In a move that sent shockwaves through the local transportation industry, the Norwood Selectmen took decisive action against Norwood Taxi, a company accused of non-compliance with regulations.
The board’s decision to hold a show-cause hearing to revoke the taxi firm’s operator’s license was met with unanimous approval from the four members present at the meeting.
The catalyst for this development was a routine inspection conducted by Frederick Brown, the sealer of weights and measures, in June. During his investigation, Brown discovered that two of Norwood Taxi’s meters had not been approved, resulting in overcharges to passengers ranging between 15 and 20 cents per mile. This egregious infraction prompted Brown to refuse approval for these meters, effectively grounding the cabs until they were either repaired, replaced, or taken out of service.
According to Brown, the company manager was obligated by law to notify town officials about the status of the outlawed cabs. However, as of the time of the meeting, no such notification had been received from Norwood Taxi’s owner, Thomas Narbut. This lack of communication only served to further exacerbate the situation.
The inspection also revealed another disturbing finding: two cabs owned by Norwood Taxi but registered for operation in Dedham were parked in a taxi stand in Norwood. Although these vehicles were not carrying passengers at the time, their presence in the stand was deemed potentially illegal, as they may have been soliciting business without proper authorization.
The Selectmen’s Chairman, John Kinnaly, expressed his frustration with the situation, stating that problems with Norwood Taxi had been ongoing for several years. His call for a show-cause hearing to revoke the company’s taxi license was met with unanimous approval from the board members present.
In the early days of Norwood’s taxi industry, companies such as Norwood Taxi were the norm. These small, family-owned businesses provided essential transportation services to the community, often at a reasonable cost. However, as the years went by, larger corporations began to enter the market, offering more competitive rates and better service.
Despite these changes, Norwood Taxi remained a staple of the local industry, providing reliable transportation services to residents and visitors alike. However, its recent troubles have raised questions about the company’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and comply with regulations.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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