Councilors press administration over licensing-board vacancies; several appointments sent to committee

Several New Bedford City Councilors on Thursday sharply criticized the administration’s handling of appointments to boards and commissions, particularly the Licensing Board, and referred multiple mayoral nominations to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings for review.

Councilors said the Licensing Board had been short-staffed for months, cited delays in sending nominees to the council and described a pattern of poor communication from the mayor’s office. Councilor Naomi Carney said she had heard ‘‘fantastic things’’ about one nominee but stressed the normal practice is to vet candidates in committee. Several councilors — including Ryan Pereira, Linda Morad, Brian Gomes and Leo Choquette — said the administration had left vacancies for months and that the slow pace had harmed small businesses and weakened board oversight.

The council referred multiple items to appointments and briefings, including the mayor’s submission of Richard McHugh for the licensing board (M12) and the appointment of Sherry Pansino as administrative assistant to the board of assessors (M9). Council President Shane Virgo and other members said the committee will expedite hearings; Councilor Pereira said the appointments will be scheduled immediately.

The council also handled reappointments and other nominations: the reappointment of Gordon M. Carr as the Port Authority’s New Bedford designee (M7) passed by roll call, while the nomination of Manuel H. Silver to the Traffic Commission (M8) was referred to appointments and briefings after a roll-call vote.

Councilors framed the referrals as routine vetting rather than rejection; they said committee hearings give the full council a chance to question nominees and ensure transparency.