Medford Council to Tackle Taxi Ordinance

The Medford City Council will begin the process of updating the city's ordinance on taxi cabs that hasn't seen many changes in around 20 years.

At Tuesday night's committee of the whole meeting, the council discussed a wide range of issues surrounding taxi operations in the community.

Chief among the concerns of councilors in the perception, and in some cases the reality, that some taxi operators with Medford licenses are taking their cabs to surrounding cities and towns and soliciting fares.

"I just want to have something that provides some real clarity to the cab owners for what they can and cannot do," said City Clerk Ed Finn, who has seen a major influx of applications for cab licenses in Medford in the last year. 

City Councilor Robert Penta said the number of Medford taxi owners has swelled from 29 in February 2012 to 44 presently.

"There is obviously some stuff in here that is antiquated," said City Councilor Paul Camuso, who chairs the council's licensing subcommittee.

Penta pointed out that some of those seeking licenses in Medford are simply using rented storage space while "using it to justify having an office."

Medford Police Chief Leo Sacco, Jr., had documentation from Boston Police of four separate citations of Medford taxi operators "for picking up illegally in the city of Boston."

Council President Bob Maiocco said such violations should be grounds for Medford license revocation.

Camuso suggested the city put a moratorium on approving new owners and change the cap to 40 from 50, while grandfathering in the current 44 owners. Camuso said that number would eventually be reduced to 40 through attrition.

Another issue is that Medford has no licenses out for handicapped-accessible taxi cabs at the present time, according to Sacco.

Councilor Michael Marks suggested Camuso's subcommittee do more work before the council fully take up any recommendations.

When Camuso said the subcommittee had done work on the issue, Marks said he hasn't seen it in the last several months.

"You're the chairman," Marks said. "Put the time and effort into it and be the chairman...I'm not a member of your subcommittee."

"We know that," Camuso fired back. "It's obvious."

"Sometimes seven members is better than three or one," Maiocco said.