Brothers Auto Body gets second chance

  A Revere body shop owner who has faced legal troubles in the past is getting another chance to sell used cars at his Naples Road business. Wednesday, the License Commission voted 2-1 to grant a temporary Class II Motor Vehicle License to Kenneth LaFauci of Brothers Auto Body, allowing him to sell two used cars at a time on his property. With the vote, the commission is giving LaFauci six months to clear up any property tax issues he has with the City of Revere.

  LaFauci is currently battling over 70 citations for violations at the business that have been issued by the City of Revere in district court, but his attorney said 30 of those have already been dismissed. LaFauci also has several criminal cases on his record. In 2010, he was charged in a fake inspection sticker scheme, and in 2018, he was sentenced to six months in jail for switching vehicle identification numbers.

  “We are here today at least able to say that the outstanding citations are procedural in nature; there is no substantive violation, and we submit there never was a substantive violation,” said Edward Lonergan, the attorney for LaFauci.

  LaFauci also had support at Wednesday’s public hearing from several city councillors and neighboring business owners. Lonergan noted that LaFauci has been in business in Revere for 35 years and has an excellent reputation with his customers.

  “There is a lot of history here,” said Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro. “As the councillor for the area and as a fellow business owner, I’m hoping that someone who has been in the city for 35 years is given a fresh start. This man has a family and his employees have families, and I’d like to afford him the opportunity to do the right thing.”

  Councillor-at-Large Dan Rizzo also submitted a letter in support of LaFauci.

  Commissioner Daniel Occena, Esq. said his biggest issue with granting the license is the potential taxes owed by LaFauci to the city. Lonergan contended that the $32,000 mentioned by Occena was actually a lien placed against the business due to the outstanding citations that are being contested.

  Occena made a motion to grant a temporary license, with LaFauci back before the commission in 90 days for an update, and the tax issue being resolved to the commission’s satisfaction in six months. “I don’t think that the gentleman should be punished into perpetuity,” said Occena. “I think this gentleman, based on what I understand, has cost himself hundreds of thousands at this point.” Occena said he believes LaFauci should be given the opportunity in good faith to show that he has changed his business practices.

  “I don’t think that is a wise position,” said License Commission Chair Robert Selevitch, who voted against granting the license. “It is not punishing someone in perpetuity, it is protecting the public. We are not talking about ancient history here … we’re talking very recent history here.”

  Commissioner Linda Guinasso cast the deciding vote in favor of granting the temporary license. “I really hate to be put in this position; I see both sides,” said Guinasso.

  But she said that, ultimately, there have never been any complaints from the public about how LaFauci conducts business. “I’d like to give you another chance and see if we can do things the right way. I’m not worried about your customers.”