New Bedford could double dog fines and pawnbroker fees, raise door-to-door license costs; committee takes it up Nov. 18

NEW BEDFORD New Bedford dog owners cited for licensing violations could face fines of up to $50, pawnbrokers and gold buyers could pay double for their city licenses, and door-to-door sellers would pay $120 in their first year instead of $50, under changes a City Council committee takes up Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The Ordinance Committee meets at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, Room 214, at City Hall, 133 William St. The fee request comes from City Clerk Dennis Farias, who asked the council in a July 23 letter to change three sections of the city code. The council referred it to the committee on Aug. 25. Nothing has been voted, and any change would need a vote of the full council.

These are fees set in city ordinance, Farias wrote, unlike two administrative fees for his office that the council approved earlier in July. He wrote that the city's current fees "are among the lowest of comparable municipalities, including Fall River," and that the licenses take considerable time in both the clerk's and council offices, often including CORI background checks on applicants.

What would change

Dog licensing: the fine for violating the city's dog licensing and restraint rules would rise from no more than $25 to no more than $50. Farias wrote that the increase is needed to comply with state law, quoting a section of Chapter 140 that sets a penalty of "not less than $50" for violations of the state's dog licensing sections.

City license fees and fines now and as proposed in the city clerk's July 23 letter

License	Now	Proposed
Dealer in old and precious metals	$100	$200
Pawnbroker	$100	$200
Junk collector or secondhand dealer	$50	$100
Billiards, pool, bowling and similar amusements, first table or alley	$30	$50
Each additional table or alley	$15	$25
Door-to-door sales, yearly	$50	$20 application fee, plus $100 a year once granted
Door-to-door sales, fine per violation	$100	$200

Door-to-door sellers would see the biggest change. Under the draft, the $20 application fee would not be refundable, and an employer whose workers break the door-to-door rules would also be fined $200 per violation. Until every fine is paid to the clerk's office, the city would issue no more door-to-door licenses to that company's employees or representatives. Farias wrote that the new penalties "are meant to encourage compliance from employers and employees alike," and that his office would tell companies known to sell door to door if the council adopts the change.

Also on the agenda

Nitrous oxide: two motions referred in January ask the committee to draft an ordinance on nitrous oxide, often sold as whipped cream chargers. One, from Councilor Gomes, asks the council to go on record against sales to anyone under 21 and to draft a ban on selling the containers in the city. The other, from Councilors Abreu, Choquette and Pemberton, asks for a ban on sales to anyone under 21, with exemptions for legitimate commercial or medical use. Health Director Stephanie Sloan is invited.

Short-term rentals: an April motion from Gomes asks for an ordinance putting Airbnb-style rentals under the hotel guest tax and classifying them as commercial property. It lists a primary residence rule of at least nine months a year, a limit of eight guests or two per bedroom, whichever is fewer, yearly registration with Inspectional Services and one party of renters at a time.

Electric bikes and scooters: a June motion from Gomes asks for an ordinance setting rules for electric bikes, scooters and minibikes on streets, sidewalks, parks and walkways, calling them "a safety problem throughout the City." Police Chief Jason Thody is invited.

The agenda also lists a request from Councilors Burgo and Roy for a home rule petition to draw candidates' ballot positions by random lottery, two motions from Choquette about Planning Board site plan meetings held on Zoom and abutter notices for a hangar project at New Bedford Regional Airport, and two items on automated license plate readers that the committee tabled on Oct. 26, including a letter from Thody recommending a framework for an ordinance.

How to weigh in

Committee meetings are open to the public and are streamed live and recorded; the city links them from its homepage under Quick Links, then Meetings. Councilor Shane Burgo chairs the Ordinance Committee. The City Council office is at 508-979-1455, and the City Clerk's office at 508-979-1450. A committee recommendation would go to the full council, which next meets Tuesday, Nov. 24, and Thursday, Dec. 17, after the committee date.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.