[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Mount Vernon 10-23-1996, approved 10-24-1996. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Taxicabs — See Ch. 237.
A Taxicab Commission is hereby established pursuant to the authority of Article 2-A, § 20, Subdivision 32, of the General City Law, as amended.
[Amended 8-13-1997, approved 8-14-1997; 2-10-1999, approved 2-11-1999; 9-8-1999, approved 9-9-1999; 2-26-2003, approved 2-27-2003]
The Taxicab Commission shall consist of nine members. The ex officio members of the Commission shall be the Police Commissioner or Deputy Police Commissioner or his/her designee, the City Clerk and the City Director of Weights and Measures for a permanent term. The Mayor shall recommend two members of the Commission, of which one member of the Commission shall be a representative of the taxi industry and one shall be from the business community, for a term of two years. The City Council shall appoint four members, one of which shall be a representative from a consumer group, one from a community advocacy group, one shall be a person who is physically challenged, and one shall be a duly licensed and admitted attorney who shall chair the Commission, for a term of three years. All such members shall serve without salary and at the pleasure of the City Council.
[Amended 8-13-1997, approved 8-14-1997; 2-10-1999, approved 2-11-1999; 9-8-1999, approved 9-9-1999]
The Taxicab Commission shall have the following duties and obligations:
A. 
To conduct research into the use of taxicabs within the City of Mount Vernon utilizing the advice and participation of all citizens, organizations and groups within the City of Mount Vernon.
B. 
To review the provisions of Chapter 237 of the City Code, entitled "Taxicabs," and to make recommendations to the City Council upon subjects not limited to fare, zones, accommodations for seniors and the disabled, cab stands, vehicle identification, vehicle inspection and the numbers and type of taxicab licenses; and to regulate the number and type of taxicab licenses issued pursuant to Chapter 237 of the Code of the City of Mount Vernon.
C. 
To conduct hearings to which the applicant or licensee may be entitled and to regulate the number and type of taxicab licenses issued pursuant to Chapter 237 of the Code of the City of Mount Vernon.
D. 
To keep accurate records of its meeting and actions and file an annual report with the City Council on or before the 31st day of December of each and every year.
E. 
In addition to the foregoing, carry out any other duties, tasks or responsibilities, consistent with the objectives of Article 2-A, § 20, Subdivision 32, of the General City Law, assigned to it by resolution, ordinance or local law of the City Council.
F. 
Hear appeals of revocation, suspension and cancellation of a taxi driver's license or taxicab license, except that the Commission shall not hear appeals after a denial of an application or renewal application, or where the revocation or suspension or cancellation of such license is based solely on a judicial conviction(s).
G. 
Consider a broad range of service, pricing and regulatory options, including but not limited to imposing additional requirements to ensure taxicab availability in areas of the City lying outside of the central business district.
[Added 8-13-1997, approved 8-14-1997; 2-10-1999, approved 2-11-1999; 9-8-1999, approved 9-9-1999]
A. 
The licensee shall file an appeal with the Taxi Commission within 10 business days after the date of decision or determination complained of on a written form prescribed the Commissioner.
B. 
The Commission shall schedule and hold a hearing within 30 days of receipt of the appeal.
C. 
Determination of appeal. The Commission shall in each case render a decision within 30 days from the date of oral argument, which may affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify or reverse the determination appealed from.
D. 
Rehearing. The Commission may grant a new hearing to a licensee upon written request on a form prescribed by the Commission which shall include a statement of the reason therefor filed with the Commission when it shall appear that the ground is either newly discovered evidence or fraud, or both.
E. 
Appeals of the Commission's determination shall be pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
[Added 8-13-1997, approved 8-14-1997; 2-10-1999, approved 2-11-1999; 9-8-1999, approved 9-9-1999]
The Commission shall have the power to grant any taxicab owner or association of taxicab owners, upon proper application therefor, the exclusive right to use one or more distinctive emblems or other identifying designs to be displayed on the vehicles of such applicant.
A. 
Such applications must include colored sketches of the proposed color schemes of the emblem or designs, together with such other and further information as the Commission may require. Such an emblem may not be similar to an emblem granted to any association unless he or she is a member of said association.
B. 
The Commission may suspend a license and/or impose a reasonable penalty on any owner who uses an emblem granted to another owner or association, an emblem so similar as to lead to confusion in the mind of the public or an emblem granted to any association unless he or she is a member of said association.