Taxi Operator Puzzled at Licensing, Island Has Three Separate Entities

WILDWOOD CREST – Wildwood Crest Borough Commissioners met April 6 to act on several resolutions; they approved a professional services contract with Robert N. Roop of Lockatong Engineering to serve as an expert witness for Crest Pier.
Additional approvals included authorizing a special events permit to Charles W. Sandman Consolidated School for the purpose of a sixth grade “Beach Day” to be held June 1 (rain date June 2), from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Rambler Road beach. 
Commissioners also “authorized recycling tonnage grant application to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and designated Joseph Bond as recycling coordinator.”
Robert White of Number One Taxi, LLC appeared before commissioners because he wanted to comply with borough regulations that require his cab company to be licensed in the borough, even though he is already licensed in the other Wildwood municipalities.
“I am just trying to comply with the law,” he stated. He was frustrated that one licensing requirement could not suffice for all municipalities on the island. He was upset because he was told that Wildwood Crest licenses were no longer being issued and he felt that this situation needed to be addressed.
Mayor Carl Groon acknowledged that the taxi situation was complicated, especially in light of the emergence of Uber, and the lack of a statewide regulatory position that he had hoped would bring some clarity to the issue.
Groon sympathized with White, and promised that he would seek a meeting with the other island municipalities to try “for a regional response” to the situation.
The mayor also noted, under old business, that the “Army Corps Beach Plan” issue had not advanced very much and that the borough will essentially wait for North Wildwood to take the lead on this issue. 
As previously reported,  part of the plan will include moving excess sand from Crest beaches between Cresse Avenue and Rambler Road to North Wildwood.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.