Pat's Tow Not Booted By City

Cambridge recently decided to retain the contract of the its largest car towing company even though the owners face charges of fraud in an insurance scandal related to another company.

City Manager Robert Healy and three other top city officials decided after a November 25 City Hall hearing to continue to employ Pat's Tow Service because the charges against Pat's owners do not indicate a violation of the company's contract with the city, according to Richard C. Rossi, deputy city manager.

"There is nothing at this point that ties them with any wrong-doing in the towing company," said Rossi yesterday. "There are no indictments against the men as owners of Pat's Tow Service. If different information comes forth, there will be another hearing," he said.

The principal owners of the tow company, Richard J. Bonnell, 29, of Somerville, and Walter Tauro, 36, of Arlington, are among 29 persons arraigned early last month in Middlesex Superior Court for allegedly filing false insurance claims amounting to roughly $500,000, said Tom Samoluk, spokesman for the Middlesex District Attorney Scott Harshbarger's office.

Aside from owning Pat's Tow, Bonnel and Tauro are directors of Pat's Auto Body of Somerville. It is in their relationship with the latter corporation that they are under investigation.

In addition, Middlesex Auto Leasing, which Tauro directs, is under indictment in the same case.

At their arraignment on November 7, Bonnell and Tauro pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance, Samoluk said. A July trial is scheduled, he said.

Pat's Tow Service is one of three tow companies contracted by the city. Last year, because of its central location, Pat's Tow was responsible for more police-ordered tows than either of its competitors, said Bernard A. Flynn, assistant director of Traffic and Parking.

City officials said that there have been no complaints about Pat's. There have been "no problems with them at all," Flynn said.

"Pat's Tow performs well and has not caused any problems to the city. No complaints," said Rossi.

Public Works Director, Everett R. Kennedy, who made recommendations to Healy after the hearing, said: "Pat's Tow's work for us had been satisfactory, and I saw no reason to cancel the contract."