years of discussion, those concerns should have been raised before we passed this ordinance, not suddenly appear in a veto message.
13:28Lastly, he talks about the budget.
13:31We were told this would have a budgetary impact, but during our work on this ordinance, the city's own CFO explained that this does not create a new operating budget line item.
13:42We are not creating positions or a new department or adding millions of dollars to the budget.
13:48These employees already have salaries appropriated in the city's operating budget.
13:53This ordinance simply allows an eligible employee to receive paid leave using the salary already budgeted for that position.
14:03And yes, there are operational considerations when an employee is absent, but that happens every day.
14:10Employees take vacation, they call out sick, they take unpaid leave, they retire, they transfer, or they get laid off like we've seen in this past budget.
14:22Our departments already manage those situations.
14:25Coworkers step up, supervisors adjust, and departments adapt.
14:30So let's not pretend this ordinance creates some unprecedented operational burden.
14:35What it does create is an opportunity for an employee to welcome a child into their family without having to choose between being there for that moment and preserving the vacation and sick time they've earned.
14:46For years, this administration has talked about recruitment and retention.
14:51Well, if they want to compete for good employees, we need competitive benefits.
14:57Supporting employees when they welcome a child into their family is a basic part part of being a modern employer.
15:03This ordinance is about our employees.
15:06It's about a mother who should not have to burn through her vacation time to recover from childbirth and care for her newborn.
15:13It's about a father who should be able to be home to support his partner and bond with his child.
15:18It's about an employee welcoming a child through adoption and knowing that their employer recognizes that their family matters.
15:27And it's about telling our employees that they should not have to choose between being there for their families and protecting the leave they've earned.
15:35Tonight, despite the administration's attempt to stop it, we have an opportunity to finally deliver it.
15:42And I am proud to stand on the side of our employees, on the side of working families.
15:47And after nearly 3 years of work, I'm proud that this council is standing up for them too.
15:54Thank you, Mr. President.
15:56Thank you.
16:01Ladies and gentlemen, I just ask that during debate, no applause during debate, please and thank you.
16:06Anyone else on the question?
16:10Okay.
16:10This time I'll ask the clerk to call the roll on the motion to override the veto and waive Rule 4.
16:17Councillor Abreu.
16:18Yes.
16:18Councilor Baptiste?
16:19Yes.
16:19Yes.
16:20Councilor Burgos?
16:21Yes.
16:21Yes.
16:22Councilor Carney?
16:22Yes.
16:23Yes.
16:23Councilor Choquette?
16:24Yes.
16:25Yes.
16:25Councilor Gomes?
16:26Yes.
16:27Yes.
16:27Councilor Lopes?
16:28Yes.
16:28Yes.
16:29Councilor Oliver?
16:29Yes.
16:30Yes.
16:31Councilor Pemberton?
16:31Yes.
16:32Yes.
16:32Councilor Pereira?
16:33Absolutely.
16:34Yes.
16:34Councilor Roy?
16:35Yes.
16:35Yes.
16:36Passes 11 to 0, Mr. President.
16:38Item, item passes 11 to 0 and has been ordained.
16:42We'll ask the clerk, uh, clerk to read item M2, please.
16:46Mr. President, M2 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting an order for the appropriation of $39 million— I'm sorry, $39,303.75 from the Housing Works grant through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and within the custody of the Department of Public Infrastructure to public way layout and taking damages for a future signalized intersection at the intersection of Hillman and Purchase Streets.
17:11For the purchase and Pleasant Street improvement project, M2A is the order.
17:18Motion to adopt the order made by Councilor Abreu, seconded by Councilor Choquette.
17:21Anyone on the question?
17:23I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.
17:25Councilor Abreu?
17:26Yes.
17:27Councilor Baptiste?
17:28Yes.
17:28Yes.
17:29Councilor Bergo?
17:29Yes.
17:30Yes.
17:30Councilor Carney?
17:31Yes.
17:32Yes.
17:32Councilor Choquette?
17:33Yes.
17:34Yes.
17:34Councilor Gomes?
17:35Yes.
17:36Yes.
17:36Councilor Lopes?
17:37Yes.
17:38Yes.
17:38Councilor Oliver?
17:39Yes.
17:39Excuse me.
17:40Yes.
17:40Councilor Pemberton?
17:41Yes.
17:42Yes.
17:42Councilor Pereira?
17:43Yes.
17:44Yes.
17:44Councilor Roy?
17:45Yes.
17:46Yes.
17:48Item passes 11 to 0.
17:49I will ask the clerk to read item M3.
17:52Mr. President, item M3 is communication from Mayor Mitchell to the City Council submitting an order for the proposed lease agreement between French Street Realty LLC and Comcast LLC and 3 Make a motion to receive and place on file and adopt the order as presented.
18:06Motion to adopt the order made by Councilor Lopes, seconded by Councilor Pemberton.
18:11Anyone on the question?
18:13All those in favor say aye.
18:14Aye.
18:15Opposed?
18:15The ayes have it.
18:16Without objection, the chair will take items M4 through M6 together.
18:21I'll ask the clerk to read.
18:24Mr. President, M4 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting a sewer abatement request for Tarquin Hill Realty Corporation at 627 Tarquin Hill Road, New Bedford, in the amount of $26,574.
18:37M5A is a sewer abatement request from the mayor for Tamara Ramsey at 161 Campbell Street, New Bedford, in the amount of $1,607.07.
18:47And M6 is a sewer abatement request for Chevaroya McElroy at 234 Austin Street, New Bedford, in the amount of $235.
18:57Motion to grant the abatement for M4, 5, and 6.
19:01Second.
19:02Motion to grant the abatements for 4, 5, and 6 made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor Baptiste.
19:08Anyone on the question?
19:09I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.
19:11Councilor Abram.
19:13Yes.
19:13Councilor Baptiste.
19:14Yes.
19:15Yes.
19:15Councilor Burgo.
19:16Yes.
19:17Councilor Carney.
19:17Yes.
19:18Yes.
19:19Councilor Choquette.
19:20Yes.
19:20Yes, Councilor Gomes.
19:22Yes, Councilor Lopes.
19:24Yes, Councilor Oliver.
19:25Yes, yes, Councilor Pemberton.
19:27Yes, yes, Councilor Pereira.
19:28Yes, yes, Councilor Roy.
19:30Yes, yes.
19:31Passes 11-0.
19:33Item passes 11-0.
19:36I will ask the clerk to read items M7 and M8 together without objection.
19:43Okay, Mr. President, M7 is communication from the the mayor to the council submitting the reappointment of Scott Grant of New Bedford to the Conservation Commission.
19:51This term will expire in June of 2029.
19:54And M8 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting the reappointment of Rebecca Lennart of New Bedford to the Conservation Commission.
20:01This term will also expire in June of 2029.
20:03Make a motion to receive M7 and M8, waive Rule 38 and waive Rule 40 with one vote, and grant— and grant the reappointment.
20:11Motion has been made to waive Rules 38 and 40 and grant the reappointments by Councilor Lopes, seconded by Councilor Burgos.
20:17Anyone on the question?
20:19I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.
20:21Councilor Abram.
20:22Yes.
20:23Councilor Baptiste.
20:24Yes.
20:24Councilor Burgos.
20:25Yes.
20:26Yes.
20:26Councilor Carney.
20:27Yes.
20:27Yes.
20:28Councilor Choquette.
20:29Yes.
20:29Yes.
20:30Councilor Gomes.
20:31Yes.
20:32Councilor Lopes.
20:33Yes.
20:33Yes.
20:34Councilor Oliver.
20:34Yes.
20:35Yes.
20:35Councilor Pemberton.
20:36Yes.
20:37Councilor Pereira.
20:38Yes.
20:38Yes.
20:39Councilor Roy.
20:39Yes.
20:41Yes, item passes 11 to 0.
20:45I will ask the clerk to— oh, sorry, are they here?
20:48I don't know.
20:50Is Scott or Rebecca here?
20:55Okay, perfect.
20:57I'll ask the clerk to read item M9.
20:59Mr. President, M9 is communication from the mayor to the council submitting the appointment of Brian J. Souza of New Bedford to the election commission.
21:06This term will expire in April of 2029.
21:08Motion to refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.
21:11Second.
21:12Motion to refer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, made by Councilor Burgo, seconded by Councilor— everybody, uh, but seconded by Councilor Oliver.
21:19On the question, the chair recognizes Councilor Burgo.
21:26Um, I, I just wanted to address this, um, Communication from the mayor's office, which was sent now.
21:37The reason why that's significant is much like everything that comes from the mayor's office.
21:42It's very, very late.
21:44Although he's had this name for quite some time, and as always, he's asking the council to rush.
21:51I'm sure many people are aware, or I hope that everyone's aware.
21:54We have an election coming up on September first.
21:58And our city charter, for those who don't know, and I would hope that our mayor who's been here for over a decade should know our city charter, this council only has one meeting in July and one meeting in August.
22:09And he saw it fit to send this appointment to us at our one meeting in August, which is today, August 20th.
22:18It is customary for a new candidate to go to committee to be screened.
22:22We just did this with the last election commissioner that we had when there was a vacancy.
22:26That election commission, when it went vacant, was sent to us in a timely manner.
22:31It came before us.
22:32It went to committee.
22:33The chairwoman of the Committee on Appointments and Briefing put it at the next possible available meeting.
22:41There are no delays here on the council.
22:42We do our work.
22:45The problem here are the delays in the corner office, even with their full-time staff, the million-dollar— well, more than a million-dollar budget they have up there.
22:54They make mistake after mistake after mistake, and then they expect us to clean it up.
22:58So I just want to make it very clear for people, because we know the coroner office is going to point the finger and say, oh, look what— how terrible that council is that they didn't waive the screening and appoint Mr. Souza.
23:09And it's unfortunate.
23:10Mr. Souza is here tonight.
23:12I got to meet him.
23:12He's a very nice gentleman.
23:15And it's unfortunate he's here and he was expecting to be sworn in tonight, but that is not the way this works.
23:20He has to be screened.
23:21That is how we do this.
23:22That's how every other election commissioner has gotten on.
23:25And in some rare cases, maybe we waive the screening, but in this case, we're referring it to committee, how it should be done.
23:32And I don't want this administration to make it seem as though we have done something wrong when it was them.
23:38So I just want to be very clear here.
23:40This mayor has sat on this name for months and decided to wait till the last possible second, even though he knows the schedule of not only the election schedule but the council schedule.
23:50And we are following the procedure here.
23:52Thank you.
23:53Thank you.
23:53The chair recognizes Councilor Oliver.
23:56Thank you, Mr. President.
23:57I'll be brief because many of the same points that I was going to say were spoken by the councilor before me.
24:05Obviously, this is coming on the heels or coming on the eve of a state primary.
24:12And as the councilor who spoke before me stated, I hope a lot of people realize that there is a primary.
24:17I know, I know there is a state primary.
24:21But here's another example of us on the second floor cleaning up the inefficiency of the third floor.
24:31Or the lack of attention to detail.
24:33Now, the councilor from Purchase Street spoke that we— the mayor has been given the— this gentleman's name, or has sat on this name for months.
24:44And that's true, as many of us do.
24:46We sit in different capacities at different boards, commissions, and groups throughout the city.
24:53And I know for a fact, as the chair of the Republican City Committee, the Republican City has sent communication to the administration with 2 names for consideration for this vacancy on the Election Commission.
25:08That was on— in April, April 28th to be exact.
25:11I believe I— you were actually CC'd on that correspondence.
25:15I've actually provided that to the office so our councilors can all see that correspondence.
25:23But what it is, is this is something that should have been taken care of months ago, not a week and a half before the primary election.
25:30The process is a process for a reason.
25:33It's so that the applicant can come up here, speak, to introduce themselves in a lot of cases to people and the public for the very first time.
25:43So although I do recognize that this vacancy has to be filled, It should not be rushed through because these— this board is in charge of upholding the integrity and facilitating our elections here in the city of New Bedford.
25:59So I apologize that Mr. Sousa is here tonight, but it gave him at least the opportunity to introduce himself to a lot of people here.
26:07So although I will be supporting him, I hope my colleagues will do the same in the future date when this is properly before this council.
26:14So thank you.
26:15With that, I yield.
26:16Thank you.
26:17Anyone else on the question?
26:20Just briefly from the chair, if there's one committee, uh, colleagues, that deserves to have a proper screening, it is the committee— the commission— the Elections Commission to uphold integrity of elections in our city.
26:31There is one commission or board in this city that deserves a full screening.
26:35It is this one.
26:36It is too important.
26:37Thank you.
26:39Without seeing any other questions, all those in favor of referral to committee say aye.
26:43Opposed, the ayes have it.
26:44I will ask the clerk to read item M10.
26:47Mr. President, M10 is a communication from the mayor to the city council submitting the reappointment of Joseph Latimer of New Bedford as a constable.
26:54M10A is his application.
26:58Waiving Rule 38 and 40.
27:01Motion to waive Rules 38 and 40, made by— and grant the appointment, made by Councilor Abruzzo, seconded by Councilor Burgow.
27:07Anyone on the question?
27:09I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.
27:11Hebrew?
27:13Yes.
27:13Council Baptist?
27:17Yes.
27:17Yes.
27:18Council Burgo?
27:19Yes.
27:20Council Carney?
27:20Yes.
27:21Yes.
27:22Council Choquette?
27:22Yes.
27:23Yes.
27:24Council Gomes?
27:25Yes.
27:25Yes.
27:25Council Lopes?
27:26Yes.
27:27Yes.
27:27Council Oliver?
27:28Yes.
27:29Yes.
27:29Council Pemberton?
27:30Yes.
27:31Yes.
27:31Council Pereira?
27:32Yes.
27:32Yes.
27:33Councilor Roy?
27:33Yes.
27:34Yes.
27:34Passes 11 to 0, Mr. President.
27:37Item passes 11 to 0.
27:41Colleagues, without any objection at this time, I would like to take out of order items 14 through 17, have them all read together.
27:57Without objection.
27:58Without objection.
27:59At this time, I will have the clerk read items 14 through 17.
28:05Mr. President, item 14 is a written motion from Councilor Gomes requesting that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods immediately meet with Police Chief Jason Foti, a representative from the mayor's office, and a representative from Flock Safety.
28:18This meeting is to bring all parties together for the purpose of enhancing policies and ensuring procedures and strengthening community trust around the use of these cameras.
28:27The policy is ensuring that the policy is transparent, every search being logged, and additional safeguards in place not only to protect the civil rights of the citizens but for the police department as well.
28:37Item 15 is a written motion from Councillors Burgo, Lopes, and Abreu requesting that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with the representatives of the New Bedford Police Department, the city solicitor, the Information Technology Department, and any other appropriate officials to discuss discuss the city's use of law enforcement surveillance technologies, including but not limited to automated license plate reader systems, flock safety cameras, public safety camera networks, and any other technologies capable of collecting or retaining data on the movement of vehicles or individuals.
29:07And further, that the committee review the city's policies governing the collection, retention, sharing, security, and deletion of data generated by such technologies.
29:16The circumstances under which such data may be accessed or shared with outside law enforcement agencies, the safeguards in place to protect residents' constitutional rights and privacy, and whether additional local policies or ordinances are warranted to promote transparency, accountability, and public confidence while preserving the legitimate public safety benefits these technologies provide.
29:38Item 16 is written motion from Councilors Burgo, Abreu, and Lopes requesting that the Committee on Ordinances consider whether the appropriate policy outcome is either the complete removal and abolition of automated license plate reader systems and other similarly invasive surveillance technologies within the City of New Bedford, or in the alternative, establishing municipal automated license plate reader privacy and transparency standards.
30:02Item 17, Mr. President, is a written motion from Councilor Choquette requesting that the city of New Bedford immediately cease the use of flock cameras citywide until such time permanent legislation can be enacted as to their use.
30:16Refer to Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.
30:18Second.
30:20So, so for items 14 and 15?
30:23Correct.
30:23So Council will, will refer items 14 and 15 to Public Safety, 16 to Ordinance, and 17 receive and place on file.
30:31Is that okay?
30:32That's fine.
30:32Okay, made by Councilor Gomes.
30:34Seconded by Councillor Carney.
30:35Anyone on the question?
30:38Chair recognizes Councillor Lopes.
30:43Thank you, Council President.
30:43I will be extremely brief.
30:46We have all seen across the country and our own city that the proposed safeguards don't work.
30:52The only safeguard is the actual removal of the cameras to provide the safety to the neighborhoods that they so rightfully deserve.
31:00We have seen firsthand that when you put safeguards in place, people will look for ways around them.
31:07The entire company has had to do a complete 360 in the last 30 days in regards to faults that they realized they implemented.
31:17I commend the chief for trying to put safeguards in place, but we're trying to put safeguards in place after incidents have already happened, and we're seeing it within the own department that he is running.
31:27So the only safeguard and the only mechanism that we can actually justify is shutting them down and removing them.
31:33Thank you.
31:33Thank you, Councillor.
31:45Just in the gallery, if we could just refrain from applause while debate is ongoing, I'd appreciate that.
31:49Thank you.
31:51Chair recognizes Councillor Roy.
31:54Thank you, Mr. President.
31:55I rise to speak in favor of, of the ordinance going— the motions going to Public Safety, the motions going to Ordinance, and to receive the councilor from Ward 1's motion on file.
32:07Um, I want to speak to public— the public hearing in Public Safety and, um, the policy review we want to do there.
32:15We have a 3-hour public forum In a packed auditorium at Pulaski School with Chief Thody, a representative from Flock Safety, the ACLU of Massachusetts, and members of the community.
32:30More than 100 people attended, and roughly 2 dozen residents spoke, not to mention the folks outside today and the folks in this room.
32:40Their message was clear: people have serious concerns about privacy in New Bedford, the disproportionate impact that these technologies have on the BIPOC community, oversight, and any lack of a public process before these cameras were installed.
32:59After that forum, I continued to ask residents and workers I encountered throughout the city what they thought of Flock, and their concerns were reasonable based on the reports of misuse nationwide.
33:13The recent incident involving our own New Bedford police officer shows that our city is not immune to those same risks, and we cannot dismiss our residents' concerns as hypothetical when our own city is now confronting the very questions they raised.
33:33I support additional public hearings and a review of the city's policies.
33:38I trust that the Public Safety Committee will ensure that the community plays a meaningful role in both the discussion and the policy review.
33:47Now, the item that we're referring to ordinance, I also support.
33:52I support sending the matter to the Ordinance Committee, and I trust that that committee will use that process to listen to the community and develop comprehensive policies for New Bedford going forward.
34:05I think many of the safeguards that the chief outlined in his recent release are important and overdue: a clear standard for searches, documentation of every search, regular audits, restrictions on outside agency access, prohibited uses, data retention limits, and public transparency reporting.
34:30Reporting, excuse me.
34:33However, I am not convinced that Flock Safety is the right partner for New Bedford.
34:44Given the controversies surrounding the company and its nationwide data-sharing network, I still have serious questions about whether we can adequately protect residents' privacy, their civil rights, their civil liberties and their personal safety.
34:59But this issue is bigger than Flock, right?
35:05There are other types of cameras with facial recognition.
35:08There are cell site simulators, predictive policing systems, and future tech we don't know about.
35:15Our city has used surveillance technologies for years without sufficient transparency or accountability.
35:24While these tools may provide public safety benefits, their use has also caused harm.
35:32So I support sending this motion to Ordinance Committee because all surveillance technology currently used or considered for future use by the city should be subject to clear standards and public oversight, Mr. President.
35:46The public should know what surveillance technology is being used or exposed, how it's used and shared, and what safeguards are in place.
35:55Residents should have a meaningful opportunity to weigh in on its use and the rules governing it.
36:02Their elected representatives, us, should vote on whether its use is approved.
36:11And if it is approved, there must be ongoing transparency and accountability for how it's actually used.
36:19Mr. President, the basic premise is simple: surveillance technology must be governed by clear rules that protect our safety and our rights, and decisions about its use must be made in the open, with meaningful public participation and democratic oversight.
36:39Finally, I believe the chief should keep FLOC suspended while we review the city's policies, while we develop comprehensive legislation and determine if FLOC is appropriate for New Bedford at all.
36:57And with that, I yield, Mr. President.
36:59Thank you, Councilor.
37:04Chair recognizes Councilor Gomes.
37:07Thank you, Mr. President.
37:11Did we orchestrate this this evening, or was this just how we planned it?
37:19I have been a proponent for cameras in the city of New Bedford for a long time.
37:23I was one of the first.
37:25I've been here a while when, um, we had other police agencies who had cameras in their cruisers and we had none.
37:31We finally got them, but they broke them.
37:34They weren't working.
37:37I asked for police cameras on police officers.
37:41I asked for cameras within our neighborhoods to bring public safety to a place where we could get the criminal.
37:53The criminal could be seen.
37:56Flock has come along, and we wouldn't even have known about this.
37:59And let me say this.
38:01The first thing we did wrong in this city, and we didn't do it, the administration did it, was not tell the people of what this was all about.
38:09Not even some of us knew that these cameras were up throughout the city.
38:14They should have had a public announcement, said that the cameras were going up.
38:19We know the cameras are watching you everywhere.
38:21Cameras are watching you everywhere.
38:23When you go into the shopping store, when you go in the mall, when you go into neighborhoods.
38:27The first thing our police department is doing when a crime is committed within the city is going to residential houses to see if they have caught anything on their cameras that can possibly assist in the criminal action that has been taken and the arrests that should be made on that.
38:46I'm a proponent of the cameras, but what I'm not a proponent of is using the cameras in a way that is unconstitutional and against people's rights.
38:55And that's why this motion is here tonight.
38:57I'm basically asking that we go into public safety, we go through all of this, you give me a guarantee that these cameras will not be messed with in unjustified ways, and I'm okay with that.
39:10But as far as— No!
39:13Take them down!
39:16Excuse me.
39:17Excuse me, there'll be— please refrain yourselves in the gallery.
39:20I would hope that you would do that.
39:22You know, the same respect that we show you, show us.
39:29Mr. President, while we have a chamber of people here tonight, this is not the 100,000 people that we represent.
39:40You're a class act.
39:42I got half of a house that wouldn't even stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance tonight.
39:46Now they're not going to even let the representation speak.
39:52Motion to recess.
39:54Can we get a recess, please, Mr.
39:56Chair?
39:59Do what you have to do.
40:02Can we just— can we have a recess, please?
40:06No, you owe my wife, and you can talk to me this evening, this tonight, and I've given you the respect.
40:11What do you want me to do?
40:12You want me to sit down, Mr. President?
40:13One minute, please.
40:14Is that what you want me to do?
40:15Because this is out of hand as Pulaski was out of hand.
40:19I would just ask.
40:21I would just ask that the members of Parliament.
40:24A motion to recess has been made.
40:26We'll take a recess.
40:27Thank you.
40:44Yep, I know, I know.
40:48All right, we're calling together back this meeting on the City Council.
40:52I would like to ask members of the gallery, rule number 4 in the council chambers dictates proper decorum in the council.
41:02That is to refrain from outbursts, applause, commentary.
41:06What I would ask is that while you might disagree with members of my, my colleagues, members of the city council are saying, or you might agree with what they are saying, I ask that you maintain proper decorum so we can effectively get through the meeting.
41:20You will hear what everyone has to say on the matter.
41:22They will— this is being referred to committees.
41:25Proper decorum will be had.
41:26If we cannot get through that I will have to suspend these items so that we can have proper debate at an appropriate time.
41:34So I'm just asking that members refrain outbursts and comments from the gallery so that we may get through the debate of my colleagues.
41:44So if everyone is amenable to that, I appreciate it and can withhold from applause, clapping, or speaking.
41:50Thank you very much.
41:52And with that, I will recognize Councilor Gomes.
41:57Thank you again, Mr. President.
41:59Mr. President, my intentions were to fix the problem that has arisen here, to bring all parties together in public safety, to make sure that these flock cameras were not violating anybody's rights.
42:12They were protecting the people of the city of New Bedford, not violating anyone's rights.
42:23I'm really sorry tonight that this body, in the American way, could not— I could not stand up as a councilor and just say what I had to say without the retaliation that has happened here tonight.
42:41Councilor Gomes, take your seat, please.
42:44The city council Excuse me.
42:47I love this.
42:49Take a seat, please.
42:51At this time, at this time, we cannot appropriately and effectively handle these items.
42:56They will be tabled.
42:58These will be tabled, and we will, we will, if we can Cover every single camera.
43:14Cover them all.
43:15That's, that's, that's what you— yeah.
43:24Ladies and gentlemen, it is 7:53.
43:27The meeting has been suspended due to lack of decorum.
43:30Thank you.
43:31We are adjourned at 7:53 PM.