OC Today-Dispatch APRIL 25, 2025
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Wallace to lead schools Chief operating officer gets board of ed nod to fill superintendent slot for Worcester — PAGE 12, WEBSITE
Petitioners appear to meet goal BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Short-term rental ban opponents collect more signatures than needed to force issue to referendum ... if Taking her cue from feds calling a halt to a New York wind farm, sena- elections board clears tor appeals to Interior Dept. to block work here. — PAGE 10 them. — PAGE 14 SPRING CLEANING
The “Beach Ball” water tower downtown in Ocean City gets a good scrubbing with a power washer as a man on a boom truck reaches the height of his profession at about 100 feet off the ground.
Carozza seeks wind farm shutdown
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OC Today-Dispatch
Back B ack Open O nf for or the 2025 2 025 2 Season Se eason n Happy Happ y Hour Everyday Everyday
APRIL 25, 2025
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OC Today-Dispatch
Cab industry overhaul likely, taxi rate increase approved Council to hold meeting to review current regulations, possible direction change By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (April 25, 2025) Officials this week agreed to reevaluate Ocean City’s taxicab regulations after being presented with a request to raise fare rates 30%. With a favorable recommendation from the city’s police commission, the Ocean City Council on Monday voted 5-0, with Councilmen John Gehrig and Will Savage absent, to increase the maximum rates for taxicabs that operate within municipal limits. However, officials also agreed to review the city’s taxicab system, in its entirety, at a future work session with members of the Ocean City Police Department. “We, in a sense, have taken a private business and we’ve handcuffed them,” Councilwoman Carol Proctor said, “because we’re not allowing them to compete with the open market.” In 2010, Ocean City adopted a taxi medallion system to better regulate the taxicab industry. As part of that system, the city sets regulations on everything, from rates and vehicle equipment to driver qualifications. However, that system was called into question this week, when the Ocean City Council had before it a request from Century Taxi owner Ken Hovance to implement a 30% increase in cab fare and a 2% increase every year after. While the increase had the support of the Ocean City Police Commission, Proctor questioned why the city was regulating rates for private taxicabs and not rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft. “We don’t regulate what hotels can charge, we don’t regulate restaurants what they can charge, and we don’t regulate merchandisers what they can charge,” she said. “And the Maryland Public Service Commission requires these drivers to have an additional license, and they’re doing background checks, they’re making sure that they have the proper insurance, they’re verifying all this information.” City Solicitor Heather Stansbury acknowledged that the city heavily regulates taxicabs, but that the discussion was better left for a work session. She suggested the council first take action on the proposed rate increase. “If you do nothing tonight, this resolution fails,” she said. “Then the rates that exist right now, which are substantially lower, will continue in perpetuity until such time that there
was ever an action by the council to repeal or otherwise readdress the taxicab system.” For his part, Mayor Rick Meehan said regulations were initially enacted after the city received several complaints about exorbitant fees taxi drivers were charging their customers. The city’s intent 15 years ago was to standardize the industry, as cabs from other regions of the state were coming to Ocean City during busy times and gouging customers. However, he agreed it was time to take another look at the taxicab system. “It was totally different back then,” he said. “The landscape has dramatically changed, and I think a review of where we are and maybe where we want to go in the future is certainly warranted.” After further discussion, the council voted 5-0 to increase taxicab rates. The council also voted to hold a work session at a future date to review the city’s taxicab regulations with the Ocean City Police Department, which conducts inspections and testing. “This would be a comprehensive discussion that frankly would not be fair to your police department without them present,” Stansbury said.
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