Public Safety & Neighborhoods Committee - Regular Meeting
Bristol County
Tuesday, October 27, 2026Official site
About this meeting
- Government Body
- Public Safety & Neighborhoods Committee
- Meeting Type
- Public Safety & Neighborhoods Committee
- Location
- New Bedford, MA
- Meeting Date
- October 27, 2026
Video will appear here once the meeting has been held and New Bedford Public Safety & Neighborhoods Committee posts it
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
9 items on the agenda.
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Pemberton, requesting, that Police Chief Jason Thody and the DPI Commissioner Jamie Ponte appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to explain why there were no operational cameras in the area of Ashley Boulevard and Tallman Street on the night of March 8, 2026, when approximately ten shots were reported; and further, requesting information on how long the cameras had been nonfunctional, whether they have since been repaired, and what actions are being taken to address the issue. (Matter ID #0365) (Referred – March 26, 2026.)•Item 1
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Pemberton, requesting, that Police Chief Jason Thody and the DPI Commissioner Jamie Ponte appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to explain why there were no operational cameras in the area of Ashley Boulevard and Tallman Street on the night of March 8, 2026, when approximately ten shots were reported; and further, requesting information on how long the cameras had been nonfunctional, whether they have since been repaired, and what actions are being taken to address the issue. (Matter ID #0365) (Referred – March 26, 2026.)
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Pemberton, requesting, that the Health Department and Inspectional Services appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to address concerns regarding the property located on Conduit Street at the bottom of Shaw Street, and to determine what actions can be taken to address the accumulation of old vehicles and scattered debris across the lot, which poses a safety hazard and negatively impacts the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhood. (Matter ID #0366) (Referred – March 26, 2026.)•Item 2
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Pemberton, requesting, that the Health Department and Inspectional Services appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to address concerns regarding the property located on Conduit Street at the bottom of Shaw Street, and to determine what actions can be taken to address the accumulation of old vehicles and scattered debris across the lot, which poses a safety hazard and negatively impacts the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhood. (Matter ID #0366) (Referred – March 26, 2026.)
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods immediately meet with Police Chief Jason Thody, a representative from the Mayor's Office, and a representative from Flock Safety; this meeting is to bring all parties together for the purpose of enhancing policies and procedures and strengthening community trust around the use of these cameras; the policy is transparent, with 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. (Matter ID #1302) (Referred – August 25, 2026.) (September 09, 2026 – tabled.)•Item 3
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods immediately meet with Police Chief Jason Thody, a representative from the Mayor's Office, and a representative from Flock Safety; this meeting is to bring all parties together for the purpose of enhancing policies and procedures and strengthening community trust around the use of these cameras; the policy is transparent, with 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. (Matter ID #1302) (Referred – August 25, 2026.) (September 09, 2026 – tabled.)
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Burgo, Lopes and Abreu, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods meet with representatives of the New Bedford Police Department, the City Solicitor, the Information Technology Department, and any other appropriate officials to discuss the City's use of law enforcement surveillance technologies, including but not limited to automated license plate reader (ALPR) 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; and further, that the Committee review the City's policies governing the collection, retention, sharing, security, and deletion of data generated by such technologies; the 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. (Matter ID #1303) (Referred – August 25, 2026.) (September 09, 2026 – tabled.)•Item 4
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Burgo, Lopes and Abreu, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety & Neighborhoods meet with representatives of the New Bedford Police Department, the City Solicitor, the Information Technology Department, and any other appropriate officials to discuss the City's use of law enforcement surveillance technologies, including but not limited to automated license plate reader (ALPR) 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; and further, that the Committee review the City's policies governing the collection, retention, sharing, security, and deletion of data generated by such technologies; the 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. (Matter ID #1303) (Referred – August 25, 2026.) (September 09, 2026 – tabled.)
Chair Recommends 'Transfer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings'•Item 5
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Pereira, Abreu, Giesta, Lopes, Choquette, Gomes, Council President Carney and Councillor Oliver, requesting, that Jamie Ponte, Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure, appear before the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods to discuss issues surrounding the sewage treatment plant. (Matter ID #0653) (Referred – May 07, 2024.) (July 15, 2024 – Remain in Committee)
Chair Recommends 'Transfer to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings'•Item 6
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Burgo, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods review the lack of public trash receptacles throughout the City of New Bedford and make recommendations for increasing the availability and accessibility of trash receptacles in neighborhoods and public spaces. (Matter ID #1459) (Referred – September 10, 2026.)
'Chair Suggests 'Waive Reading', 'No Further Action' and 'Report Out to the Full City Council'•Item 7
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes and Dunn, requesting, that the City of New Bedford and Massachusetts Department of Transportation immediately conduct a traffic study at the Route 140 North exit to Hathaway Road, this exit has become a real challenge and unsafe to motorists exiting onto Hathaway Road going east and west, there is nonstop traffic making it a challenge to enter and exit onto Route 140 North; and further, that DOT take immediate action on all exits around the City of New Bedford in making sure that the grass is cut, tall grass obstructs the vision of motorists entering and exiting highway exits, including said Hathaway Road exit. (To be Referred to the City, Mass DOT, SRPEDD, the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, and Representative William M. Straus, Chairperson, Joint Committee on Transportation.) (Matter ID #1262) (Referred – July 19, 2018.) (March 19, 2024 – VOTE: To send a letter to Representatives Cabral and Strauss, Mass DOT and SRPEDD requesting that in the future, they notify the Committee if they are unable to attend a meeting; tabled)
'Chair Suggests 'Waive Reading', 'No Further Action' and 'Report Out to the Full City Council'•Item 8
WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that an amendment to Section 1 of the Home Rule Petition with the State, regarding the Appointment of Special Police Officers in the City of New Bedford, the change of the wording is Chapter 32 of the general law it should read: “No retired Police Officer shall be eligible for an appointment of a Special Police Officer if the applicant has attained the age of 70 and any Officer so appointed shall be terminated upon attaining the age of 70”; this is a home rule petition amendment to enable New Bedford Police Officers over the age of 65 the ability to be assigned to detail work in the City in New Bedford. (To be Referred to the Mayor, the Police Chief, our local State Delegation and the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Matter ID #1388) (Referred – August 18, 2022.) (September 06, 2022 – RETURNED UNSIGNED by the Mayor.) (September 28, 2022 – tabled 60 days) (February 21, 2023 – tabled) (June 27, 2023 – tabled 90 days) (February 28, 2024 – remain on the table) (August 26, 2024 – remain on the table) (March 11, 2025 – tabled for 90 days) (August 19, 2025 – tabled for 45 days) (March 09, 2026 – tabled for 60 days.)
'Chair Suggests 'Waive Reading', 'No Further Action' and 'Report Out to the Full City Council'•Item 9