PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee unanimously put the stamp of approval on three ordinance changes in just 40 minutes on Monday.

These include a change in taxicab rates, an amendment of the age for property tax exemption eligibility from 68 to 65, and a request to develop an ordinance establishing a process for commemorative and honorary street designations.

The request to increase taxicab rates raised them by $1 and 10 cents for each additional 1/8 mile. This changes the city's ordinance that caps the rate at $2.50 and 30 cents for each additional 1/8 of a mile thereafter to $3.50 and 40 cents.

A change in rates has not been made since 2005.

Late last year, Rainbow Taxi wanted to put in a request for the increase but had been past the deadline of Dec. 1.  The Taxicab Commission was reconstituted to fix the ordinance to have a different timeline or make an exception to change it and had its first meeting in May.  

The rate change was OK'd by the commission last month.

"The cab company came to the city back in November to raise their rate which had not been raised since 2005," Chair James Clark explained.

"Unfortunately the Taxicab Commission did not exist in December, it took until March to assign people to it and it took until May to have our first meeting."

He also added that the change did not affect set rates for rides.

Ward 4 Councilor James Conant submitted the petition to amend the property tax exemption eligibility age from age 68 to 65. He said this is an opportunity to protect the city's most vulnerable taxpayers.

Clark, who is also the director of the Council on Aging, spoke in support of Conant's request and asked to take it a step further to make it apply to deferments as well. This will be taken up at a later date.

"A deferment allows senior adults to use resources that would go toward paying cash for other important living expenses such as health care costs, fuel, anything else that they need to spend on a daily basis," he explained.

"It is a safe and easy way to free up some of their income, which as we know for most seniors is a fixed income."

He added that a property tax deferral does not eliminate the tax obligation.

"We have to think about our seniors, as (Conant) said, it's a very vulnerable part of the population," Clark said, adding that the city does not need people being forced out of their homes because they have to choose between taxes and medical care.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren wanted to see Clark's recommendation addressed as soon as possible and said that it is a simple procedure.

"I may look at it and bring it up tomorrow because I don't think there's a lot of reason to delay this," he said in reference to Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Ward 6 Councilor Dina Guiel Lampiasi submitted the petition to develop an ordinance establishing a process for commemorative and honorary street designations.  

She included a draft ordinance that stated the honorary names would allow the city to commemorate individuals who have made significant contributions to the community and to humanity and would not replace official street names or require re-addressing of the streets.

It was accepted with a couple of "friendly amendments."

Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales said street signs are usually in the $100-$150 range and that the cost of the signs would be negligible unless the intent of the ordinance is to flood the streets with honorary signs.

The draft ordinance also stipulates that the requests for honorary dedications should be submitted in writing to the city clerk for review by the Department of Community Development, with an application fee of $50, except when sponsored by a City Council member.

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