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NEW BEDFORD — A routine meeting of the City Council turned into a carnival of grievances against Mayor Jon Mitchell in which councilors alleged mismanagement, dysfunction, and manipulation.
The trigger for the grievances was a monthslong delay in appointing two people to the city’s licensing board — the three-person committee that oversees liquor licenses — and the shift of blame onto the City Council in local media.
On Friday, Mitchell fired back, saying that councilors had “contribute[d] to the problem” with “unwarranted criticisms” of former licensing board members.
But the licensing board issue was a spark that ignited further criticism from the Council. At Thursday’s meeting, five councilors rose to give impassioned speeches that derided the city’s chief executive and underscored an already strained relationship between the two branches of city government.
“I hope the gentleman on the third floor understands one thing: I don’t work for him. I work for the people of New Bedford,” said Councilor Maria Giesta of Ward 2. “Stop playing games with us because we’re tired.”
“There’s no damn energy upstairs,” said Brian Gomes, the at-large councilor. “It’s the same old story: late, late, late. And when you’re late, the city suffers.”
“It’s a damn shame,” said Linda Morad, another longtime at-large councilor who said the licensing board situation is an example of “mismanagement.” She added, “I’m doing my job and so are my colleagues. This baloney has to stop.” Morad, who has previously campaigned against Mitchell for mayor, also suggested that Mitchell’s nominations were based on campaign contributions.
“Asking this council to blindly appoint is irresponsible,” said Ryan Pereira, of Ward 6. “I reached out to the mayor’s office … he hasn’t called back.”
“You have to engage… you have to be forthcoming,” said Ian Abreu, at-large councilor. Abreu called Mitchell’s process for nominating appointees a “secret club.”
Mitchell responded to the councilors remarks in a statement to The Light, saying, “Some Councillors fail to appreciate the challenge of finding qualified individuals willing to volunteer their time to serve the City on boards and commissions.”
Mitchell defended himself against the licensing board complaint: “The Council rejected the re-appointment of Sonny Almeida, a distinguished retired police captain who ably served on the board for more than a decade. The Council disregarded its ‘advice and consent’ role in receiving nominations, and voted Almeida down because they objected to one vote out of thousands he took over his tenure. I suggest the Council spend more time encouraging people to serve and refrain from shooting them down just because they disagree with a good faith opinion the nominee may hold.”
The saga of the licensing board — the spark that set off this blaze — is complicated. At present, the three-person committee has withered to just one person, meaning the board cannot reach a quorum and cannot carry out its duties. One of its recent board members, Marcelino “Sonny” Almeida, its former commissioner, was not reappointed by the City Council last year. Almeida’s previous term was marked by an unusually large controversy for the licensing board after it pursued an unpopular ban of single-serving spirits, called “nips.”
Almeida could have continued serving until an official replacement was found, according to incoming Council President Shane Burgo, but tendered his resignation from the licensing board after the Council voted down his reappointment. Another board member, Edmund Craig, submitted his resignation after Almeida’s ouster. Craig, however, continued to serve until a replacement was found. That replacement, longtime former licensing board member Nick Nanopoulos, took over in a 60-day emergency appointment on Nov. 12, 2024, and served until early January.
For the last few weeks the licensing board membership has fallen to one person, Ricard Rezendes, and so has been hobbled from its duties. That’s why New Bedford police stepped in to shut down Morna Lounge earlier this month; shutting down an establishment normally would have been a job for the licensing board.
City councilors repeatedly said in their remarks that the mayor should have been working proactively to find new appointees since Almeida’s resignation in May 2024; that he should have communicated with councilors about the progress; that he should have told them who he intended to appoint; and that he should have at least returned their calls on the subject rather than chastise and hurry them in the media.
The appointment of one new member, Richard McCue, has been referred to the committee for appointments and briefings. Another potential appointment, Jimmy Dee, was included in a mayoral press release, but has not yet been submitted to the council. This is standard procedure for new nominations that councilors said was their “fiduciary duty” — but it flouts Mitchell’s request to “avoid the delay entailed by a council referral,” which was made in his comments to local media.
New City Council president speaks out
While councilors took turns speaking against the mayor on Thursday night, their comments were presided over by new City Council President Shane Burgo. From his elevated dais, Burgo seemed to be finding a rhythm navigating through the subtleties of parliamentary procedure, but he didn’t take a turn to speak out against the mayor.
The Light reached Burgo on Friday by phone, and the new council president added some of the strongest remarks yet against the mayor.
“It’s disappointing because this mayor has a total disregard for the role this council plays in our government,” Burgo said. “It’s a dereliction of duty on his part.”
“He is someone that believes he is above the rest of us,” Burgo said. “City government is set up with a strong mayor and a weak council. So he thinks you have to come kiss the ring. It’s frustrating that he feels this way; we really should be working together.”
Asked about whether this ordeal would affect his relationship with the mayor, Burgo said: “I try to have good communication with the mayor. His office returns my phone calls, but I don’t speak too much with Mayor Mitchell.”
“My past relationship, even when we have disagreements on policy issues… we have had cordial relations. Any time I have spoken with him we’ve always been very polite.
But it’s frustrating that this is a show of blatant disrespect of the office I hold and the office my colleagues hold.”
Burgo said that he only learned about both nominations from Mitchell’s comments to the media. “If this was as urgent as the mayor was making it out to be, then there’s no excuse as to why we have not received both nominations until now.”
“Now he is framing it as if we are the ones delaying it.”
Burgo said that he will see that the new appointments are reviewed and hopefully approved as quickly as possible. The committee on appointments and briefings will meet in early February, Burgo said. Already on Thursday night the council fast-tracked several other appointments — including for city Auditor Quillan Lowney — if appointees had already been working in their roles on an interim basis or were returning to their roles.
Asked how the City Council moves forward from here, Burgo said, “We’re going to continue doing the work for the people.”
Email Colin Hogan at chogan@newbedfordlight.org
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, to correct that the licensing board appointment of Jimmy Dee was not submitted to City Council, but only included in a press release.
So the board member they had was forced to quit, because he tried to ban nips which litter every ward in this city and serve alcoholism. But small businesses make money off them, and the council bowed to them. Shame on them. And the mayor needs to call them, however painful that might be. Every mayor for the last 20 years has avoided calling councilors who take themselves much too seriously.
The problem is the people who are in a “chief” positions think they are GOD. They are not. Much waste has been reported to the Mayor, in other departments and nothing has been done. paying for deceased members of city workers is not the only issue.
We need people in these positions that are not hired because their a buddy or what they will allow go on with eyes closed.
Money related discrepancy should be an automatic release from position. Those who hold up positions being filled should be, released from their position. Time for the residents to be heard.
It’s time for change in the City of New Bedford’s Government. Imagine the first council meeting and this is how the political year gets started. Politicians that have served for over 10 years need to go. Whether it be Mayor Mitchell, Councilors Morad, Gomes, or Giesta the majority of city residents have had enough. It’s hard enough to attract businesses with our High Tax and Sewer and Water Rates, but do you really think that any company looking for a new home to start their business is going to consider New Bedford after this display of infighting in City Government. 100% New Bedford Residents deserve better and need new leadership in City Hall.
Will the new one’s be better?
Was Biden better than Trump?
So when voting comes around again DO NOT vote the same clowns in because of your in their pockets! We need new leadership!!! There are some great councilors but they need communication to serve the people!! Let’s do it right this time around!!👍
The job of a mayor is to appoint individuals who live in New Bedford and are qualified for that position on boards and commissions, not cronies that contributed to his or her campaign. We are watching.
The job of the Mayor is to appoint and hire the very best available, for the cost.
Their housing situation should never be a factor .