BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- Taxicabs in the village of Massena will now have to follow simpler regulations after village officials opted to strip back redundant language in village code. 

"In essence what's happened here is taxis can set their own rates. I believe we have two taxi services," Mayor Greg Paquin said. 

He told attendees of the June 16 meeting that previous provisions have been removed and regulations have been "extremely streamlined" to avoid redundancies with state laws. 

"Really, the only thing we're doing are background checks for drivers, vehicle registration and insurance coverage is necessary for the taxicab companies," Paquin said. 

Those specifics remain in the village code and details what taxi cab services are required to do, from licensing of drivers, to issuance of taxicab licenses, fee structures, taxicab registration, vehicle inspections and suspension procedures for code failures, among other things. 

Paquin said he also had conversations with state officials with the Department of Health regarding Medicare related non-emergency medical transports, saying they were "regulated more than enough." 

"I think if there's anything, one thing that we don't need is more regulation," he said. 

Paquin said those transports are heavily regulated through the state and adding anything further would "just muddy the waters." 

The resolution passed unanimously, with Trustee Ken McGowan an excused absence from the meeting. 

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