City Council President Announces 2018 Committee Assignments

NEW BEDFORD — Council President Linda Morad has announced the 2018 Committee Assignments for the New Bedford City Council.

In a statement released today, Councillor Morad outlined the Council's committee structure for 2018, and praised her colleagues who have agreed to serve in key leadership roles on the Council throughout this year.

"I look forward to working with all my colleagues throughout the remainder of this year as we address the issues of our City and complete the important business of the City Council," she said.

"As I contemplated the various Committee Chairman positions, I considered each of my colleagues' particular experiences and strengths, both through their tenure on teh City Council and in their private sector positions. I am pleased that my colleagues have accepted my recommendations for the Committee Chair positions. I am confident that their demonstrated leadership will provide for a seamless transition into the New Year and will allow us to focus on the core issues of the Council's responsibilities as set forth by the City Charter," she said.

In a move not seen in the recent past, Councillor Morad has requested that all three incoming Councillors accept Committee Chair and Vice-Chair assignments.

"By aligning the freshmen Councillors Giesta, Lima and Markey with their experienced colleagues, and with the support of our great team in the Clerk of Committees office, I am confident that we will be able to build their depth of knowledge and understanding of the role of the Committee Chair," she said.

Key changes to the standing Committees include expanding the membership of the Committee on City Property to include all 11 Councillors, and disbanding the School Finance Committee.

In reviewing the pending property issues for consideration in the coming months, Councillor Morad discussed with her fellow colleagues the need to expand the membership of the City Property Committee to provide all Councillors the details of property acquisitions or sales, and the implications related to the City's financial conditions. With their support, she has filed the necessary Ordinance change to accommodate this Committee structure change. Concurring with the recommendation of Vice-Chair of the School Committee Bruce Oliveira, the Council is committed to continuing the dialogue as it relates to any school finance issue without the need of the formalized committee.

Committee assignments are effective immediately.
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS - 2018
COUNCILLOR LINDA M. MORAD, CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
COUNCILLOR JOSEPH P. LOPES, FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT
COUNCILLOR BRIAN K. GOMES, SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT

STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL:

APPOINTMENTS & BRIEFINGS: Councillors COELHO, Chair; MORAD, Vice-Chair; Abreu, Carney, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey and Rebeiro

CITY PROPERTY: Councillors CARNEY, Chair; LOPES, Vice-Chair; Abreu, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Morad and Rebeiro

FINANCE: Councillors LOPES, Chair; ABREU, Vice-Chair; Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Markey, Morad and Rebeiro

INTERNAL AFFAIRS: Councillors GOMES, Chair; REBEIRO, Vice-Chair; Abreu, Coelho and Markey

LABOR & INDUSTRY: Councillors DUNN, Chair; ABREU, Vice-Chair; Carney, Lima and Lopes

ORDINANCES: Councillors DUNN, Chair; REBEIRO, Vice-Chair; Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad

PUBLIC SAFETY & NEIGHBORHOODS: Councillors GOMES, Chair; COELHO, Vice-Chair; Abreu, Carney, Dunn, Giesta, Lima, Lopes, Markey, Morad and Rebeiro

VETERANS AFFAIRS, ELDERLY, YOUTH, HEALTH & HOUSING & DISABILITY ISSUES: Councillors GIESTA, Chair; DUNN, Vice-Chair; Abreu, Coelho and Lima

AUDIT: Councillors LIMA, Chair; LOPES, Vice-Chair; Dunn, Gomes and Morad

FISHERIES: Councillors REBEIRO, Chair; LIMA, Vice-Chair; Dunn, Giesta and Lopes

SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

THE AIRPORT: Councillors MARKEY, Chair; GOMES, Vice-Chair; Carney, Giesta and Morad

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: Councillors REBEIRO, Chair; DUNN, Vice-Chair; Abreu, Carney, Coelho, Giesta, Gomes, Lima, Lopes, Markey and Morad

MEMORIALS & DEDICATIONS: Councillors ABREU, Chair; CARNEY, Vice-Chair; Coelho, Markey and Rebeiro

BUDGET REVIEW: Councillors LOPES, Chair; MARKEY, Vice-Chair; Abreu, Giesta and Lima

DOG PARK (Feasibility of Creating A): Councillors CARNEY, Chair; COELHO, Vice-Chair; Emanuel Maciel, Director, Animal Control; Local Veterinarian; Greater New Bedford Coalition for Animals Member; Two (2) New Bedford Residents

LICENSING AND ZONING FOR CANNABIS: Councillors ABREU, Chair; GIESTA, Vice-Chair; Carney, Gomes and Rebeiro
TRAFFIC COMMISSION: Councillors Gomes and Markey

WATER BOARD: Councillor Carney

ENERGY RESOURCE COMMISSION: Councillor Carney

CONDOMINIUM REVIEW BOARD: Councillor Rebeiro

SCHOOL TRAFFIC COMMITTEE: Councillor Rebeiro

EXHIBITION HALL COMMITTEE: Councillor Coelho

SIGN DESIGN REVIEW BOARD: Councillor Lopes

MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL: Councillor Rebeiro

TIF BOARD: Councillors Lopes & Morad