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Record of Proceedings

Special Committee Meeting on Special Permits and Licensing - June 10, 2026

Default View — Wednesday, June 10, 2026

BodyNew Bedford, Massachusetts

SessionDefault View

DateWednesday, June 10, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 14:46

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0:12

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:14

I would like to call to order the special committee meeting on special permits and licensing.

0:18

It is 6 30 p.m.

0:20

on Wednesday, June 10th, 2026.

0:24

I am joined in the new Bedford City Council Chambers this evening by my colleagues in government.

0:29

Ward two Councillor Scott Pemberton, Ward One Council Leo Shoket, and Councillor at Large and Second Vice President Naomi Carney.

0:38

And I am Ian Abrew, Counselor at Large and Chairman of this committee.

0:42

I'll ask the clerk at this time, sir.

0:43

Are there any letters to be read into the record?

0:45

There is.

0:45

I have one letter from Councillor Lopes.

0:47

Uh I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend tonight's committee meeting due to a work related commitment.

0:52

Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues in the public of the reason for my absence.

1:02

Second.

1:03

Made by Councillor Schoquette, seconded by Councillor Pemberton.

1:06

Anyone on the question?

1:06

All those in favor say aye.

1:08

Aye.

1:09

Opposed, the ayes have it.

1:10

No.

1:11

This meeting is being live streamed and recorded.

1:13

City Council and committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Bedford's homepage under quick links, then meetings.

1:20

Alrighty, I'll ask the clerk to read item one, which is before us.

1:25

Item number one is a communication.

1:27

City clerk, uh clerk of the city council submitting an application for a new private livery license on behalf of Maria De Pina, 28 Windsor Circle, Brockton Mass, and Maria L.

1:36

Pyers.

1:37

Um 60 Foster Street, Brockton Mass doing business as Sister Express Transport, 109 Robson Street, New Bedford Mass.

1:45

The term of the license is July one, 2026 to June thirtieth, 2027.

1:49

It was referred here on April 9th, 2026, where it was um uh heard on uh May 11th, 2026 and was tabled on the same day.

1:59

Item number one is before you and it remains on the table.

2:01

Colleagues in your motion to remove this item from the table.

2:04

Motion removed by Councillor Schocket.

2:07

Second, seconded by Councillor Pemberton.

2:09

All those in favor say aye.

2:10

Aye.

2:11

Opposed, the ayes have it.

2:12

Do we have Ms.

2:12

Depina or Ms.

2:13

Pyers here?

2:15

Thank you.

2:21

Good evening.

2:23

Would you mind providing us with your name and address for the record, please?

2:26

Goodbye.

2:29

My name is Maria Pyrris, 659, um Robson Street.

2:35

No bad fact.

2:37

Thank you.

2:37

Would you mind just pulling the microphone down a little bit closer to you?

2:40

Thank you.

2:41

All right.

2:42

So would you mind just telling us a little bit about your application here and what you're looking to do, and then I'll open it up for questions from my colleagues.

2:50

Okay.

3:05

Okay.

3:05

We want we are applying for a living.

3:07

Sir, if you want to just go into the microphone.

3:09

Just for the record so we can be clear.

3:11

Thank you.

3:12

Okay.

3:12

Thank you.

3:13

So we are applying for a livery license.

3:15

We want to do medical transportation school bus.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Transportation Safety█████████████████████████████████████████████66%

Procedural███████████████████████34%

Summary of Proceedings

Special Committee Meeting on Special Permits and Licensing - June 10, 2026

Meeting Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. (convened at 6:30 p.m., adjourned at 6:45 p.m.) Location: New Bedford City Council Chambers Presiding: Chair Ian Abrew (Councillor at Large) Attendees: Ward 2 Councillor Scott Pemberton, Ward 1 Councillor Leo Shoket, Councillor at Large Naomi Carney. (Councillor Lopes absent with a letter read into the record.)

This special committee meeting of the New Bedford City Council focused on two applications for new private livery licenses. Both applications received positive recommendations from the committee to the full City Council after amendments and discussions.

Discussion Items

Item 1: Application for New Private Livery License – Sister Express Transport

Applicants: Maria De Pina (28 Windsor Circle, Brockton) and Maria L. Pyers (60 Foster Street, Brockton), doing business as Sister Express Transport, 109 Robson Street, New Bedford.
Background: The application was originally tabled on May 11, 2026. It was removed from the table at this meeting.
Applicant Presentation: Ms. Pyers stated the business would provide medical transportation and school bus services. The application initially listed one vehicle, but the applicants clarified they intend to operate two vehicles.
Parking: The two vehicles will be parked in the driveway of the rented residence at 109 Robson Street, which has three parking spaces. The other tenant will have access to the remaining space. The landlord approved the use of the driveway.
Expansion Plans: The applicants indicated they do not plan to expand in the next year. Chair Abrew noted that any future expansion requiring additional vehicles would need to come back to the committee for appropriate parking infrastructure review.
Amendment: Because the application filed with the city clerk listed one vehicle, the committee moved to amend the application to reflect two vehicles. The motion carried unanimously.
Recommendation: The committee voted to refer the amended application to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.

Item 2: Application for New Private Livery License – Gross's Solutions Transportation

Applicant: Fabio Jara de Grassa, doing business as Gross's Solutions Transportation, 175 Hemlock Street, New Bedford.
License Term: The original license was set to expire June 30, 2026. The committee amended the term to July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, to align with the upcoming fiscal year.
Applicant Presentation: Mr. de Grassa stated he intends to provide medical transportation and school bus services, starting with two vehicles.
Parking: Both vehicles will be parked in the driveway of his residence at 175 Hemlock Street.
Recommendation: The committee voted to refer the amended application to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.

Item 3: Related Application – No Further Action

The committee noted that a third item (item number three) was rendered void due to the amendment on item two. The committee voted to waive the reading and take no further action on item three, referring it to the full City Council as a procedural matter.

Key Outcomes

Item 1 (Sister Express Transport): Amended from one to two vehicles; positive recommendation to full City Council. Final vote scheduled for June 25, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Item 2 (Gross's Solutions Transportation): License term amended to July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027; positive recommendation to full City Council. Final vote scheduled for June 25, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Item 3: No further action; referred to full City Council as void.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to call to order the special committee meeting on special permits and licensing. It is 6 30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10th, 2026. I am joined in the new Bedford City Council Chambers this evening by my colleagues in government. Ward two Councillor Scott Pemberton, Ward One Council Leo Shoket, and Councillor at Large and Second Vice President Naomi Carney. And I am Ian Abrew, Counselor at Large and Chairman of this committee. I'll ask the clerk at this time, sir. Are there any letters to be read into the record? There is. I have one letter from Councillor Lopes. Uh I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend tonight's committee meeting due to a work related commitment. Please read this letter into the record to make my colleagues in the public of the reason for my absence. Second. Made by Councillor Schoquette, seconded by Councillor Pemberton. Anyone on the question? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. 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. Alrighty, I'll ask the clerk to read item one, which is before us. Item number one is a communication. City clerk, uh clerk of the city council submitting an application for a new private livery license on behalf of Maria De Pina, 28 Windsor Circle, Brockton Mass, and Maria L. Pyers. Um 60 Foster Street, Brockton Mass doing business as Sister Express Transport, 109 Robson Street, New Bedford Mass. The term of the license is July one, 2026 to June thirtieth, 2027. It was referred here on April 9th, 2026, where it was um uh heard on uh May 11th, 2026 and was tabled on the same day. Item number one is before you and it remains on the table. Colleagues in your motion to remove this item from the table. Motion removed by Councillor Schocket. Second, seconded by Councillor Pemberton. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. Do we have Ms. Depina or Ms. Pyers here? Thank you. Good evening. Would you mind providing us with your name and address for the record, please? Goodbye. My name is Maria Pyrris, 659, um Robson Street. No bad fact. Thank you. Would you mind just pulling the microphone down a little bit closer to you? Thank you. All right. So would you mind just telling us a little bit about your application here and what you're looking to do, and then I'll open it up for questions from my colleagues.

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