Nassau puts off vote on taxi commission
Nassau County legislators postponed voting on a proposal to create a new taxi and limousine commission Monday, after several legislators sought to impose term limits for proposed commissioners.
The legislature had been scheduled to vote on a proposal by County Executive Edward Mangano to establish a commission to regulate the taxicab and car service industries. But Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) delayed the vote until the next legislative meeting Dec. 1.
Nassau Deputy County Executive Rob Walker told lawmakers that the proposal "is about the safety" of riders, although the county could raise up to $2 million in fines and fees with the expansion.
Nassau Democratic Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) and Legis. Denise Ford (D-Long Beach) told Walker they wanted to see term limits added for five proposed commission posts. Three would be appointed by the county executive, one by the legislative presiding officer and another by the minority leader.
The Mangano administration says a separate agency, staffed by 10 investigators, is needed due to the "proliferation" of unlicensed cars for hire, including those now widely used by app-based companies such as Uber and Lyft. Monitoring now is conducted by two or three employees in the county Office of Consumer Affairs.
Also Monday, legislators unanimously approved an emergency measure that increased the salary of the county's two Board of Elections commissioners by $52,400 over the next three years. Commissioners currently earn $128,000 a year, but will now make $168,000. They will then receive a 3.75 percent increase in 2015 and a 3.5 percent raise in 2016.
Legislators also unanimously approved the reappointment of Republican Board of Elections Commissioner Louis G. Savinetti, and the appointment of Dave Gugerty as the new Democratic Elections Commissioner. Gugerty, chief-of-staff for the legislature's Democratic caucus, will replace outgoing Commissioner William Biamonte.
Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.
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