Committee Co-Chair Mr. Hoefle opened the meeting at approximately 6:00 ­­­p.m. Members of the Committee in attendance were Mr. Hoefle, Mr. D’Ambrosio and Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins. Present from Council were Ms. Vaughn, Ms. DePledge, Mr. Licht and Council President Morley.

In attendance from the Administration were Law Director Klammer, Finance Director Slocum, Police Chief Reik and Fire Chief Whittington. Mayor Andrzejewski was absent and excused.

Also in attendance were members of the public.  

AMENDMENT:

section 751.07 “inSPECTIONS BEFORE LICENSING VEHICLES; RULES”

Mr. Hoefle: Chief Reik?

Chief Reik: We wanted to amend this to have the inspections done by the Ohio State Patrol at their post. They have their own units that conduct the inspection of vehicles. When I made Chief it was the first time I ever knew that we did the taxi cabs. We can obviously check headlights and taillights and turn signals but we do not have the training or the desire to send the guys to training to become more adept at this. And, if there is someone already available we can amend the ordinance and have them go there. It relieves us of a little bit of liability and streamlines the whole process.

Ms. Vaughn: You talk about the State Highway Patrol providing proof but then it goes on to say the “Director of Public Safety shall refuse to permit the operation of any vehicle, or if already placed in operation, revoke…found by him to be unfit or unsuited for the public…” Should that be changed? Is the Director of Public Safety going to be the one who – even though it has been inspected – can refuse and say six months later that a vehicle is not in good shape?

Chief Reik: We could take out the “by him” and put in “any vehicle found to be unfit…”

Mr. Klammer: It could be that he found another defect more serious.

Ms. Vaughn: But, do you really think the Director of Public Safety is going to go around looking at taxis – I don’t think so.

Mr. Morley: Does this just have to deal with Willoughby Cab – does it go through Willoughby?

Chief Reik: We do Willow Transportation.

Mr. Hoefle: The only thing I spotted was a couple of sentences will say the Director of Public Safety or his designee – should we go with his/her designee or there is somewhere in the Charter – and all the other sentences that says the Director of Public Safety should we add in designee?

Mr. Klammer: If you are making the other changes but the Mayor can designate anyone he chooses.

Mr. D’Ambrosio: Ms. Vaughn, what is it you suggest we take out?

Ms. Vaughn: Every time it says the Director of Public Safety should be taken out because the Director of Public Safety at this point in time and probably not in the future will be going around inspecting cabs or any kind of vehicle providing service.

Mr. Klammer: The Director of Public Safety issues the permit.

Chief Reik: You can put “his designee” every time it is listed.

Ms. Vaughn: That will do it.

Mr. Klammer: The Director of Public Safety can designate anyone he wants- you really don’t need that.

Ms. Vaughn: I can see where the Director of Public Safety is authorized and empowered to establish reasonable rules and regulations for inspection but I cannot see him examining a taximeter.

Chief Reik: If you put “his designee” it follows the chain of command.

Upon review, the Committee agreed to move this item forward to the next regular Council meeting.

MISCELLANEOUS

There was not Miscellaneous.

RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC

There was no one who wished to speak.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

dac

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