A.
Application for a taxicab owner's license shall be made
to the Township Clerk. The forms and the information required thereon shall
be established by the Township Committee by resolution.
B.
Applications shall be verified by oath or affirmation.
Applications by a partnership shall give the information required for each
partner and shall be verified by all partners. Applications by a corporation
shall give the information required for and be verified by all officers and
directors and all persons holding more than 10% of the corporation's common
stock, as well as the corporation itself.
Each applicant shall be referred to the State Police for whatever investigation
of the applicant's business responsibility, moral character and ability to
properly conduct a taxicab business shall be considered necessary for the
protection of the public.
A report by the State Police containing the results of the investigation
and evaluation, a recommendation that the license be granted or denied, and
the reasons for this recommendation should be forwarded to the Township Clerk
within 10 days from the request for the investigation. A copy of the report
shall also be sent to the applicant.
The Township Clerk shall advise the Township Committee of the filing
of an application upon receipt of the report from the State Police. The Township
Committee shall set a date for a hearing on the application and shall notify
the applicant. The date set shall be within a reasonable time after the filing
of the application.
At the hearing, any person who is a resident or taxpayer of the Township
may appear in person and make a brief statement or submit a written statement
in support of or opposition to the granting of a license. In addition, the
applicant and any other person who will be affected by the granting or denial
of the license, other than as a Township resident or taxpayer, shall have
the right to be represented by an attorney, to testify himself or to present
witnesses in support of his position, to cross-examine opposing witnesses
and, at his own expense, to have a stenographic record made of the proceedings.
In determining whether to grant or deny the license, the Township Committee
shall take into consideration the following factors:
A.
The character, business and financial responsibility
and experience of the applicant, and the probability that if granted a license,
the applicant will operate his taxicab in accordance with the provisions of
this chapter.
B.
Any other factors directly related to the granting or
denial of the license which would substantially affect the public safety or
convenience.
The Township Committee shall, by resolution, grant or deny the license.
If the application is approved, the Clerk shall issue the license upon forms
established by the Township Committee by resolution.
A taxicab owner's license shall be valid for the remainder of the calendar
year in which it is issued. The license fee shall be $25 per year or portion
thereof per vehicle, payable upon the filing of the application for the issuance
or renewal of the license.
A taxicab owner's license may be renewed by the Township Committee without
a hearing upon the licensee's filing with the Township Committee a sworn statement
that there have been no changes in the information contained in the initial
application.
