Town Denies Application for Taxi License

Based on the recommendation of the Medfield Chief of Police, the Board of Selectmen, at its meeting Tuesday night, unanimously denied an application for a hackney license in the town of Medield. 

the board had discussed the application but continued the discussion until its next meeting so applicant Walid Makouk could meet with Police Chief Robert Meaney Jr. who, on Jan. 3, had recommended the board not approve the license based on information he discovered on a background check of the applicants.

The partners currently operate a cab company in Dedham. 

On Jan. 3, Chief of Police Robert E. Meaney Jr. sent a memo to the Board of Selectmen opposing the license.

I have completed a background check into the driving record of Mr. Walid M. Makouk [and] Mr. Mohamad Halwani. Both individuals have extensive driving records in Massachusetts and I do not believe that they should be licensed by the Board of Selectmen to operate a taxi in Medfield. 

At the meeting Tuesday night, Meaney reiterated his concerns to the board.

Meaney said he could not comment specifically on what he found in the background check but said that what he did find "didn't impress me." 

He said that, when any town department presents an individual to him to see whether they should drive a vehicle or not, he looks at the driving history and asks...

"If that person, who is licensed by the town of Medfield or is driving for the town of Medfield, gets hit in the back end and they were not at fault but because it's a town vehicle now their record is public record, will the town be compromised or embarrassed that that person is driving?" Meaney said. "I'm not comfortable with either of the individuals." 

Meaney said he does not think there is a large demand for a taxi service in town.

The Board of Selectmen unanimously denied the application.

Makouk did not attend the Jan. 29 meeting.