New Bedford City Council approves appointments, licenses and referrals; tables fee schedule update

The New Bedford City Council on Feb. 27 approved a series of mayoral appointments, license renewals and committee referrals and recorded votes on several routine items in a business‑heavy meeting.

Key council actions included referral of Mayor Jon Mitchell’s proposed Klasky Common Transit‑Oriented Development overlay district ordinance to the Committee on Ordinance and the Planning Board and approval of an order authorizing submission of a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for windows, doors and roof replacement at Trinity Day Academy in April (the council adopted the SOI order). The council also received and referred several mayoral appointment communications and approved multiple appointments and license actions in roll‑call votes.

Major votes and procedural outcomes recorded at the meeting included: - Appointment approvals: Marcus Coward to the Human Rights Commission (10–0 roll call); Sherry Pansino as administrative assistant to the Board of Assessors (10–0); Brian Ayotte to the Community Preservation Committee (10–0); Richard McHugh to the Licensing Board (10–0). Manuel H. Silver’s reappointment to the Traffic Commission passed 9–1. - Permits and licenses: A special permit for motor vehicle sales/repair at 119 Potter Street was granted following a committee report; a private livery license for Junior L. Morpaw was approved; multiple private livery renewals and private delivery license matters were granted or referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings. - Property and memorials: The council received and placed on file a report recommending acceptance of a gift of real property (Map 10, Lot 108) from the Pimentel family with a condition allowing a memorial on the parcel in perpetuity; the related motion was referred to the Memorials and Dedications committee. - Finance and fees: The committee on finance recommended increasing the Parks, Recreation and Beaches revolving fund authorization for FY2025 to $200,000 and the council adopted that order. A separate finance committee report to update the city’s right‑of‑way obstruction and disturbance permit fee schedule was reported incomplete; Councilor Morad moved and the council voted to table that item until the amended finance report is available. - Public health governance: The council referred a written motion asking the Board of Health to rescind a recently approved cigar minimum‑pricing regulation and to seek additional grant funding for education and compliance activity. The motion directs the Board of Health to appear before the Committee on Appointments and Briefings at six, 12 and 18 months to update the council on enforcement and education efforts; the motion acquired additional council cosponsors.

Several items were taken as part of a consent agenda and the council adopted the consent agenda before adjourning the meeting at 8:17 p.m.