New Bedford City Council Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing Meeting - May 11, 2026
New Bedford City Council Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing Meeting - May 11, 2026
The New Bedford City Council Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing met on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. Chairman Ian Abrew (Councillor at Large) presided, joined by Councillors Scott Pemberton (Ward 2), Leo Choquett (Ward 1), and Joseph Lopes (Ward 5). The meeting was live-streamed and recorded. A letter from Councillor Carney was read indicating he would be late.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Anna Liz Valentine Burgos, applicant for a private livery license for Giranas Transportation Inc., described her business as providing transportation for school-age children and daycare services. She stated she has three vans, three drivers, and is hiring two additional employees. She indicated she does not perform airport runs or services for GATRA.
- Mr. Bryant, petitioner for a residency waiver to operate a pawnbroker/junk dealer business under the name Paul and Bryant, explained that he purchased the company in 2022 and now operates 51 stores across nine states. He clarified that while he previously lived in Texas, he is now a resident of Revere, Massachusetts, and is committed to the area. The transcript refers to the business as both 'Fall River Palmbrokers' and 'Fall River Pondbrokers'.
Discussion Items
- Councillor Lopes inquired about the number of vans (three) and their parking locations (two at 456 Mill Street, one at 627 Allen Street), as well as the scope of services (only school and daycare).
- Chairman Abrew asked about job creation, to which Burgos responded she is hiring two people. He suggested utilizing the New Bedford Career Center (Mass Hire) to find qualified employees.
- No questions were asked of Mr. Bryant during his appearance.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 – Giranas Transportation Inc. (Anna Liz Valentine Burgos): The committee voted unanimously to give a positive recommendation to the full City Council. The application will be considered for final approval at the City Council meeting on May 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM.
- Item 2 – Sisters Express Transport (Maria De Pina and Maria L. Pyers): The committee voted to table this application as the petitioner was not present and no communication was received.
- Items 3 & 4 – Paul and Bryant (residency waiver for junk/pawnbroker licenses): The committee voted unanimously to give a positive recommendation to the full City Council for both locations (1351 Cushioned Avenue and 268 Union Street), including the requested residency waiver. Final approval will also be considered on May 28, 2026.
- The meeting adjourned at 6:39 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is 6 30 p.m. on Monday, May 11th, 2026, here in the New Bedford City Council Chamber. I'd like to call to order this meeting on the special committee on special permits and licensing. No. This meeting is being live streamed and recorded. City Council and committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Bedford's homepage under quick links, then meetings. I am joined in the council chamber this evening by my colleagues in government and members of this committee. We have Ward Two Councillor Scott Pemberton, Ward One Council Leo Choquett, and Ward 5 Councillor Joseph Lopes. I am counselor at large, Ian Abrew and the chairman of this committee. I'll ask the clerk at this time. Mr. Clerk, are there any letters to be read into the record? I do I have one letter to read into the records from Councillor Um Carney. I am ready to inform you that I expect to be late for tonight's committee meeting due to a prior commitment. Please read this letter into the record. Motion receive and place this item on file, made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Shoket. Anyone on the question? All those in favor say aye. Opposed, the ayes have. I'll ask the clerk to read item one. Item number one is a communication city clerk, clerk of the city council, submitting an application for a new private livery license on behalf of Anna Liz Valentine Burgos. Uh 627 Allen Street, New Bedford Mass, doing business as Giranas Transportation. Incorporated 21 Wells Street, New Bedford Mass. The term of the license is July 1, 2026 to June 30th, 2027. The uh was referred here on March 26th, 2026. And item number one is now before you. Made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Choquett on the motion to receive in place on file. Anyone on the question? All those in favor say aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. I believe Miss Burgos, you are here. Yes, good evening. So before we open it up to the floor for uh colleagues from uh questions from our colleagues, can you tell us a little bit about what you're looking to do? I'm sorry, what? Tell us a little bit about what you're looking to do here on your application. Um we do transportation for the school age. Pick up the microphone, please. We do transportation for school age children's and daycare services. Okay. I'll open the floor for the colleagues at this time, Councillor Lopes. We have three vans. Three vans, and where do you park those vans? Um we have two of the vans parked on four fifty-six Mill Street, and we have one van park on six twenty-seven Allen Street. That's the van that I drive in the morning time. So that's the one that you drive. So it's basically your own van. Okay. So you have three drivers now. Do you do anything other than school school runs?
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