02/03/1954 Board of Public Works Special Meeting Minutes

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r 124 SPECIAL MEETING - February 3, 1954 The special meeting of the Board of Public Works for the purpose of a hearing in the matter of denial of renewal of taxicab driver's license of Robert Berning reconvened at 2:55 P.M. CST, Wednesday, February 3, 1954, in:the Council Chamber of the City Hall, in pursuance to action taken immediately before adjournment of the hearing held Tuesday. Board member I. A. Hurwich was absent. Robert Berning and his attorney, Donald Patrick were present. The Board had �� • legal representation in the person of Arthur A. May, Assistant City Attorney. Also present were Chief of Police, Richard J. Gillen and Detective Sergeant John W. Porte. i After some discussion on the part of both attorneys, it was determined and agreed that the entire matter hinged upon whether or not the applicant is of good moral character within the meaning of the ordinance governing the licensing of taxicab drivers. It was next brought out that in view of the fact that the applicant was entirely unknown personally to the City Controller, the Controller's decision had been based on the report of the incident of January 24, 1954, recorded as Case C-17477, as given by Robert Berning in a polygraph examination conducted by Detective Sergeant Porte. Assistant City Attorney, Arthur A. May asked the applicant, Robert Berning, to relate his activities in -connection with the incident in question, to which Mr. Berning i was agreeable, and being permitted by Attorney Patrick, related, with some questioning on the part of Attorney May, the entire affair in which he and one Dorothy Carpenter had been involved on the night of January 23/24, 1954- Attorney May then called upon Detective Sergeant Porte, who, being placed under � oath, stated that Robert Berning had repeated the story of the incident "almost word for words' as given to Sgt. Porte in his polygraph examination. Attorney Patrick again stressed the fact that neither the Police Department no the Prosecutor's Office have any charges filed against Robert Berning and expressed the opinion that Berningts conduct throughout the incident in question was to be commended. r� Without arriving at a decision in the matter, the Board then dismissed Mr. Berninj and his attorney and then recessed briefly. Upon reconvening, the Board reviewed various points of Mr. Berningts testimony and after some further discussion, it was pointed out by the chairman of the Board, R. S. Andrysiak, that in his opinion, the ordinance is faulty and in need of revision.. Mayor John A. Scott, being present, stated that he is in agreement with Mr. Andrysiak, and offered the suggestion that further discussion and decision in the matter be deferre until the next regular meeting of the Board, Monday, February 8, 1954- The Board being in agreement to defer immediate decision, Chairman Andrysiak thereupon declared the meeting'adjourned, the time being 4:20 P.M. • ,a i. II� Attest: �SS/ Clerk • • 0