Committee refers multiple memorial requests to City Council and Park Board; several items tabled for follow-up

The New Bedford Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications on an evening session referred several memorial and dedication applications to the full City Council and the Park Board, and tabled other requests for further review.

The committee voted to forward a request to place a permanent plaque at the northeast corner of Monty’s Park to honor Anton T. Fortz, a longtime neighborhood gymnastics coach; to refer a memorial bench application for Rocelli “Coco” Paris at Ash and Morgan streets to the Park Board and City Council; and to send a proposal to rename Diamond No. 3 at Brooklawn Park “Founders Field” in honor of the founders of the Wailing City Youth Baseball League. The panel also referred a family request to add a memorial plaque to a bench in front of Lincoln Elementary School for Leotina Da Costa, asking staff to confirm whether the bench is on school property or city layout before formal placement.

Why it matters: The committee’s referrals advance small-scale commemorations in public places across New Bedford and signaled generally cooperative support from city staff. The items will appear on the full City Council and Park Board agendas on Sept. 25 for final action. Other proposals — including a family-proposed stone to honor Calpimento/Pimentel on privately donated land and two proposed downtown dedications — were tabled pending legal or technical follow-up.

Committee discussion and decisions

Anton T. Fortz (Monty’s Park). Jacqueline Fort Spino, who identified herself as an applicant and said she is requesting recognition for her brother Anton T. Fortz, told the committee that he taught neighborhood children gymnastics and tumbling “for over 50 years.” Mary Raposa of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Beaches told the committee a mounted plaque on the park wall would be more permanent than a banner. The committee voted to refer the request to the full City Council and the Park Board for approval; the item is scheduled for Sept. 25.

Rocelli “Coco” Paris (Ash & Morgan). Shontay Paris described a neighborhood tradition she began after her sister’s death: she has placed colored cups and planted perennials at the corner of the baseball diamond and asked for a bench and plaque “because everybody in that community knew her.” Councilors moved and seconded referral of the bench-and-plaque request to the Park Board and City Council; the matter will appear on the Sept. 25 agendas.

Founders Field (Brooklawn Park Diamond No. 3). Steven Carrero, speaking for the Wailing City Youth Baseball League, asked the committee to name Diamond No. 3 for Milton Weaver, Lucien (Beauregard) and Leo Paradis, the league’s founders. The committee voted to forward the renaming recommendation to the Park Board and City Council.

Lincoln Elementary bench (Leotina Da Costa). Anna Nunes requested a plaque on an existing bench in front of Lincoln Elementary to honor her mother, who she said used the bench daily. Committee members and Jamie, the city commissioner from the Department of Public Infrastructure (DPI), discussed whether the bench sits on school property or on city layout; DPI had no objection but staff said they would confirm property status with the School Department. The committee voted to refer the request to the City Council with a request that DPI and the School Department confirm whether placement is allowed and provide a letter of no objection ahead of the Sept. 25 City Council meeting.

Pimentel stone and donated land (Map 10 Lot 108). Councilor Gomes and family member Kurt Pimentel described a family offer to donate a parcel of land and to place a commemorative stone honoring Calpimento/Pimentel. The committee learned the matter is awaiting action in the City Solicitor’s office to accept the land; the family said they own and maintain the parcel and are prepared to place a granite stone now. Committee members asked the city solicitor for a status update. The committee voted to table the item for 30 days pending follow-up with the Solicitor’s Office and to request a status report from the mayor’s office.

Downtown dedications (Joe Jesus; Philip and Celeste Paliologos). The administration indicated support for recognizing Joe Jesus and for a dedication honoring Philip and Celeste Paliologos. Committee members discussed options for downtown placement, including a small sign mounted to a traffic signal versus a corner monument. DPI staff said a traffic-signal-mounted green-and-white sign would likely be the most straightforward option and offered to produce a cost estimate. The committee voted to table further action on these downtown items for 30 days and to ask DPI for a price estimate for a traffic-signal sign.

Votes at a glance

- Anton T. Fortz — Motion to refer plaque request at Monty’s Park to full City Council and Park Board for approval; mover: Councilor Morad; second: Councilor Connie; outcome: referred for Sept. 25 consideration. - Rocelli “Coco” Paris — Motion to refer memorial bench and plaque at Ash & Morgan to full City Council and Park Board for approval; mover: Councilor Morad; second: Councilor Connie; outcome: referred for Sept. 25 consideration. - Founders Field (Brooklawn Park Diamond No. 3) — Motion to refer renaming to full City Council and Park Board; mover: Councilor Morehead; second: Councilor Connie; outcome: referred for Sept. 25 consideration. - Leotina Da Costa (Lincoln Elementary bench) — Motion to refer to full City Council with request that DPI and the School Department confirm property status and provide a letter; mover: Councilor Morad; second: Councilor Connie; outcome: referred for Sept. 25 consideration (pending confirmation). - Kurt Pimentel / Calpimento stone (Map 10 Lot 108) — Motion to table for 30 days pending solicitor follow-up; mover: Councilor Morad; second: Councilor Connie; outcome: tabled 30 days. - Items 6 and 7 (Ziterion portrait and related item) — Motion to table (maker and second recorded); outcome: tabled. - Joe Jesus & Philip and Celeste Paliologos downtown dedications — Motion to table pending DPI cost estimate for traffic-signal sign (30 days); outcome: tabled 30 days.

What’s next

The items referred to the City Council and Park Board are scheduled for the Sept. 25 agendas. The Pimentel family’s monument request and the downtown dedication concepts are pending follow-up: the committee asked the mayor’s office to query the City Solicitor about the land-donation status and asked DPI for a cost estimate for a traffic-signal sign to mark an intersection.

Attributions and cautionary notes

Speakers’ statements about causes or medical events are reported as claims by those speakers. For example, Anna Nunes described her mother’s health decline and told the committee that her mother “went blind overnight as a result of the COVID vaccine”; the article attributes that assertion to Nunes and does not verify medical causation.

Ending

Committee members closed the session after tabling and referral votes and set follow-up reporting timelines; referrals will appear on the Sept. 25 City Council and Park Board agendas.