This was a special meeting of the Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board, called after the board's regular September meeting lacked a quorum. The chair called the meeting to order on September 24, 2026, and reminded attendees that the state's Sunshine Law applied to the proceedings. Because the prior meeting lacked a quorum, minutes from that meeting were not taken up.
Action: Approved (unanimous voice vote)
Action: Approved (unanimous voice vote)
Action: Approved — all inspections passed (unanimous voice vote)
Action: Deferred — vote held until the October 1, 2026 board meeting
The board spent significant time on procedural questions surrounding Uptown Taxi's certificate of public convenience application. Because the board's regular September meeting lacked a quorum, a previously noticed public hearing did not occur, raising a question of whether the public had received the 7-day notice required under city code Section 35-48 for a rescheduled hearing. Staff confirmed that notice for the September 24 hearing was sent on September 15, 2026. Board counsel and a member of the public (identified as Mr. Anderson) discussed acceptable methods of public notice under Tennessee law, noting that publication in the Chattanooga Times Free Press is not the only legally sufficient method — posting on the city council's and board's websites has also been held acceptable. Staff also noted uncertainty about prior board action on Uptown Taxi, since August meeting minutes were not yet available (see Policy Discussion below). After discussion, the board voted to hold its vote on the Uptown Taxi application until the October 1, 2026 regular meeting rather than act on it that day.
Board staff explained that minutes from the August meeting have not yet been completed because the clerk who normally prepares them, Ms. Bertha, was not present in August; those minutes are instead being prepared from a transcript of the meeting. Staff further explained the transcript has been delayed by a personal family matter. As a result, no one on the current staff had a clear recollection of what occurred regarding Uptown Taxi at the August meeting, and the attorney who was present in August is no longer with the city. Completed minutes will be placed on the agenda for the next board meeting once available.
