By ANDY GARDNER
North Country Now

MASSENA -- Citing concerns that they could siphon fares from two taxi businesses, the Board of Trustees on Tuesday declined to move forward with an amendment to their cab code to allow one additional taxi.

The code, as written now, allows 10 cabs be licensed for operation in the entire village. Green Cab Company and Massena Transport currently use all of them.

At the January village board meeting, Ryan Frary from Frary Medical Transport asked the board to amend the code to allow one extra cab so they can offer regular taxi fares in addition to their main service.

"Is it going to drain from the actual cab companies who are doing business?" Deputy Mayor Matt Lebire said. "I'm not opposed to entertaining something in the future, should there be a true competitive request or business need."

Trustee Christine Winston said her reason for not wanting to move forward came after speaking with Bruce Green from Green Cab Company.

"He didn't want to open it up to another company as well," she said, later adding that Green was concerned "other businesses come in and take away from his 24/7" operation.

Lebire said they shouldn't be making decisions to favor a specific business.

"I want to make sure any decisions we make don't favor one company over another ... My objection is the request wasn't from a full-fledged taxi company," he said. "I would be very open ... if a business need is there, a business expansion ... and it can be documented as to why it's needed."

"It didn't sound like a full-fledged business ... I don't want to jeopardize a service that's needed in this community," according to Lebire.

Trustee Francis Carvel said he was also okay with taking no action.

"I personally don't see any problems with the way it is right now. I don't see at this time expanding it. We did have a gentleman come and ask questions ... haven't heard anything since that time," Carvel said. "Leave things as they are."