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The Special Committee on Environmental Affairs, chaired by Councillor at Large Ian Abreu, held a brief meeting on February 19th. The meeting was described as a "housekeeping" session to address older agenda items. The committee quickly handled three items through procedural votes. An item requesting the appearance of DPI Commissioner Jamie Ponte and Wastewater Superintendent James Costa to discuss shellfish bed closures due to sewage overflows was referred to the full City Council. A second item, a request for a presentation from South Coast Neighborhoods United on waste solutions, was received, placed on file, and tabled. A final motion grouped agenda items 3, 4, and 5, referring them to the full City Council without discussion. Before adjourning, Chairman Abreu stated that future meetings would be more substantive. He outlined the committee's goal to hear from the community on environmental justice issues, specifically mentioning the Parallel Products situation in the North End and concerns regarding the sewer treatment plant in the Far South End. All motions during the short meeting passed with unanimous voice votes. The meeting was called to order at 6:31 PM and adjourned at 6:34 PM.
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So Leo, wait for reading on number 2 in this table.
0:07All right, 6:30.
0:08Class, are you ready?
0:19Let me know when you're ready, please.
0:28You could be wrong 50% of the time and still get paid.
0:32If the storm goes north, we're going to be good, but if it goes south, we're going to be in some trouble.
0:36Come on, man.
0:38Are you ready, guys?
0:46Check 1, 2.
0:48We good?
0:49Check 1, 2.
0:50Anytime.
0:51Go ahead.
0:52All right, guys, we're going to be live.
0:536:30.
0:56Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
0:57It is 6:31 PM on Thursday, the 19th of February.
1:01I'd like to call to order this special committee meeting on environmental affairs here in the New Bedford City Council Chambers, Room 214.
1:10Note, this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.
1:14City Council and committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Bedford's homepage under Quick Links than meetings.
1:21I am joined in the council chambers this evening by my colleagues in government: Ward 1 Councilor Leo Choquette, Ward 5 Councilor Joseph Lopes, Councilor at Large Brian Gomes, Ward 6 Councilor and Council President Ryan Pereira, and Councilor at Large and Vice Chairman Councilor at Large James Roy.
1:40And I am Ian Abreu, Councilor at Large and chairman of this committee.
1:44I'll ask the clerk, are there any letters to be read to the record?
1:47There were no letters to be read into the record.
1:48Okay, with that being said, I'll ask the clerk to read item number 1.
1:52Item number 1 is a written motion, Councilor Choquette, requesting that Jamie Ponte, Commissioner of the Department of Public Infrastructure, and James Costa, Wastewater Superintendent, appear before the Special Committee on Environmental Affairs to discuss the events contributing to the shellfish bed closures in Fair Haven and affecting other adjacent communities due to the overflow of sewage leaking into our coastal waters.
2:13Was referred here on March 26th, 2024, and is now before you.
2:17Councilor Choquette.
2:18Motion for no further action and refer to the full city council.
2:21I refer to the full city council.
2:23Made by Councilor Choquette.
2:24Second.
2:25Second by Councilor Pereira.
2:26Anyone on the question?
2:28All those in favor say aye.
2:29Aye.
2:29Opposed?
2:30The ayes have it.
2:31I'll ask the clerk to read item 2.
2:32Item number 2 is a written motion, Councilor Choquette, requesting that Wendy Morrill and Tracy Wallace of South Coast Neighborhoods United appear before the Special Committee on Environmental Affairs to present community-based waste solutions for Greater New Bedford.
2:45It was referred here on March 26, 2024.
2:50Motion to receive and place on file.
2:51Motion to receive and place on file and table.
2:54Made by Councilor Choquette, seconded by Councilor Roy.
2:58Anyone on the question?
2:58Well, you can't question on the tabling.
3:00All those in favor say aye.
3:02Opposed?
3:02The ayes have it.
3:03Colleagues, waive the reading on number 3, take no further action, report out to the full city council.
3:113 through 5, Councilor.
3:12All right, so amend the motion 3 through 5, made by Councilor Pereira, seconded by By Councilor Gomes.
3:19Anyone on the question on waiving the reading and reporting out items 3, 4, and 5 to the full City Council?
3:25All those in favor say aye.
3:26Aye.
3:26Opposed?
3:27The ayes have it.
3:28Seeing that, before we adjourn, I just want to let the general public know normally these meetings for this committee will not be this quick.
3:35This is what we call housekeeping.
3:37We had a lot of older items that we had to refer out and clean up this committee, um, going forward.
3:43It is— I've spoken with the vice chairman, Councilor Roy, and many others here on this committee It is my goal here on this important committee that we hear from the community about any issues that are relating to any type of alleged environmental injustice, whether it's in the North End following the Parallel Products situation, the Far South End with any concerns about the sewer treatment plant, or anything in between.
4:05So I look forward to working with all of you on the committee, my vice chairman, and everyone here.
4:10So let's do great work this committee.
4:12So with that being said, thank you for indulging me for a little bit, and I'll ask for a motion to adjourn at this time.
4:18Made by Councilor Roy, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
4:22Anyone on the question of adjournment?
4:24All those in favor say aye.
4:25Opposed?
4:26The ayes have it.
4:26We are adjourned at 6:34 PM.
4:28Have a great evening, everyone.