Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board — Burlington, VT
Date: 2024-04-30
Time: 17:30

Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board




 Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 5:30 PM, Sharon Bushor Room, City Hall, 149 Church St.
 Burlington, VT 05401 or Remotely via Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97273258097?pwd=ZFdsRkg1WU5lR2pGL0NONGVOaS95Zz09

Meeting ID: 972 7325 8097
Passcode: 520352



1. Agenda
 Subject 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda




2. Previous Minutes
 2.1. Approval of previous minutes



 File Attachments
 1. VFH 02.05.24 Draft Minutes VFH 02.05.24 Draft Minutes.pdf

3. Public Forum


4. Hearings
 4.1. JDs Taxi



 File Attachments
 1. Gary Margolis complaint Redacted Gary Margolis complaint Redacted.pdf

5. Deliberative Session
  Subject 5.1. Deliberative Session
  Meeting April 30, 2024 - Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board - Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 5:30 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Room, City Hall, 149 Church St. Burlington, VT 05401 or Remotely via
 Zoom.


  Category 5. Deliberative Session

  Department Clerk/Treasurer's Office


  Type

  Recommended Action

6. Discussion of the new rates

7. Discussion of signage at the airport

8. Discussion for other updates

9. Adjournment
  9.1. Motion to adjourn

Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board




 Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 5:30 PM, Sharon Bushor Room, City Hall, 149 Church St.
 Burlington, VT 05401 or Remotely via Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97273258097?pwd=ZFdsRkg1WU5lR2pGL0NONGVOaS95Zz09

Meeting ID: 972 7325 8097
Passcode: 520352



1. Agenda
 Subject 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda




2. Previous Minutes
 2.1. Approval of previous minutes



 File Attachments
 1. VFH 02.05.24 Draft Minutes VFH 02.05.24 Draft Minutes.pdf

3. Public Forum


4. Hearings
 4.1. JDs Taxi



 File Attachments
 1. Gary Margolis complaint Redacted Gary Margolis complaint Redacted.pdf

5. Deliberative Session


 Page 1 of 6
  Subject 5.1. Deliberative Session
  Meeting April 30, 2024 - Vehicle for Hire Licensing Board - Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 5:30 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Room, City Hall, 149 Church St. Burlington, VT 05401 or Remotely via
 Zoom.


  Category 5. Deliberative Session

  Department Clerk/Treasurer's Office


  Type

  Recommended Action

6. Discussion of the new rates

7. Discussion of signage at the airport

8. Discussion for other updates

9. Adjournment
  9.1. Motion to adjourn




 Page 2 of 6
 BURLINGTON VEHICLE FOR HIRE LICENSING BOARD
 REMOTE ONLY VIA ZOOM
 MINUTES OF MEETING
 February 5, 2024
 Member present: Paul Hines, Youness Jamil, Stephen Hamlin
 Also present: Mark Barlow, Tenzin Chokden, Scot Barker, Byron Corcoran
Meeting start time: 9:05 am

1. Agenda

Motion to accept the agenda by Stephen Hamlin, seconded by Youness Jamil.
Approved unanimously.


2. Previous Minutes

Motion to accept the previous minutes by Stephen Hamlin, seconded by Youness Jamil.
Approved unanimously.

3. New Meter Rate

3.1. Discussion on the new meter rate rollout plan

According to Byron Corcoran, he spent thirty years working for Centrodyne, where he gained experience in
reprogramming and calibrating meters. He also worked in Burlington. If the city requires him to adjust the
new taxi rates and calibrate the taxi meters, he is capable of handling the task. The entire procedure,
including calibration and reprogramming, takes 45 minutes to complete.

According to Youness Jamil, installing the meters could be challenging, but calibrating them is not difficult.

Paul Hines inquired about the cost of installing a new meter.

According to Jamil, installation and calibration can run up to $500, depending on the model of the vehicle.

If Byron is up for the task and can train others to become certified, Paul Hines would like to write a language
on the use of electronic meters in the future. However, the new meter rate change must come first.

Scot Barker stated that he has gotten in touch with a few app-based electronic meter companies, including
Curb, Taximeter, and the vehicle for hire office in Washington, DC. He also has another meeting with Curb for
later today, and he will provide the board with an update on that meeting after.

Mark Barlow asked what is holding up the new meter rates from being effective, even though the new meter
rates have been passed.

Tenzin Chokden responded that the board was looking for a local certified technician to make the new rates
convenient for business owners. Maybe taking into account the certification training of two drivers. He found
out about Byron after contacting Centrodyne, and the business can train someone to become a certified
technician for calibrating and reprogramming taxi meters.




 Page 3 of 6
Byron Corcoron said he would be able to start this project in the middle of March, after returning from
vacation. He added that he could train two people chosen by the city to take over in his absence.

Youness Jamil suggested the board should think about price on meter calibration service. He will be out of the
country from 03/06 through the middle of April. He can do the training before he leaves.

Byron Corcoron doesn’t recall the board previously setting a rate on how much a company can charge for
meter calibration. Companies are charging $75-$100 and that’s what the drivers should expect to pay.

Paul Hines agreed that seems more micromanaging.

The motion to approve the new meter rates was made by Stephen Hamlin. The new rates will take effect on
April 15, 2024 and drivers can only use the meter on or after that date if it has been reprogrammed,
calibrated, and verified by a city certified technician. Up to three people may be certified by city staff to
calibrate meters.

Youness Jamil seconded the motion.
Motion passed with a unanimous vote.




4. Public Forum
4. Public Forum

No member of the public commented.



5. New Business

It was suggested by Youness Jamil that the board investigate why certain drivers refuse to take credit card
payments from customers. He is adamant that anyone refusing to let customers pay with a credit card should
be challenged by the board or the airport.

Paul Hines agreed with Youness, stating that in order to inform customers and drivers alike, this issue needs
to be changed in the ordinance. Then a sign can be displayed at the airport indicating that credit cards are
accepted.

The next meeting is scheduled for March 20 at 5:30 p.m. Since Youness Jamil won't be able to make it to the
upcoming meeting on March 20, Mark Barlow from TEUC will take over in order to ensure a quorum. Tenzin
will check with Hayley McClenahan, the attorney for this board, to see if that is acceptable.

6. Adjournment
6. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Stephen Hamlin, seconded by Youness Jamil.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:05am.




 Page 4 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Page 6 of 6

BURLINGTON VEHICLE FOR HIRE LICENSING BOARD
 SHARON BUSHOR ROOM, CITY HALL, 149 CHURCH ST. BURLINGTON, VT 05401 OR
 REMOTELY VIA ZOOM.
 MINUTES OF MEETING
 April 30, 2024

 Present: Paul Hines, Stephen Hamlin, Youness Jamil
 Also present: Hayley McClenahan, Tenzin Chokden


Meeting start time: 5:32 PM

1. Agenda
 1. Agenda

Motion to accept the agenda by Stephen Hamlin, seconded by Youness Jamil.
Approved unanimously.

2. Previous Minutes
Motion to accept the previous minutes by Stephen Hamlin, seconded by Youness Jamil.
Approved unanimously.

3. Public Forum
No members of the public commented.

4. Hearings
4. Hearings: JDs Taxi

Hayley McClenahan swore in Gary Margolis, the complainant, and Josic Slobodan, the owner/driver of the
company.

Gary Margolis stated that he had taken a cab home from the Burlington airport late one night and checked
out the website. He would generally like to understand how much a taxi will cost to return home to Shelburne
and read the process. According to information on the meter rate on the website, it should have cost about $20
and ended up being $40 for 7.5 miles. What he read online at the time was that meters were the way the fees
were calculated.
The driver, while certainly pleasant enough, explained to him that the meter wasn't working and that they were
using a zone system. He couldn't find anything about that online, but was told that
a ride to Shelburne is automatically $40. He said it was late at night, maybe after midnight at that point, and he
paid the $40 but just wasn't satisfied that that's what the fee should have been.
His understanding was that taxis needed to have working meters, and again, he could find nothing about zones.
When he did raise the issue during the ride, the driver responded that he had already accepted the fare because
he was driving away at that point.

Youness Jamil asked: when did the ride occur and was the price negotiated before he entered the cab?
Gary Margolis answered that he took the cab ride on February 7, 2024. He does not remember if the vehicle
had already moved by the time the fare was stated or otherwise, but he remembers the meter didn't work. When
the car drove off, he complained about it. He thinks he started this conversation once the vehicle began moving,
when he started to realize that something wasn't right.

Youness Jamil asked Gary if he had ever taken a taxi cab from the airport to Shelburne before for $20.

Gary Margolis responded that the fare was roughly calculated according to rates posted on the website.
He had since taken a taxi cab and now knows to ask if the meter is working before getting in a cab and he has
paid around $25 but not $40 since the last ride.

Josic Slobodan told the complainant it would be $40 for the ride and the complainant said he didn't have time to
wait and had to go. On reaching the destination, the complainant was surprised by the price of the trip. He told
the board that his meter was broken and no one in town serviced the meter. The meter is now repaired and
calibrated to the new price and he would be happy to use his meter and offer a refund if desired.

Gary Margolis stated that he is not seeking compensation from the driver and wants to bring the matter before the board
to investigate what is happening with the airport taxi service.

The board will deliberate on this hearing and a decision notice will be sent by mail.

5. Deliberative Session
5. Deliberative Session

The board entered a deliberative session at 5:53 PM and ended at 6:00 PM.

6. Discussion of the new rates
6. Discussion of the new rates

Youness Jamil suggested adding another third and fourth meter rate, especially for long-distance rides because
he feels like the drivers should get compensation for their time when they agreed to pick up a customer at a
certain time and wait for the customer to come out of the airport.

Paul Hines stated that the new rates have time and distance elements incorporated. He asked Youness Jamil if
that was not sufficient enough.

Youness Jamil replied it is sufficient for short distances that are local but not for long distances.

Paul Hines questioned if that’s in the board’s purview.

Stephen Hamlin said if a ride originated from the airport then it certainly is.

Paul Hines has been working with Councilor Barlow to add to the ordinance to require all taxis to use taxi
meters if they are operating from a taxi stand. He suggested instead of using a complicated rate system for long
distances, why not set a boundary of distance for taxis to use their meters and if they go above the distance then
it’s up to the drivers.

Hayley McClenahan said that if the ordinance is to be updated to require the use of meters at airport pick-
ups, some reasonable parameters need to be set about that.

Youness Jamil asked if a taxi from another city that drops off passengers at the airport requires a license from
the City of Burlington.
Hayley McClenahan said that they are not required to get a license.

The board discussed setting a distance between 50 – 60 miles and will revisit this at the next meeting.

7. Discussion of signage at the airport
7. Discussion of signage at the airport

Paul Hines wanted to make sure we have been communicating with the airport on signage on the new rates.

Youness Jamil said he saw new signs with new meter rates and passenger bills of rights posted on the booth at
the taxi queue line.

8. Discussion for other updates
8. Discussion for other updates

Paul Hines shared an update that he had discussed with Councilor Barlow on updating two items on the
ordinance. The first one is requiring taxis to use rates from the airport queue line and will add discussion on the
distance limit of 50 miles. The second is requiring drivers to accept credit card payments.
Youness Jamil suggested finding another member on this board to meet a quorum if one of the members is out
because it takes three members to meet a quorum.
Hayley McClenahan stated that Councilor Barlow's request on credit card requirements is under internal review.
Tenzin shared that over 30 taxi vehicles have been calibrated to new meter rates and thanked Byron for all his
help. Byron has also trained Youness Jamil and Yacine from Nation Cab to calibrate meters and they are now
both certified.
Youness Jamil asked if the board had a meeting on an incident that happened at the airport between Abdi Dhere
and Muhaideen Batah, a ramp agent at the airport. He also heard that Abdi Dhere was recently arrested and
failed to show up at a court hearing.
Tenzin, upon receiving a formal complaint from the Muhaideen, will inquire further about Abdi Dhere and seek
a hearing.

9. Adjournment
9. Adjournment

9.1. Motion to adjourn

Motion to adjourn the meeting by Stephen Hamlin, seconded by Youness Jamil.
Approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 PM.