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Record of Proceedings

Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing Meeting - September 17, 2026

Default View — Thursday, September 17, 2026
BodyNew Bedford, Massachusetts
SessionDefault View
DateThursday, September 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 11:09

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0:22

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:23

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

0:28

It is Thursday, September 17th, 2026.

0:32

It's 6 30 p.m.

0:33

in the New Bedford City Council Chambers.

0:36

Note.

0:37

This meeting is being live streamed and recorded.

0:40

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

0:47

I am joined by my colleagues in government this evening.

0:50

We have Ward 1 Councilor Leah Choquette, Councillor of Ward 5, Joseph Lopes, and myself, Councillor at Large, Ian A.

0:59

Thank you all for joining.

1:00

I'll ask the clerk, are there any letters to be read at this time?

1:02

There is.

1:02

I have one letter from Councillor Carney.

1:04

I'm writing this letter to inform you that I will be late arriving at the special committee on special permits and licensing meeting on Thursday, September 17th, 2026 at 6 30 p.m.

1:15

Due to a prior commitment.

1:24

Motion received and place on file.

1:25

Made by Councillor Lopes.

1:26

Seconded by Councillor Choquette.

1:28

Anyone on the question?

1:29

All those in favor say aye.

1:31

Opposed?

1:32

The ayes have it.

1:33

Item number one is now before us.

1:34

Item number one is the communication.

1:35

Mayor Mitchell to the City Council submitting the appointment of Gerald L.

1:38

Ribero.

1:40

New Bedford as a constable.

1:42

It was referred here on July 16th, 2026.

1:45

1A is the application, which was preferred on the same day.

1:47

One and one A are now before you.

1:50

Need a motion to receive and place this on.

1:54

Made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Shoket.

1:56

Anyone on the question?

1:57

All those in favor say aye.

1:59

Opposed.

1:59

The ayes have it.

2:00

Is Mr.

2:00

Ribero here?

2:02

Take the podium, my friend.

2:06

Give us a little overview of yourself and uh why you'd like to be a constable here in the city, and then I will open it up to the floor for questions.

2:14

Okay.

2:15

Um I am formerly a constable from 2003 to 2005.

2:21

And I let my license lapse.

2:24

I was involved in a terrible car accident and so I let it lapse and a few things happen along the way, and I finally got the consumer to come back and try and do it again.

2:37

Okay.

2:38

Thank you.

2:39

Uh colleagues, questions for this applicant.

2:42

Chair recognizes Councillor Lopes.

2:43

So Mr.

2:44

Ribera, you were answered one of my questions.

2:45

You already have the experience as a constable.

2:47

Yes.

2:48

Are you going to do this on your own or are you going to work with somebody else as you start up again?

2:52

Um I'm going to try I I'm going to start off on my own, but I do know a few constables that I'd like to work with.

2:59

Okay.

3:00

Because a lot's changed in 22 years.

3:02

So that's my only thing is that a lot has changed in 22 years.

3:05

So I don't want you to be in a situation where a simple mistake, something that you could do in 2001 or two, you're no longer allowed to do in 2026.

3:14

Yeah, I understand.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Licensing█████████████████████████████████████████████81%
Cannabis Regulation███████████19%
Summary of Proceedings

Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing Meeting - September 17, 2026

The Special Committee on Special Permits and Licensing met on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers, Room 214, New Bedford City Hall, 133 William Street. The committee considered a constable appointment, a residency waiver for a secondhand-articles license, and a previously tabled cigar lounges motion. The meeting was live streamed and recorded and adjourned at 6:41 PM.

Discussion Items

  • Appointment of Gerald L. Ribeiro as Constable

    • The committee received Mayor Mitchell's communication submitting Gerald L. Ribeiro's appointment as constable for New Bedford, along with his application, referred July 16, 2026.
    • Ribeiro said he previously served as a constable from 2003 to 2005 but allowed his license to lapse after a serious car accident. He now wants to return to the role.
    • Councillor Lopes noted that many rules had changed during Ribeiro's absence and asked whether he would work with other constables. Lopes expressed support for the appointment.
    • Councillor Carney asked whether Ribeiro had other law enforcement experience; Ribeiro replied that he had only previously been a constable.
    • The committee voted to send a positive recommendation to the full City Council. The final ratification vote is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

  • Residency Waiver Petition - Marc DeCambra d/b/a Side Quest Complete

    • The committee received a petition from Marc DeCambra, doing business as Side Quest Complete at 127 West Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, requesting a waiver of residency under Section 15-38 of the City Code to obtain a license to deal in junk, old metals, or any other secondhand articles. The matter was referred August 25, 2026.
    • DeCambra said he and his business partner operate a small secondhand toy shop at the Kilburn Mill and have been open for about one year. He moved his primary residence from Taunton to Somerset, which prompted the new residency waiver request.
    • He described the store as buying and selling vintage toys, video games, Funko Pops, and similar collectible items.
    • The committee voted unanimously to send the petition to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.

  • Cigar Lounges Feasibility Motion - Matter #0179

    • The committee placed on file a written communication from New Bedford Police Chief Jason Thody regarding Councillor Lopes's motion to explore permitting onsite tobacco consumption, commonly referred to as cigar lounges.
    • Chief Thody's letter stated that Police Department representatives could not attend the meeting but remained willing to participate in future discussions. The department asked to review proposed licensing or permitting requirements before implementation and expressed interest in regulations covering hours of operation, occupancy, security, age verification, alcohol service, parking and traffic impacts, and compliance with state and local laws.
    • Councillor Lopes said he had spoken with Health Department Director Stephanie Sloan and City Solicitor Eric Jaikes. He kept the cigar lounges item on the table because no motion was pending before the committee to authorize indoor cannabis consumption. Lopes stated that if indoor cannabis sales were allowed, the city should also allow indoor tobacco sales with an equal number of licenses, and he noted that the Commonwealth already allows municipalities to permit indoor tobacco licenses, with that authority falling under the Board of Health.
    • The committee left Matter #0179 on the table rather than taking it up for action.

Key Outcomes

  • The committee unanimously recommended Gerald L. Ribeiro's appointment as constable to the full City Council. The final vote is scheduled for September 24, 2026.
  • The committee unanimously recommended approval of Marc DeCambra's residency waiver for the secondhand-articles license.
  • The police chief's communication regarding cigar lounges was received and placed on file.
  • The cigar lounges feasibility motion remains tabled.
  • A letter from Councillor Carney explaining that she would be late was received and placed on file.

The committee adjourned at 6:41 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to call the order of this special committee on permits and licensing. It is Thursday, September 17th, 2026. It's 6 30 p.m. in the New Bedford City Council Chambers. Note. 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 by my colleagues in government this evening. We have Ward 1 Councilor Leah Choquette, Councillor of Ward 5, Joseph Lopes, and myself, Councillor at Large, Ian A. Thank you all for joining. I'll ask the clerk, are there any letters to be read at this time? There is. I have one letter from Councillor Carney. I'm writing this letter to inform you that I will be late arriving at the special committee on special permits and licensing meeting on Thursday, September 17th, 2026 at 6 30 p.m. Due to a prior commitment. Motion received and place on file. Made by Councillor Lopes. Seconded by Councillor Choquette. Anyone on the question? All those in favor say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number one is now before us. Item number one is the communication. Mayor Mitchell to the City Council submitting the appointment of Gerald L. Ribero. New Bedford as a constable. It was referred here on July 16th, 2026. 1A is the application, which was preferred on the same day. One and one A are now before you. Need a motion to receive and place this on. Made by Councillor Lopes, seconded by Councillor Shoket. Anyone on the question? All those in favor say aye. Opposed. The ayes have it. Is Mr. Ribero here? Take the podium, my friend. Give us a little overview of yourself and uh why you'd like to be a constable here in the city, and then I will open it up to the floor for questions. Okay. Um I am formerly a constable from 2003 to 2005. And I let my license lapse. I was involved in a terrible car accident and so I let it lapse and a few things happen along the way, and I finally got the consumer to come back and try and do it again. Okay. Thank you. Uh colleagues, questions for this applicant. Chair recognizes Councillor Lopes. So Mr.

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