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New Bedford City Council · 2026

Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing

Chair and 4 members. Committee votes are recommendations; the full council takes the final vote.

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Members (2026)

Chair: Ian Abreu

Members: Leo Choquette, Naomi R. A. Carney, Joseph P. Lopes, Scott Pemberton

Meetings with posted minutes

At the start of each meeting: Abreu 5 of 5 · Choquette 5 of 5 · Carney 3 of 5 · Lopes 2 of 5 · Pemberton 4 of 5

Thursday, September 17, 2026 · 6:30 p.m.0 recorded votesAbsent: Scott PembertonWednesday, July 15, 2026 · 7:00 p.m.0 recorded votesAbsent: Joseph P. LopesWednesday, June 10, 2026 · 6:30 p.m.0 recorded votesAbsent: Joseph P. LopesMonday, May 11, 2026 · 6:30 p.m.0 recorded votesAbsent: Naomi R. A. CarneyThursday, March 19, 2026 · 6:35 p.m.0 recorded votesAbsent: Naomi R. A. Carney, Joseph P. Lopes

What the full council did with its recommendations

Items listed in the council minutes under “Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing recommending.” Each shows the full council’s vote.

May 28, 2026: Report, Special Committee on Special Permits & Licensing, recommending to the City Council, Approval of the Application for a New Private Livery License, on…

Accept and place on filePassed · Voice vote, names not recorded

Recommendation Followed

From the minutes

“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0897).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 22 (PDF)

Accept and place on filePassed · Voice vote, names not recorded

Recommendation Followed

From the minutes

“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0898).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 22 (PDF)

Accept and place on filePassed · Voice vote, names not recorded

Recommendation Followed

From the minutes

“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0899).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 23 (PDF)

Mar 26, 2026: Report, Special Committee on Special Permits & Licensing, recommending to the City Council Approval of the Application, Moses N. Kisembo d/b/a Knd Auto Rentals,…

Accept and place on filePassed · Voice vote, names not recorded

Recommendation Followed

From the minutes

“Recommendation Followed. (Matter #0355).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

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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