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Pawtucket council approves tax abatements, amends lounge hours, confirms Riverfront appointment
Summary
At its Nov. 19 meeting the Pawtucket City Council and Board of License Commissioners approved license renewals, amended closing-hour stipulations for Bahuka Lounge, authorized two tax-abatement resolutions totaling $143,356.65, moved a December meeting date and confirmed Sandra Cano to the Riverfront Commission.
The Pawtucket City Council and the Board of License Commissioners met on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. The Board of License Commissioners opened at 6:58 p.m.; officials noted video was unavailable but audio was working. No members of the public registered to speak.
The board approved minutes from Nov. 5, 2025 and a consent agenda of license renewals that included Dunkin' Donuts (1404 Newport Avenue, license VIC24-138) and several cosmetology and tattoo/permanent-makeup licenses, concluding with a permit listed for 250 Main Street Unit 7 (license TAT-24-9). The consent agenda motion carried on voice vote.
The board considered a communication from Farris Tabachi on behalf of Bahuka Lounge requesting an amendment to stipulations governing closing hours. The applicant sought to change stipulation #1 to allow closing at midnight Sunday through Thursday and 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, while retaining existing limits (no amplified music, acoustic only; revised parking-striping). The amendment was moved, seconded and approved by the license board.
After adjourning the license board, the body reconvened as the Pawtucket City Council at 7:03 p.m., and Councilor Marino led the Pledge of Allegiance. The council approved prior committee and council minutes for Nov. 5 and Nov. 10, 2025.
On finance matters, the council approved a resolution authorizing abatements for motor-vehicle, real-estate and tangible personal property taxes for April–June 2025 in the amount of $10,192.45; the roll-call vote was recorded as 6–0 in favor. The finance committee returned a second resolution authorizing abatements for July–September 2025 totaling $133,164.20; a councilor thanked Director Burns and his staff for assistance to low-income residents during discussion, and the resolution passed 6–0.
Councilors also approved a procedural change to the December meeting schedule, moving the regular meeting planned for Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 (Christmas Eve) to Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.; that resolution passed 6–0.
Finally, the council considered a mayoral communication recommending Sandra Cano, of Pawtucket, to the Riverfront Commission for a term expiring June 2028. The council confirmed the appointment on a unanimous roll-call vote.
There was no public comment recorded, and the council adjourned after the final motions.
