Oak Bluffs selectmen this week proposed new taxi regulations for the town, and suggested that all Vineyard towns adopt the same rules. The proposal envisions an Islandwide taxi commission that would provide uniform handling of complaints, modify regulations and provide inspections.
The proposal, offered by a work group headed by former selectman Walter Vail, stopped short of suggesting a way to provide uniform fares.
“More work needs to be done to provide uniform, simplified fares, which our work group has spent hours debating,” said Mr. Vail. “Meters could be the answer, but they have their own shortcomings. Taxi owners could use the same technology as Uber does, and so we could spend more time with the owners to put that in place.”
Mr. Vail asked the selectmen to back an Islandwide taxi commission, but conceded he doesn’t expect enough agreement from other towns to create a commission soon.
Selectmen discussed recurring complaints about taxis, and how the regulations might improve that part of the Island’s transportation network.
“The biggest problem that I hear, is there’s no consistency,” said selectman Brian Packish. “Four miles in Oak Bluffs costs very different than four miles in Edgartown and four miles in Chilmark.”
He also said different qualifications for taxi drivers in different towns creates problems for regulating the industry.
“One of the more fundamental problems that has existed over the years is, you have a problem in Oak Bluffs as a driver, the next day you show up as a Tisbury driver,”Mr. Packish said.
Mr. Vail said he hopes Tisbury and Edgartown will adopt the same proposed regulations.
Selectmen took no action on the proposal, but said would schedule a public hearing later.
Also Tuesday, the board granted an all-alcohol license to Offshore Ale, which currently holds a beer and wine license. Owner Phil McAndrews said he felt a responsibility to keep the popular brew pub open year round, in the face of new competition.
“We focus on being a family restaurant, we focus on the fact that we are a brewery,” said Mr. McAndrews. “Staying open year round, it’s getting more difficult every year to do so. I really feel the landscape has changed with Vineyard Haven now having full liquor.”
In other action, the board reappointed selectman Gail Barmakian as the town representative to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
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