NEW BEDFORD - Mayor Jon Mitchell is nominating the city's police chief to the position of harbormaster, after the former harbormaster was ejected from the role for not living in the city.

However, Chief Joseph Cordeiro is not himself a New Bedford resident.

Mitchell is asking the City Council to approve Cordeiro for a five year harbormaster term with a residence waiver.

Debora Coelho, Chair of the Council's Committee on Public Safety, tells WBSM News though he lives in Dartmouth, Cordeiro spends plenty of time in New Bedford. "I know he was brought up in New Bedford. I know his family resides here. I know he spends most of his days here, working," said Coelho.

Coelho says she does not have a problem with approving Cordeiro with a residency waiver.

In a letter to the City Council, Mayor Mitchell says Chief Cordeiro is a perfect fit for the harbormaster position since many of the responsibilities are the same, and many other ports across the state implement the same practice of having the police chief also serve as harbormaster.

If approved, Cordeiro would not receive any additional compensation for serving as harbormaster.

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