MINUTES OF MEETING – July 30, 2014PAGE 1

BURLINGTONTAXI LICENSING BOARD

BURLINGTONINTERNATIONALAIRPORT

MINUTES OF MEETING

July 30, 2014

APPROVED – 9/15/14

MEMBERS PRESENT:Jeff Munger (Chairman)

Bill Keogh (Vice Chairman)

Lt. Dennis Duffy

MEMBERS NOT PRESENT:Norm Blais

Max Tracy

Tom Ayres

ADMINISTRATION:Isaac Trombley, Taxi Administration Office

STAFF ATTORNEY:Gregg Meyer, AssistantCity Attorney

OTHERS PRESENT:Charlie Herrick, Green Cab.

1.0CALL TO ORDER and AGENDA

The meeting was opened at 1:05PMon July 30, 2014.

1.01 Agenda

Action: The Board voted unanimously on a motion by Bill Keogh, seconded by Jeff Munger, to approve the agenda with the addition of Item 4.04 - Assessment of Taxis in the City.

2.0PUBLIC FORUM

Charlie Herrick, Green Cab, mentioned the following:

  • There is no provision in the taxi ordinance to address rides from the greater Burlington area into the city. The ordinance addresses rides within the city and rides from outside the greater Burlington area into the city. Presently there are cabdrivers who pick up passengers in South Burlington for a ride to Burlingtonwho are charging whatever they want (i.e. no meters).
  • Digitalizing the punch card system used at the airport by adding a QPR or barcode to the back of each taxi license would be a vast improvement over the current pen and paper system.

3.0MINUTES

3.01 Taxi Licensing Board 6/25/14

Action: The Board voted unanimously on a motion by Bill Keogh, seconded by Jeff Munger, to approve the June 25, 2014 minutes as presented.

4.0OTHER BUSINESS

4.01 Meter Rate – Extra Passenger

Isaac Trombley reported Ricky Handy with Blazer Transportation suggested the extra passenger fee be increased from $1 to $2 per passenger. Blazer Transportation in Stowe has been charging $2 for the past 10 years.Gregg Meyer advised if the ordinance designates the amount of the fee then the ordinance will need to be amended in order to change the fee. The correspondence from Mr. Handy will be entered into the record and the matter will be taken under advisement. Jeff Munger noted other items in the email pertaining to Prius cars and gas mileage are not the purview of the Taxi Board.

4.02 Metered Rate – ’14-‘15

Action: The Board voted unanimously on a motion by Bill Keogh, seconded by Jeff Munger, that the rate for an extra passenger and the metered rate for 2014-2015 be referred to the City Attorney’s Office for recommendation and action.

4.03 Letter from Tim Ruarks, Dunright Taxi

There was discussion of having a UPC code on taxi licenses and Burlington Public Works as yet not changing the loading zones to taxi stands in Burlington. Another possible location for addition taxi stands is where the buses park.

Action: The Board voted unanimously on a motion by Bill Keogh, seconded by Jeff Munger, to refer the letter from Tim Ruarks with Dunright Taxi to staff for recommendations and a report to the Taxi Board.

4.04 Assessment of Taxis in the City

Bill Keogh mentioned over a year has passed without response from the city administration to the letter sent by the Airport Commission requesting to be relieved of the taxi administration. Time for action is now. The public is at risk with taxi drivers operating without a license and lack of enforcement of the taxi ordinance. Gregg Meyer stated the taxi report is drafted and will be released to the public once budget issues confirm the recommendations are feasible. There have been supplemental issues (Benways, Uber) which will be incorporated into the report.

5.0ADJOURNMENT

Action: The Board voted unanimously on a motion by Bill Keogh, seconded byJeff Munger, to adjourn the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:16PM.

RScty: MERiordan