Attorney for Mendoza family petitions for Amanda McQueen, operations manager, to take over as manager of Monica's Trattoria; Board to vote next Tuesday

The Licensing Board held an information hearing today on the fitness of Patrick Mendoza, who is wanted by the police for attempted murder and other charges, to continue to be the manager of record for the Monica's Trattoria which he owns.

Mendoza family Attorney William Ferullo opened the hearing by stating his intention to petition the board for a transfer of the Manager of Record from Patrick Mendoza to current Operations Manager Amanda McQueen.

He also asked the board to follow its own precedent and allow the restaurant to continue to operate so as not to harm the 25 employees. Board chair Kathleen Joyce, who stated she was grappling with whether or not she was comfortable with with restaurant remaining open in the absence of a manger of record, responded:

I have to take issue with this. This is really unprecedented. When called upon, Mr. Mendoza has been unavailable for a week, is evading the law, and is accused of serious crimes. I don't see a parallel to any other transfer application that we've had before us.

The board requested that Attorney Ferullo provide them with a list of McQueen's qualifications and application by tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Licensing board will hold another hearing next Tuesday at 10am to discuss Patrick Mendoza's failure to appear at this hearing and the fact that the restaurant has been operating without a manager on duty for the last nine days. A vote will immediately follow the hearing on Tuesday.