Minutes 02/13/1945 - Laserfiche WebLink

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At a regular meeting of the City Council, held February !3th, 1945, at 7:30 P.M.~ there were present: Leslie T. Fox, George L. Grimes, James N. Howard, W. R. Hutchins, Frank D. LawTence, E. Robi~e Sturtevant~ C. E. Warren, H. Earl Weiseman, Pearle J. Wilson sad Arthur S. Owens, City Manager. Minutes of regular meeting held January 23rd were read and approved. On motion of Mr. Howard, the privilege of the floor was grented Mr.~m. To Parker, who presented the following petition: "We, the undersigned, J. Harry White, Carlton J~ Wilkins, James $. Wilkins and Perry L. Turner, all residents of the City of Portsmouth, and now engaged in the taxi-cab business in this 0ity~ having a total of ten cabs between them at the present time, respectfully make application to the Council to add eight additional cabs for the use of the public of this City, and submit herewith an outline of what we propose to do with reference operation of taxi-cabs by them provided the same meets with the aporoval of the Council and t~ereof. those in charge ~ ~ 1. We prcpose to establish a Corporation to be known as Blue Bird Taxi~ Inc., to have i~ts principal offices in this City~ with a maximum Capital Stock of ~5o,ooo.oo. ~¢e held a meeting yes~erday~ February 12th, and went over the entire matter of forming a proper organization, as we feel that we can function better as an or~anlzation ra~h~r~ ~ than as indivi- duals, and be more responsible to the City and the public a~ large. 2. Should the eight cab licenses be granted to us, we would have a total of eighteen cabs all under one management; the cabs would be oainted a vemy dls~in~tive color in order that the same may be ready identified by s~ay member o~ the Public - d =n the offi - cials of the City. 3. With this number in operation, we would be in a position to give cab service upon a tw~enty-four hour basis, wi~h cabs available to those of the public who would require service vi~ the telephone throughout the 0ity. 4. There would be maintained a regular business office and a fixed terminus for the cabs, including our own garages and stations, with competent persons in Charge at all ti~es. · - 5. With that number of cabs in opera~iOm~ we would be in a position $o empl6~ ~ competent meter mechanic ~o have on hand at al! t~me~ in order that the meters would be in perfec~ mechanical condition. 6. We would be able to have on duty at al! times a competent transpor- tation supervisor to see that proper service is given and that the cabs were kept in a neat and orderly manner; there would be available at all times the proper official to take care of any complaints that may be made. 7- With the proper approval of the City, we would place a cab twenty~ four hours daily at the Professional Building of this City wherein patients of the various Doctor's practicin~ therein would be given prompt and efficient service. 8. And generally all such other things incidental and necesmary there- to that would make for better transportation facilities to the general public in thi~ City. In conclusion~ we would like to may: That we are convinced that by ~ proper Corporate organization with a majority of the cabs in operation thereunder, that we will be in a position to eliminate much of the trouble existing in that field today, for an organi- zation can be more readily cojbrolled than an aggregate of individuals operating singly. We are financially able and morally responsible ~o undertake this tabk, and we have been in the tsxi business for a number of years, and feel t~hat we already have gone far ~o eliminate many of the conditions existing elsewhere in the operation of taxi-cabs. We further aver and believe that with a responsible organization there will be-more of the spirit of co-operation between the City and the taxi-cab interests which is sorely needed today. We ask that consideration b e given to ue. Respectfully, 0at,ton J. Wilkins J. H. White James S. Wi!kine Perry L. Turner." adopted. Mction of Mr. Hutchins to refer said petition to the City Mauager~ was Motion of Mr. Howard ~o gran~ the privilege of the floor to Wilbur Watts was mdopted. Mr. Watts, representing the Safeway Cab Service~ stated that the Safeway Cab Servi~e was giving as good service as possible with the limited number of cabs and asked the Council to allow six additional cabs and they promised exceptionally good service. adopted. Motion of Mro Hutchins ~o refer said request to the City Manager, was City and reques~ adopted. Motion of Mr. Howard that the Manager study the cab situation in the the Office o~ Defense Transpo~tat_on for additional cabs for Portsmouth, was The following communications from the City Manager were read: