The Boston Licensing Board is weighing whether or not Monica’s Trattoria ought to stay open, given the standing of its present supervisor, who’s going through an tried homicide cost in reference to final week’s North End taking pictures.
Patrick Mendoza is on the run from police, and didn’t seem as requested at a Thursday Licensing Board assembly that was convened to assessment his “character and fitness” as licensee and supervisor of file on the North End restaurant.
His absence is grounds for revoking, suspending or modifying his liquor license, based on Licensing Board Chair Kathleen Joyce.
William Ferullo, an legal professional for the restaurant, urged the board to observe “its own precedent,” and permit for a substitute supervisor to be appointed, which he mentioned has been granted previously when managers get sick, develop into incapacitated or take a trip. This would permit the restaurant to stay open, he mentioned.
“I would have to take issue with this,” Joyce mentioned. “This is really unprecedented. We do have precedents on transfers of manager records and approving such, but it’s unprecedented that when called upon the manager of record is unavailable for a week, and is evading the law, and is accused of some serious crime.”
To this, Ferullo mentioned, “the allegations are the allegations.” The board can cope with these allegations because it sees match, he mentioned, however he urged its members to not penalize a “successful business” by placing its 25 workers out of labor and leaving Mendoza’s household with out a supply of revenue.
Mendoza, 54, is needed by police for allegedly taking pictures at a person exterior Modern Pastry final Wednesday. He faces an array of prices, together with assault to homicide, assault with a harmful weapon, and a number of firearms offenses, based on the Boston Police Department.
He has not been current at his restaurant for eight days. Two of Mendoza’s brothers, each of whom are licensed managers with the board, and his spouse have been serving to to run the enterprise, Ferullo mentioned.
Ferullo requested that the board permit the household to designate Amanda McQueen, who has been an assistant supervisor at Monica’s Trattoria for six years, because the substitute supervisor.
“We have a person who has six years of experience managing, has been an assistant for the business, that has nothing to do with the allegations,” he mentioned.
Board members, nevertheless, raised considerations about the truth that McQueen was designated to her present administration place by Mendoza, saying that he was primarily nonetheless making choices concerning the restaurant’s operations whereas evading police.
The board additionally questioned whether or not it might approve a administration switch with out a signature from the present supervisor of file. Ferullo said that it might take till subsequent week to determine a method round that drawback, and put ahead an utility with the required signatures.
“It’s concerning that this person who is not available, is evading the law, ultimately is in some way controlling the restaurant, whether it’s by proxy or otherwise,” Joyce mentioned. “I’m grappling with whether or not I’m comfortable with the restaurant remaining open, in the absence of an approved manager of record.”
Ferullo was requested to offer extra data on McQueen’s {qualifications}, and a proposed change to the restaurant’s liquor license by finish of day on Friday. The assembly was adjourned after about 20 minutes with out a choice.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”