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Council orders inspections, continues Caravan Auto licensing amid concerns it may operate without city license
Summary
The Services & Licenses Committee asked code enforcement and the fire department to inspect Caravan Auto (JJ Corp) and continued the matter to the February meeting while seeking evidence before pursuing a formal show-cause action.
The Cranston Services & Licenses Committee voted to request inspections by code enforcement and the fire department for JJ Corp, doing business as Caravan Auto at 1185 Cranston Street, and to continue the licensing matter to the committee’s February meeting.
The committee took the step after officials said Caravan Auto failed a fire inspection in August and did not appear at the meeting. Council members and the city solicitor’s office discussed the narrow circumstances under which the committee could pursue a formal show-cause hearing when a license holder is alleged to be operating without a license.
Why it matters: Operating without a city license raises public-safety and regulatory concerns. The committee said it needs inspection reports from enforcement agencies to establish facts before deciding whether to proceed with a show-cause hearing or other enforcement actions.
Discussion on the record focused on evidence and process. City legal staff and a committee member warned that a show-cause proceeding is quasi-judicial and requires demonstrable evidence that a business is operating while unlicensed. The city solicitor’s office recommended asking enforcement agencies — for example, code enforcement, police or the fire department — to compile evidence of current operations and report back to the committee. The council asked staff to request inspection reports and continue the licensing matter 30 days.
The committee voted to continue the item to the February safety services meeting and to request specific enforcement reports. Council members who recorded affirmative votes included Councilwoman Graziano, Councilman Andujar, Councilman Ritz, Councilman Traficante, Council Vice President Wahl, Councilwoman Horayan and Council President Marino.
The committee also discussed scheduling an executive session at a future meeting so members could receive legal guidance about enforcement options for license holders who fail to renew or who operate out of compliance, while preserving solicitor-client confidentiality. The committee did not take enforcement action beyond requesting inspections and continuing the matter.
If inspections find evidence of unauthorized operation or unresolved safety violations, the committee may consider a show-cause hearing or other enforcement at a later meeting.
