Special Committee Meeting on Special Permits and Licensing – March 19, 2026
Special Committee Meeting on Special Permits and Licensing – March 19, 2026
The New Bedford City Council's Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing met on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 6:34 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting was live-streamed and recorded. Chaired by Councillor at Large Ian Abreu, with members Ward 2 Councillor Scott Pemberton and Ward 1 Councillor Leo Choquette. Two letters of absence (from Councillors Carney and Lopes) were received and filed.
Consent Calendar
- Letters of Absence: Motions to receive and file letters from Councillor Naomi R. Carney (personal matter) and Councillor Joseph P. Lopes (work commitment) were approved unanimously.
Discussion Items
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Item 1 – Motor Vehicle Sales/Rentals Special Permit (297 Belleville Ave): Public hearing for Moses Kimball d/b/a KND Auto Rentals LLC. Applicant seeks a special permit and business certificate to start a car rental company. He has five years of experience with Turo and plans to start with nine vehicles, operating 8 AM–5 PM. Commissioner Romanowitz confirmed the lot is well-maintained and can accommodate only nine cars. No public comments for or against. The committee voted unanimously to refer the matter to the full City Council with a positive recommendation. Final vote scheduled for March 26, 2026 at 7 PM.
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Item 2 – Cannabis Consumption Lounges (Motion by Abreu & Oliver): Discussion on a motion requesting city department heads to explore host community agreements for on-site cannabis consumption establishments (lounges). Health Director Stephanie Sloan expressed concerns: no field sobriety test for cannabis, normalization, enforcement challenges, and insufficient guidance from the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). Police Chief Thody echoed enforcement difficulties and noted lack of roadside detection technology. Planner Jen Carloni raised zoning and location uncertainties. Solicitor Eric Jakes highlighted public safety risks and unanswered regulatory questions. Councillors Abreu, Oliver, and Choquette argued that delaying could cause the city to miss economic opportunities, as other communities may act. The motion was tabled unanimously to await further information from department heads and the CCC.
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Item 3 – Cigar Lounges (Motion by Councillor Lopes): Discussion on a motion to explore permitting on-site tobacco consumption (cigar lounges). Health Director Sloan reported that the Board of Health's 2024 regulations explicitly prohibit cigar bars, citing public health goals (reducing smoking rates, lung cancer, secondhand smoke). She noted seven of 17 underage tobacco sales in 2025 involved cigars or cigarillos. Councillor Choquette argued that cigar lounges with proper ventilation and adult-only access differ from cigarette smoking and should be considered. Police Chief Thody stated that cigar consumption does not pose the same immediate public safety risks as alcohol or cannabis. The motion was tabled unanimously to allow Councillor Lopes to be present at the next meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Referred to full City Council for final vote on March 26, 2026 with unanimous positive recommendation.
- Item 2: Tabled (unanimous). Department heads committed to gather more data from peer communities and report back; further discussion scheduled for future meetings.
- Item 3: Tabled (unanimous) out of respect for motion sponsor Councillor Lopes, with discussion to resume at next committee meeting.
Meeting Transcript
That's how we keep starting. So here we go. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is six thirty-four PM on Thursday, March nineteenth, two thousand twenty six. I'd like to call to order this special committee meeting on special permits and licensing here in the New Bedford City Council Chambers. Note this meeting is being live streamed and recorded. I am joined in the council chambers by my committee members on this committee. We have Ward 2 Councillor Scott Pemberton and we have Ward 1 Councilor Leo Shoket. And I am Ian Abreu, Counselor at large and the chairman of this committee. I will ask the clerk, are there any letters to be read into the record at this time? Chairman Abreu, yes, we have two. The first one is um I'm writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend tonight's committee on special permits and licensing. Due to a personal matter, please read the letter into the record to make my colleagues and the public aware of the reasons for my absence. Sincerely, Naomi R. Carney, Councillor at Large. The other one is from Councillor Lopes. It says, I'm writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend tonight's committee meeting due to a work commitment. Please read the letter into the record to make my colleagues and the public aware of the reasons for my absence. Sincerely, Joseph P. Lopes. I need a motion to receive these two letters on file. The letters made by Councillor Pemberton. By Councillor Schoquette. Anyone on the question? All those in favor say aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. I will ask the clerk to read item number one that's before us a public hearing. Item one public hearing on an application. Moses Kimball doing business as KND Auto Rentals LLC for a special permit for motor vehicle sales and rentals at 297 Belleville Ave, New Bedford Mass, 02747. The application received on February 19th, 2026, and it was advertised in the Standard Times on Thursday, March 5th and Thursday, March 12th. Made by Councillor Schoquette, seconded by Councillor Pemberton. Anyone on the question? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed the ayes have. I also need a motion to open the public hearing at this time. Made by Councillor Schoquette. Seconded by Councillor Pemberton. Anyone on the question of opening the public hearing? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed the ayes have it. Mr. Cassembo, would you mind taking the podium? Good evening, sir. Thank you for uh joining us this evening. Would you mind telling us a little bit about your project and then I'll I'll open it for questions from the body at that point. Good evening, all. My name is Moses Kisembo, the owner of Candy Auto Rentors. I'm applying for a motor vehicle special permit and a business certificate to start a car rental company.
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