Ridgewood February 2, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Village updates insurance coverage regulations by John Koster The Ridgewood Council recently adopted an ordinance that effectively reduces the amount of insurance the local taxi company must carry. The new ordinance updates that coverage from a maximum of $1 million to $100,000 per individual passenger, $300,000 for personal injuries per incident, and $50,000 for property damage from any incident. Ridgewood officials did not provide specifics as to how this change would reduce the insurance premiums Ridgewood Taxi is required to pay. But Ridgewood Taxi Co-owner Kathleen Rutler said that while the new insurance standards are higher than the state average, they are viable and would help her company. “We’ve always had insurance. We wouldn’t think of not having insurance,” Rutler said. However, she offered her opinion that million dollar insurance policies were intended for limousine services that routinely carry large groups of passengers on long trips, while Ridgewood Taxi specializes in short hauls with one or two passengers at a time. “We no longer have limousines. We’re strictly taxis,” she said Questioned by council meeting regulars Boyd Loving and Roger Wiegand, Ridgewood Village Manager Kenneth Gabbert confirmed that a request for proposals had been issued seeking other taxi companies that might want to cover Ridgewood based at the Broad Street location in the downtown business district, but that only one cab company would receive Ridgewood’s official recognition. “It is the intention that we would be awarding one license,” Gabbert said. Gabbert said that a survey of the state came up with the reduction from $1 million to $300,000 per group fare and $100,000 for individual fare as an amount more equitable to the cab company than the previous $1 million and more protective of the public than the $35,000, which is the state’s stated minimum. “We surveyed many municipalities in the State of New Jersey and found a more comfortable level,” Gabbert said. “It will also be a level that the village council is comfortable with.” Wiegand noted that neighboring Paramus and the affluent community of Summit both have million-dollar requirements. “What is the village’s liability if we go to $300,000 down from a million and we have some sort of incident?” Wiegand asked. “Could we be on the hook for another $700,000?” Gabbert told Wiegand that the state minimum is $35,000, and that Ridgewood’s new standard, adopted by unanimous council vote, far exceeds that minimum. The manager also told Loving that only one company -Ridgewood Taxi or any other that bid on the RFP -- would be licensed to do business from Broad Street, but that other cab companies could not legally be excluded from pickups and drop offs in Ridgewood as long as they are insured. MOMs group plans Pizza & Parable Night The Our Lady of Mount Carmel MOMs group will host a Pizza and Parable Night on Friday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. at the parish center, 1 Passaic Road, Ridgewood. The evening will include a showing of Disney’s “So Dear to My Heart.” The cost is $5 per person or $20 per family. RSVP to Joanna at kgwags@gmail.com, or call (201) 389-3201. Wednesday thru Saturday 10:30-5:00 THE BROWNSTONE MILL SPECIALTY SHOPS Items We Carry 11 PATERSON AVE, MIDLAND PARK Rt.4W or Rt.287 to Rt.208, exit at Goffle Rd./Midland Park, 2 miles 201-445-3074 • 201-652-5585 • Winter specials available now for a limited time only. Call Robin at 973-636-7000 • Antiques • Toys • Trunks • Silverware • Playbills • Vintage Games • Collectibles • Comic Books • Ephemera • Postcards • Sheet Music • Vintage Jewelry • Sterling Silver Valentine Shopping Services We Provide • Reiki Wellness • Chairs Glued • Decorative Accessories Join Us For • Oil Paintings & Prints • China • Lamps/Lighting • Furniture • Dolls • Doll Houses & Accessories • Depression Glass • Vintage China • Mirrors • Crystal Chandeliers • Baskets, Candles • Upholstery • Trunk Restoration • Drapery • Hair Salon • Custom Painted Furniture • Window Treatments • Garden Center