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Council confirms fire chief, reappoints housing authority member and refers multiple mayoral appointments and items to committees
Summary
At the Feb. 13 meeting the New Bedford City Council confirmed Peter Clark as permanent district fire chief (11–0), reappointed Leona Fisher to the Housing Authority (11–0), granted a demolition permit and referred several mayoral appointments and other items to committees for screening and hearing.
The New Bedford City Council on Feb. 13 approved a slate of mayoral appointments and committee referrals, including the immediate appointment of Peter Clark as permanent district fire chief and the reappointment of Reverend Leona Fisher to the New Bedford Housing Authority.
Peter Clark was confirmed by roll call (11–0) after Mayor Mitchell submitted the nomination. Clark was sworn in on the chamber floor and thanked his family and department leaders; he referenced a grant awarded earlier in the day supporting New Bedford Fire Department officer training. The council voted to waive rules 38 and 40 and grant the appointment immediately.
The council also granted the reappointment of Reverend Leona Fisher to the Housing Authority for a term running through December 2029; that reappointment passed by roll call, 11–0, and Fisher was sworn in.
Other actions on mayoral communications and appointments included: - Referral of Alex J. Weiner’s reappointment to the Board of Health to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings (passed 9–2 after discussion about the board’s regulatory role and tobacco-related policies). - Referral of James PD to the Licensing Board to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings. - Appointment of Shane Trimble to the Planning Board as a full member (waive screening and grant; roll call passed 11–0). - Referral of Robin Ranko’s appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals to Appointments and Briefings (passed 7–4). - Receipt and granting of a demolition review for a late-19th century wood-frame barn at 1530 Old Plainville Road; the preservation planner advised the structure is not historically significant and beyond reasonable rehabilitation, and the council voted to grant the demolition (11–0).
Why it matters: The confirmed district fire chief will assume operational leadership within the Fire Department, and reappointments and committee referrals shape local boards that make public health, planning and licensing decisions. Councilors also expressed procedural concerns about how some appointments were presented for council consideration.
Several mayoral communications were tabled or referred to committees for further screening and public hearing as part of the council’s usual appointments process.
