The Lawrence City Licensing Board heard competing claims Jan. 7 over the active license for an auto-sales site at 316 Bridal, where eviction proceedings and a missing inspection report have left ownership and licensing unsettled.

Roger Farah, who introduced himself during public participation, said city inspectors had informed him there was an "environmental" problem at the site and objected to the board's apparent handling of his license status. "You told me to come today because the inspector was gonna be here," Farah said, adding that he holds a Class 1 dealer license, believes zoning permits his use and asked to be placed on the next meeting's agenda. Board staff said the inspector is on vacation and that the board cannot make a revocation decision during public participation; staff agreed to place Farah on the Jan. 20 agenda and to call him to confirm.

Separately, Attorney Kerrigan, representing Don Pedro Biatto and related ownership interests, told commissioners that eviction proceedings in Lawrence District Court are underway and that Esperanza Auto Sales Incorporated, the current licensee, has not paid rent for more than five months. "We have a court hearing coming up in early February," Kerrigan said, and he provided copies of court papers for the board file. Kerrigan said his client intends to seek the license once possession is regained.

Pedro Vieto, who identified himself as a property owner with longstanding ties to the site, told the board the license has been at that location for more than 20 years and said he has been trying to regain the property and license. "I didn't sell my license," Vieto said, asking the board to consider his claim.

Board members and staff repeatedly told speakers they could not take final action until staff obtained the missing inspection report and that a license cannot be revoked or reassigned during public participation. The board scheduled related items for its Jan. 20 meeting and said it would treat the matter as an agenda item once inspectors and court documents were available.

The board made no formal motion or vote on the license at this meeting; commissioners and staff emphasized the matter remains contingent on the inspector's report and the pending court process.

The Licensing Board is expected to revisit the 316 Bridal case at its Jan. 20 meeting when staff and inspectors are available and, as appropriate, when the court action has produced a final outcome.