MassVoter.com← New Bedford City CouncilNew Bedford · Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing · 7:00 p.m.
July 15, 2026
4 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
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Start my ballot →Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing: committee votes are recommendations to the full council, which takes the final vote. About this committee
Attendance
Present: Ian Abreu, Naomi R. A. Carney, Leo Choquette, Scott Pemberton
Absent: Joseph P. Lopes
During the meeting:
- Carney arrived late (7:02)
Every vote, in order
Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, submitting an Application for a New Private Livery License, on behalf of George Almeida, d/b/a All Needs Transportation, 32 Liberia Lane, New Bedford, MA. (Term of License July 01, 2026 – June 30, 2027.) (Matter Id #0918) (Referred – May 28,…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Application for a New Private Livery License, on behalf of George Almeida, d/b/a All Needs Transportation, 32 Liberia Lane, New Bedford, MA.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the APPLICATION for a NEW PRIVATE LIVERY LICENSE, on behalf of George Almeida, d/b/a ALL NEEDS TRANSPORTATION, 32 Liberia Lane, New Bedford, MA. (Matter #0918).” (Motion: Carney, second: Choquette)
Communication, City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council, to City Council, submitting a Petition, Anna Thomas, Fall River, MA d/b/a All Things with Anna, 127 W. Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, MA, requesting a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-38 of the City Code, to obtain a…
To recommend to the City Council Approval of the Petition, for the Waiver of Residency, on behalf of Anna Thomas, Fall River, MA d/b/a All Things with Anna, 127 W. Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, MA, requesting a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-38 of the City Code, to obtain a License to Deal in Junk, Old Metals or Any Other Secondhand Articles.
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Choquette, the Committee VOTED: To recommend to the City Council APPROVAL of the PETITION, for the WAIVER OF RESIDENCY, on behalf of Anna Thomas, Fall River, MA d/b/a ALL THINGS WITH ANNA, 127 W. Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, MA, requesting a Waiver of Residency in accordance with Section 15-38 of the City Code, to obtain a LICENSE TO DEAL IN JUNK, OLD METALS OR ANY OTHER SECONDHAND ARTICLES. (Matter #1063).” (Motion: Carney, second: Choquette)
On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee Voted: To remove the following matter from the table: Written Motion, Councillors Abreu and Oliver, requesting that the City Council engage the appropriate City department heads to explore the feasibility of…
To remove the following matter from the table: Written Motion, Councillors Abreu and Oliver, requesting that the City Council engage the appropriate City department heads to explore the feasibility of permitting Host Community Agreements (HCAs) for onsite cannabis consumption establishments, commonly referred to as cannabis consumption lounges or social consumption establishments, in accordance wi
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: To remove the following matter from the table: WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu and Oliver, requesting that the City Council engage the appropriate City department heads to explore the feasibility of permitting Host Community Agreements (HCAs) for onsite cannabis consumption establishments, commonly referred to as cannabis consumption lounges or social consumption establishments, in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws and Cannabis Control Commission regulations adopted in 2025; and further, requesting that said departments report back to the City Council with findings, recommendations, and any necessary local actions required to lawfully implement such establishments within the City of New Bedford. (To be Referred to the Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing, Health Department Director Stephanie Sloan, Police Chief Jason Thody, Planning Department Director Jennifer Carloni, City Solicitor Eric Jaikes and a Representative from the Mayor’s Office.) (Matter ID #0178) (Referred – February 12, 2026.) (March 19, 2026 – tabled.) (Matter #0178).” (Motion: Carney, second: Pemberton)
To recommend that the City Council take “No Further Action” on the Written Motion, Councillors Abreu and Oliver, requesting that the City Council engage the appropriate City department heads to explore the feasibility of permitting Host Community Agreements (HCAs) for onsite cannabis consumption establishments, commonly referred to as cannabis consumption lounges or social consumption establishmen
From the minutes
“On motion by Councillor Carney and seconded by Councillor Pemberton, the Committee VOTED: To recommend that the City Council take “NO FURTHER ACTION” on the WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu and Oliver, requesting that the City Council engage the appropriate City department heads to explore the feasibility of permitting Host Community Agreements (HCAs) for onsite cannabis consumption establishments, commonly referred to as cannabis consumption lounges or social consumption establishments, in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws and Cannabis Control Commission regulations adopted in 2025; and further, requesting that said departments report back to the City Council with findings, recommendations, and any necessary local actions required to lawfully implement such establishments within the City of New Bedford. (Matter #0178).” (Motion: Carney, second: Pemberton)
From the official minutes kept by the New Bedford City Clerk (agendas and minutes). The minutes are text documents; we read every action, check every roll-call count against the councilors named, and quote the exact wording. Most items pass by voice vote, and the minutes record only the result for those; how each councilor voted is shown only for roll calls. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Councilor photos: cropped from the City of New Bedford's official 2026 City Council photo (newbedford-ma.gov). The 2024–2025 group photo, and the photos of Maria E. Giesta and Linda M. Morad cropped from it: City of New Bedford, provided by the City Clerk.
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