Committee on Appointments and Briefings - November 18, 2025

The Committee on Appointments and Briefings convened on November 18, 2025, to review citizen input, vote on city commission appointments, approve private livery licenses, and discuss municipal benefits including prescription drug plans and dental coverage. The meeting was marked by a significant disruption during the citizen input portion concerning a dispute with a city employee, followed by several discussions on public health and safety, and administrative reports from the HR Director and CFO.

Consent Calendar

• Conservation Commission Appointment: The committee removed from the table the appointment of Connor Warden to the Conservation Commission, replacing Denis Dett. Warden received a positive recommendation based on his background in wildlife management and natural resources. He was scheduled for swearing in on November 25, 2025.
• Traffic Commission Appointment: The committee removed from the table the appointment of Cheryl Ann Vivaris to the Traffic Commission, replacing Angela Johnson. Vivaris received a positive recommendation due to her experience with livery transportation and her willingness to enforce regulations.
• Private Livery Licenses:
  • New Bedford Transportation, LLC (Dunia Arsano): A new private livery license was approved for approval by the full city council. The applicant plans to use three regular cars for medical transport with off-street parking.
  • DJ Transportation (Jelene M. Guzman Carrero): A new license was approved for approval. The applicant plans to operate one minivan for school transport with one employee.
  • Grace Transportation (Delphoo Amado): A new license was approved for approval. The applicant plans to operate one vehicle for school bus transport, parked off-street.
  • Blue Line Transportation (Joan Empire): A new license was approved for approval. The applicant plans to start with two vehicles, utilizing personal vehicles for business use initially.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Councilor Linda Morad: Expressed strong opposition to allowing Joyce Rowley to speak, stating that Rowley's actions constitute harassment and bullying of city employees and have cost the city over $150,000. Councilor Morad stated she would not listen to Rowley's comments while present and left the chamber in solidarity with zoo employees.
• Councillor Brian Gomes: Expressed support for the principle of citizen input but joined Councilor Morad in walking out of the chamber. Councillor Gomes stated that the specific situation regarding Joyce Rowley had become a nuisance causing damage to employees and that "enough is enough." He affirmed that citizen input time remains essential for the public, but not in cases of continued disruption.
• Mr. Alan Gannetto: Expressed concern regarding an abandoned property at 319 South Second Street, describing it as a pigeon coop and eyesore that poses a fire and safety risk. He urged the city to apply pressure on the owner to address the property. Councillors Baptiste and Abrew discussed the history of cleanup efforts on the lot following a previous fire and confirmed the property is on the radar for future action.

Discussion Items

• Prescription Drug Plan and Savings:

  • CFO Bob Axram and HR Director Jose Juvea: Discussed the city's pharmaceutical costs, noting that Pillar RX (via Blue Cross Blue Shield) provided rebates of $712,000 in 2022, $483,000 in 2023, and $440,000 in 2024. Current projections for the year show $262,000 in savings so far.
  • Councillor Pereira: Expressed concern regarding a projected 20-25% increase in drug costs reported by industry sources. Inquired about the potential risks of switching from Pillar RX to a new vendor, Benastar, which is currently only able to provide projections without historical claims data.
  • CFO Axram: Explained that the removal of coverage for Ozempic/Wegovy when used for weight loss helped limit the city's premium increase to 10%, whereas other municipalities saw increases of 18-22%. He noted that while Benastar shows potential savings, the city remains with Pillar RX for the time being to secure existing rebate data.
  • Councillor Gomez: Requested a summary of the Lockton consulting contract and fees (approx. $40,000/year) to ensure the city is receiving value.
  • Council Action: The committee voted to table the prescription drug discussion until the consultant's contract summary is provided.

• Voluntary Benefits and Dental Plan:

  • HR Director Jose Juvea: Provided a summary of existing voluntary benefits (life, accident, disability, FSA, pet insurance) and noted that 17 open enrollment sessions were held. He agreed that the lack of a dental plan is a significant gap, noting that over 95% of municipalities offer one. He estimated the cost at $10-$12 bi-weekly for a basic plan.
  • Councillor Pereira: Expressed full support for adding a dental plan, emphasizing that it is a critical health need, not just a luxury. He noted that the issue has been raised for eight years without resolution and urged the administration to act.
  • Councillor Oakes: Added that vision care (glasses) should also be considered alongside dental care, as both are covered under similar statutes and are important for an aging population.
  • Andy Shaw (AFLAC Representative): Testified that dental and vision are the second and third most requested benefits, respectively. He advocated for the city's need to offer voluntary supplemental insurance to fill gaps in coverage, noting that 50% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings.
  • Councilor Abrew: Supported AFLAC as a legitimate product, dispelling fears of "snake oil," and encouraged the HR Director and AFLAC representative to connect.
  • Council Action: The committee voted to table the voluntary benefits discussion to explore plan designs and the possibility of adding dental and optical coverage.

• Host Community Agreement (HCA) for Marijuana License:

  • Applicant (Shamar James/ThC Connect): Requested council approval to use the state's (CCC) draft HCA template to expedite the licensing process for a co-located adult-use marijuana retail and manufacturing establishment. They cited a state staff shortage and the urgency of a December 11th deadline for a $25,000-$250,000 Special Equity Fund application.
  • City Solicitor Jakes: Expressed caution, stating that the ordinance requires the Mayor to negotiate and approve HCAs, not the Council directly. He noted ongoing inconsistencies in the review process by the CCC regarding the city's Social Equity Policy (SEP) and the inability to obtain clear guidance from the CCC due to staffing issues. He indicated that using the CCC template does not bypass the need for an approved SEP or Mayoral approval.
  • Applicant (Paul Fortez): Argued that proceeding with a normal HCA process would still count the applicant as Social Equity, but emphasized the financial urgency of the December deadline.
  • Council Action: The committee voted to table the HCA motion to consult with the Mayor and the City Solicitor regarding the legal feasibility of using the CCC template and the status of the Social Equity Policy.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments Approved: Connor Warden (Conservation) and Cheryl Ann Vivaris (Traffic) were given positive recommendations to the full City Council. They are scheduled to be sworn in on November 25, 2025.
• Livery Licenses Approved: Four new private livery licenses (New Bedford Transportation, DJ Transportation, Grace Transportation, and Blue Line Transportation) were recommended for approval by the full City Council on November 25, 2025.
• Prescription Drugs: Motion to table the review of the prescription drug plan pending the provision of the Lockton consultant's contract summary.
• Voluntary Benefits: Motion to table the discussion on adding dental/optical coverage and reviewing carrier options (including AFLAC) to conduct further analysis.
• Marijuana License: Motion to table the Host Community Agreement request to allow the City Solicitor to consult with the Mayor regarding legal procedures and CCC communication issues.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:11 p.m.