Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE

TAXICAB COMMISSION OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

March 2, 2005



MEMBERS PRESENT

Chairman Archie, Mr. Mark Oropeza, Mr. James Brooks, Mr. James Nash, Mr. Robert

Kidd, and Ms. Diane Quick.



MEMBERS ABSENT

Mr. David Cassell and Mr. Lorenzo Landrum.



Visitors:

Mr. Willie Dorsey, Mr. R. A. Bullock, Mr. Wallace Brooks and Mr. Robert Lee.







A meeting of the Taxicab Commission was held in the Ground Floor Conference

Room of the Government Center. Chairman Archie noted that a quorum was present

and called the March 2, 2005 meeting to order at 3:10 p.m.



Minutes accepted:

Mr. Brooks made a motion to accept the February 2, 2005 minutes, which were

seconded and approved by a unanimous vote of all members present.



Taxicab Commission application:

Chairman Archie then called forward Mr. Oscar L. Chattman, Jr. who placed an

application to request reinstatement of his permit, but Mr. Chattman was not

present. Mr. Brooks then asked if Mr. Chattman was informed of the date and

time he was to appear, and the response was in the affirmative from the

recording secretary.



Last meeting summary:

Chairman Archie referred to the issue of limousines and shuttles, which were

tabled from the last meeting. Chairman Archie concluding that it will continue

to be tabled in this week?s meeting.



Permits and Vehicles transfer:

Mr. Brooks then restated an issue of concern that was presented to the

Commission at a previous meeting, referring to a driver who changed from one

company to another and was required to have an additional vehicle inspection at

the expense of the driver. Chairman Archie and Ms. Quick responded that this is

necessary because of the requirements in the ordinance and from a business

perspective the vehicle maintenance is always a concern. Chairman Archie

concluded that Mr. Brooks? concern was dealt with in an earlier meeting and was

outvoted by the Commission members who were present at that session. Mr. Nash

shared from a cab owners perspective that each cab owner should insure that the

drivers? vehicles are inspected prior to them operating, for liability

purposes. Discussion continued for several minutes with each member sharing

their own opinions and concluding that the concerns stated by Mr. Brooks has

already been dealt with.





Permit concerns:

Ms. Quick expressed some concerns from the drivers in reference to the

expiration of permits, which will require some people to renew twice in 2005

because of the new ordinance. Chairman Archie explained that some of the

concerns were dealt with if the person?s birthday and expiration of permit were

within thirty-days of each other.



Chairman Archie explained that a test must be taken every time drivers apply

for a renewal of permit or change to another company.



Meeting Protocol:

Chairman Archie then explained the normal procedure they must follow in order

to speak before the Commission. He stated that unless they have been authorized

to speak, the Commission would not listen to their concerns until after the

meeting has been adjourned. He further stated that they must make application

in the Clerk of Council?s office two weeks prior to the meeting they intend to

speak.



Memo & Application:

Chairman Archie concluded with the memo presented by Mr. Oscar Chattman, Jr.,

and requested the opinions of the other Commission members, which they

unanimously agreed that he was caught in the system. The question was then

asked if the Commission can do anything about the situation, to which Chairman

Archie stated that the Commission could make a recommendation to the Council

members, but he stated, the final decision is made by Council.





Meeting adjourned @ 3:35 p.m.

Ms. Quick made a motion to adjourn the meeting and the motion was seconded by

Mr. Oropeza and carried unanimously.











________________________________

Triena B. Sharpe

Recording secretary