City Council

City of Salem, Massachusetts “Know Your Rights Under the Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. c. 30A ss. 18-25 and City Ordinance Sections 2-2028 through 2-2033.” The City Council Committee on _Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs_____________________ met in the Council Chamber on ____Wednesday March 4, 2020________________ at _6:35_P.M. for the purpose of discussing the matters(s) listed below. Notice of this meeting was posted on _ ____March 2, 2020_ ______ at ___ 11:18 A.M._____________________________________________ (This meeting is being recorded) ATTENDANCE ABSENT WERE: Councillors Sargent and Dibble Also present were Officer Troncoso and Mr. Corneil’s daughter as interpreter to Mr. Corneil. SUBJECT(S) #103 Hearing request from Jose Fabian on the denial of his taxi operator license (Executive Session if needed) C. Madore asks if Mr. Corneil would like to conduct the hearing in executive session to which Mr. Corneil declined. Ofc. Troncoso explains to Mr. Corneil in Spanish his right to conduct the hearing in executive session at any time. Mr. Corneil gives permission to Ofc. Troncoso to provide members of the Committee details of the police report against Mr. Corneil that led to his arrest and suspension of his operator’s license. Ofc. Troncoso explains that on January 24th, 2020 Mr. Corneil picked up two juvenile passengers on Bridge Street. Upon arriving at their destination, the two juveniles explained that they had no money and gave Mr. Corneil vouchers that were not valid. In response, Mr. Corneil grabbed and held one juvenile on the ground until police officers arrived. Based on both parties’ account of the incident at the scene, Mr. Corneil was placed under arrest for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon but released shortly after on bail. Ofc. Troncoso adds that Mr. Corneil has one disturbance of the peace record on board of probation and 14 minor infractions against his driving record. C. Prosniewski asks about Mr. Corneil’s arraignment date. The date was January 28th, 2020 at Salem District Court. C. Prosniewski asks about what the dangerous weapon was. Ofc. Troncoso responds it was the action of throwing the juvenile on the ground. Mr. Corneil offers his own account of the incident to members of the committee through his interpreter. C. Prosniewski asks if the juveniles were charged with evading a taxi driver. Ofc. Troncoso responds no. C. Morsillo asks how long the appeal process and how long the trial would take. Ofc. Troncoso thinks it may take several months for the case to be resolved through the court, adding that this was an unfortunate incident that involved juveniles that were known to have this behavior, i.e., evading taxi fares by using fake vouchers. He has informed all the taxi operator companies in the area to advise their operators to be mindful of this behavior and call the police when it happens instead of trying to deal with it themselves. Ofc. Troncoso recommends reinstating Mr. Corneil’s license so he can get back to work. C. Prosniewski moves to reinstate Mr. Corneil’s taxi operator license under the condition that the operator and Officer overseeing the matter return to the City Council for review in the event the Court finds Mr. Corneil convicted of a felony charge. On the motion of C. Morsillo the meeting adjourned at 7:08 P.M. Christine Madore, Chair