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Select Board approves waiting list for eight surplus rental‑car medallions with two‑medallion minimum
Summary
The Select Board approved a waiting list process for eight surplus rental‑car medallions and set a two‑medallion per‑applicant minimum for initial awards; the motion passed 3–1 after debate about peer‑to‑peer rental platforms and enforcement capacity.
The Select Board on April 14 approved a waiting‑list process to allocate eight surplus rental‑car medallions, setting a two‑medallion minimum for awards during this round.
Amy (staff member) told the board eight surplus medallions had become available from an agency that had been out of the business for several years and recommended using a waiting list similar to the town's taxi/tour/charter limo list. Applications will open in May; applicants will pay a $25 application fee and $10 per year to remain on the waiting list. Amy proposed that people who previously signed up for notification would keep their existing order on a new waiting list unless they chose to opt out.
Tom moved to approve the waiting‑list process as presented with a minimum of two medallions to be issued to successful applicants; the board discussed whether to allow recipients to receive up to four medallions but ultimately limited awards to two for this allocation. Board members debated whether the town should prioritize new vendors over existing agencies and whether enforcement capacity exists for peer‑to‑peer platforms such as Turo. Amy cautioned the town lacks the resources to onboard hundreds of individual peer‑to‑peer owners without additional staff or a different intake system.
Matt said he was uncomfortable encouraging new agencies and signaled he would vote against the motion: "I'm gonna vote against it because I don't think that we're encouraging the, you know, peer to peer to apply," he said. Tom, Malcolm and the chair supported the motion.
The roll‑call vote was Tom yes, Matt no, Malcolm yes, chair yes; the motion passed 3–1. The board directed staff to implement the waiting list in May, accept applications and return after renewals for a review of outcomes and any recommended policy changes.
Staff will treat the allocation as a short‑term measure to distribute the eight medallions while the town develops longer‑term policy on peer‑to‑peer car sharing and enforcement; the board said it expects a post‑season review and potential ordinance or warrant‑article proposals if broader changes are required.
