[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6490029,"mediaKeyId","5602578-9c639f230c9e3fa788b7c7d94cfaca0a","parentId",5602578,"title","Committee hears petition to amend state law so retired officers can work special details; chief asks for medical-clearance language","audioSeconds",326,"startMs",509000,"endMs",835000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602578-9c639f230c9e3fa788b7c7d94cfaca0a&start=509&end=835","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602578-9c639f230c9e3fa788b7c7d94cfaca0a/thumbnail_509000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6490029/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Committee-hears-petition-to-amend-state-law-so-retired-officers-can-work-special-details-chief-asks-for-medical-clearance-language","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6490029-346d7dd02e536e259d6ac5c2dfed1792/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171101&Signature=HbmjoPdGySbWJFNtYpqqle4knA1w6WnLWhqHDPJFxD8O9i1t6ZPCQxrLs~ysSHt85lXlbDi~Nvu-Dxdvv3mq5UVKZuDSA12yDE3ILVSqSfhe83nGe2wv0pYRjPQp~FNSboy3CCD9E~CHVFx2BaFsBZfj6XSOfStlOAcjCjJPDCmsIUVrczHBol8L503IxUS5kFG1joxaSmo2uoWO8uwNt~46CedhjUY2FC~FW9uop-tOZXNz6ZPAUL1qFVPOeJUvc2dUSD7ZOsAizMlkz4iqpIQKB3IL0ZSs-p2jYYsZzlZ6C63XdlDALgQkkgGAGJ-4QFujftusOnGUyfM3YEzxBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Bedford","date","2025-08-19T00:00:00Z","article","The New Bedford City Council Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods on Aug. 19 considered a home‑rule petition that would change wording in Chapter 32 of the General Laws to allow retired New Bedford police officers older than 65 to be appointed as special police officers for details such as traffic assignments.

The petition, introduced by Councilor Gomes, would alter the provision so no retired officer would be eligible for a special police appointment only if the applicant had “attained the age 70” and would allow appointments and terminations tied to that age. The committee removed the petition from the table for discussion and then later voted to table it for 45 days to allow further review and consultation with union leadership and city staff.

Why it matters: the change would affect how the city staffs paid special details, a frequent tool departments use to cover traffic control and other overtime work. Members of the committee and the newly appointed police chief said the amendment could expand the pool of available workers but raised questions about safety, medical fitness and collective‑bargaining impacts.

Police Chief Thode, introduced to the committee at the start of the meeting, said he supports using qualified retired officers for details but recommended a medical clearance for older appointees. “I think maybe, some kind of medical clearance would probably be appropriate, you know, after age 65,” Thode said, adding that retired officers sometimes remain eager to stay involved and that using them can help the department fill gaps.

Thode also said he had not yet discussed the proposal with the officers’ union and would consult the union president before the committee revisits the petition. “If it’s up to me, yeah. I would have no problem with that,” he said when asked whether he would allow retirees to continue working details if cleared medically.

Committee action and next steps: Councilor Ryan Perera moved to remove the item from the table; Councilor Carney seconded and the committee approved the removal. Later, after discussion, the committee voted to table the matter for 45 days to allow the chief to consult the union and for staff to return with recommended language and any legal or bargaining considerations. The committee recorded no dissent on the motions.

Background and history: the petition has been before the council and committees multiple times. The clerk recited prior actions: referred 08/18/2022; returned and signed by the mayor 09/06/2022; tabled 09/28/2022; heard and tabled 02/21/2023 and 07/27/2023; remained on the table 02/28/2024 and 08/26/2024; heard and tabled again 03/11/2025. Committee members asked staff to return with draft language that could include fitness or medical‑clearance requirements and with documentation of any union or charter implications.

The committee did not adopt a final ordinance or send a recommendation to the full council at the Aug. 19 meeting; members instructed staff and the chief to report back within 45 days.

Ending: The item remains on the committee’s calendar; the committee chair and chief agreed staff will consult the union and return with draft language and any legal analysis before the committee takes final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Bedford - Public Safety & Neighborhoods Committee","oneSentenceSummary","The New Bedford City Council Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods reviewed a home‑rule petition to change Chapter 32 of the General Laws so retired police officers older than 65 could be appointed as special police officers for details. The committee removed the item from the table, heard Police Chief Thode's support with a recommendation a","taxTitle","New Bedford City, Bristol County, Massachusetts","taxId",5758,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6489961,"E.L. Harvey tells council its pest control plan reduced rat activity after May fire; board of health concurs",1584,3727000,5311000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602578-9c639f230c9e3fa788b7c7d94cfaca0a&start=3727&end=5311","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602578-9c639f230c9e3fa788b7c7d94cfaca0a/thumbnail_3727000.jpg","/articles/6489961/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/EL-Harvey-tells-council-its-pest-control-plan-reduced-rat-activity-after-May-fire-board-of-health-concurs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6489961-7115b967865f0ecb392d298fc8756753/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171101&Signature=dLabcf3p3go6-svs0R81xo7f3S-VYOqnxu6pNvjhc-iU4Ng92HJ9i3UODlwqL6oAX4lqZd9bMRoj29xoNu3fUBwfmkb5jd0-IVpQ35~74hb26rabrDNQs~YrI8tpN9eRNptUsVyw9BljeqQcGhQrRZ8ygJ-A20p6Ct88xFa~aO28XAskxQ3qgaswfecG6abDmf1YwP0uasTI-shFThXY25clPVrUdUn43C8pzZyooBt42YtR7R7mt2JrgImaLxss1LVDWq8pyosrj1dlBvCUtH87A0CkwRQxXQPYa-n05w~i7LaAPBl6INxi9P3QYxUSXXT~kB-fMoRAQcOWb6pTWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of E.L. Harvey Trash and Recycling and the New Bedford Board of Health told the City Council Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods on Aug. 19 that measures taken after a May 14 fire at the company’s Shawmut Avenue facility have reduced rodent activity in nearby neighborhoods.

Cliff Bassett, district manager for E.L. Harvey in New Bedford, said the company had engaged Flint Pest Control (referred to in testimony) before and after the fire to monitor and bait the site. Bassett said the company increased bait stations from 45 to 110, conducted multiple daily checks in the immediate aftermath, and coordinated with the Board of Health and MassDEP while the facility was emptied and assessed for damage. “We have not seen any activity on our sites in, probably about a good month now,” he told the committee.

Bassett described how the suspension of daily municipal solid‑waste deliveries during the shutdown removed a steady food source; as the facility was emptied and work continued, vermin moved into nearby streets and the company and pest control firm increased monitoring and treatment. He said destruction efforts and daily monitoring led to a “drastic decrease in the activity” within roughly two weeks.

The Board of Health and city inspectors reported that airport park and surrounding streets had been inspected and showed little or no activity, and the health department reopened the park after confirming monitoring results. “We’re definitely moving in the right direction,” Stephanie from the Board of Health said, adding that the company has been cooperative and that the city continues to monitor complaints.

The company submitted a written rat‑control plan to MassDEP and the Board of Health that includes continued monitoring, monthly floor cleaning of the facility to prevent buildup of food sources, training for employees, and a map of bait‑station placements (outside and inside). Bassett said that as operations resume under a limited DEP permit the company will continue daily checks and maintain at least 75 bait stations (50 outside and 25 inside) as it scales tonnage up in a controlled way.

Committee action: the committee received the communication and placed it on file. Committee members thanked E.L. Harvey, Flint Pest Control and Board of Health staff for the response and asked officials to continue monitoring until the city and health officials are satisfied the issue will not reoccur.

Ending: Board of Health officials said they will continue to accept and respond to resident complaints and coordinate with the company and MassDEP. E.L. Harvey said it will keep the city informed and continue its stepped‑up pest‑control regimen while the facility resumes limited operations under DEP oversight.","E.L. Harvey representatives and the New Bedford Board of Health described steps taken after a May 14 fire at the Shawmut Avenue facility that led to rat burrows appearing in nearby streets. The company said it expanded pest control to 110 bait stations, conducted frequent monitoring with Flint Pest Control, and coordinated with MassDEP and the city",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6489979,"Committee probes rising number of parked campers, RVs and boats; city weighing ordinance, storage and towing options",2889,838000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602578-9c639f230c9e3fa788b7c7d94cfaca0a&start=838&end=3727","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602578-9c639f230c9e3fa788b7c7d94cfaca0a/thumbnail_838000.jpg","/articles/6489979/New-Bedford-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Committee-probes-rising-number-of-parked-campers-RVs-and-boats-city-weighing-ordinance-storage-and-towing-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6489979-8741308a4c7e643e222a29b8eda6d62f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171101&Signature=gleXBY1211rtnW9BPRigzyzSy~x9R1ol5CcTAn1d8I-jN7ysLG5Gqf1jGMfzUDsJqBTvdjO9b5tnU2o1~0EsNxhHtvBOO5LF9kEzyWZuNw6OJ59mrzkCLrp4bJXrtFXtbHA4Ghzdd79fq8M6bKPpYdVl1gjPISi3lfWkzk30Vljf505jiFcWanSGsSvcMzBdCDEo8BvJANl-aEUI-vcr9A7ov2Prt3jigkPJ-YpYFE6uyGLOKaeVupz3bOp9N9OB0d7jMaUdXqD1oXu0~WgnoyptlGW8VPp2nD4MFLP8KbftoaXSMQPXgigXCvX3zt6W1VSOIL3Dj8jdHDST7fOLvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Bedford City Council Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods on Aug. 19 heard extended discussion about campers, recreational vehicles, boats and trailers left on city streets, the public‑safety and access problems they can cause, and possible municipal responses including new ordinances, storage solutions and a city tow yard.

Why it matters: residents and councilors said oversized or long‑term parked units reduce roadway clearance, impede emergency and school buses and create quality‑of‑life concerns in neighborhoods. Committee members pressed administration and police staff for options that would give enforcement “teeth” while allowing for compassionate outreach to people living in vehicles.

What officials reported: Police officials told the committee they had identified 46 campers/boats on city streets; 23 of those remain in place and registered, 18 had been towed, 11 were sent for destruction and seven were pending pickup. Police said some units were cited for generator noise and that officers keep records in a spreadsheet. “Of the 46 of the campers and or boats that they have found out there, there are 23 that are still active,” Police Chief Thode said. “We’ve towed a total of 18. We’ve sent 11 for destruction, and we have currently 7 that are pending pickup.”

City operations and costs: Deputy officials from the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management (DFFM) said DFFM arranges towing and destruction of oversized units through South Coast Towing; the demolition cost is currently about $100 per foot and that expense is coming from DFFM’s budget. “They work with South Coast Towing. South Coast Towing arranges for the destruction and it costs $100 per foot,” Assistant Deputy Chief Carolla said on the record.

Legal and enforcement limits: Solicitor’s staff and committee members noted state law generally permits a registered, insured vehicle on a public street, which constrains immediate removal absent another violation (noise, safety hazard, lack of attachment to a towing vehicle). Councilors asked the committee to pursue an ordinance that would limit how long campers can remain parked in one place, create special‑permit exceptions for temporary guests, and clarify when an unattached trailer is subject to immediate towing. Attorney David Geratowsky (city solicitor’s office) was asked to draft an ordinance to prevent overnight camping on city streets; the committee later tabled that motion to allow review alongside an existing, broader draft ordinance.

Budget and storage challenges: Councilors and the police asked whether a municipal tow yard would be feasible; Chief Thode and staff said the city would need to analyze the return on investment, upfront costs for tow trucks and staffing, and space for storage. Committee members also asked purchasing and DFFM whether an RFP for third‑party storage and demolition had moved forward; councilors asked that the mayor’s chief of staff, Neil Mello, be invited to the next session because the administration had agreed to take responsibility for circulating a response.

Committee action and next steps: the item (motion 2) was removed from the table for discussion. The committee voted to receive a communication on file from the mayor’s office and to keep the issue on the table for further drafting. Councilors asked the solicitor’s office to draft ordinance language that would restrict overnight parking of campers and to coordinate that work with related city code updates on oversized and commercial vehicles. The motion to draft an ordinance was tabled so it can be folded into an existing, broader ordinance effort being prepared by the solicitor. Committee members also requested follow‑up on costs to demolish units and a status update on any RFPs for tow-and‑store services.

Ending: The committee did not adopt a new ordinance at the Aug. 19 meeting. Staff from DFFM, purchasing and the mayor’s office were asked to appear at the committee’s next meeting with cost estimates, the status of any RFP, and proposed draft ordinance language. Councilors also flagged the need for continued outreach to people living in vehicles so enforcement does not simply displace vulnerable residents without housing alternatives.","Councilors and the police chief reviewed policies for handling campers, RVs, boats and trailers left on New Bedford streets. The police reported dozens of units found, with 18 towed and 11 sent for destruction; the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management uses South Coast Towing to destroy units at about $100 per foot. The committee asked city","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears petition to amend state law so retired officers can work special details; chief asks for medical-clearance language

E.L. Harvey tells council its pest control plan reduced rat activity after May fire; board of health concurs

Committee probes rising number of parked campers, RVs and boats; city weighing ordinance, storage and towing options