RUMFORD – Selectmen granted a taxi cab license to one of two cab companies in town Thursday night but not before they issued some warnings.

“They must stop at stop signs and get their licenses renewed before they expire,” said board Chairman Jim Thibodeau.

Selectmen granted a taxi cab license to Courtesy Cab, owned by Lawrence Richard, contingent upon his attendance at the Jan. 15 board meeting when selectmen will review the rules and regulations. They will also act on another taxi cab license request by Roadrunner Taxi owned by Bethel Express.

Town Manager Robert Welch said neither company filed intentions to renew their licenses in sufficient time for the town to hold public hearings prior to the expiration date. Welch also said he warned both companies not to pick up and drop off fares in the town once the licenses expired Dec. 31.

Unlicensed cab companies can pick up fares in town as long as they are dropped off in another municipality. They can also drop people off in Rumford from another municipality. But they cannot pick up and drop off within Rumford.

Welch said he summoned both businesses for violating the town’s bylaws governing taxi cab companies, specifically for picking up and dropping off fares within the town after being warned not to do so.

“It’s a shame this has to happen because of the older people who use them,” said Welch.

At Thursday’s meeting, Richard submitted a letter of apology.

Frank Tuttle, district manager for Roadrunner Taxi, said he turned in his paperwork and license fee to the town office on Dec. 31.

“I was told I was late,” he said. “This is the second time in two years. I could have sworn I complied this time.”

He said he will appear at the Jan. 15 meeting to listen to his renewal application.

Although Welch said the cab companies dropped off the proper paperwork on Dec. 31, he said such a late date didn’t allow time for public notice or for selectmen action, both required in the town’s bylaws.

He said, too, that he plans to submit several changes in the bylaws governing taxi cabs for town meeting action that would strengthen the bylaw.

Also on Thursday, three tax-acquired properties were awarded to the highest bidders. An acre parcel located on Route 5 was sold to Diane and Robert Milligan for $5,100. A small building and less than half-acre parcel on Back Field Road was sold to Dan Simard for $8,500. Simard was also the high bidder for a building and small parcel on Rumford Avenue at a cost of $8,500.

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