6Q Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 28 May '86

Mac 'Senses ' Too Many Tour Vehicles

• By JACK SMYTH CAPE MAY — Are there too many tour vehicles operating in the city? Are we on the brink of a franchise war over who can conduct tours? These questions arise out of a discussion at a recent work session of City Council that was sparked by Tom Carroll, president of Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC). Carroll said that while there have been complaints from the police

about the slow pace of tour vehicles, there is more concern about the number of tours being offered. "I'M SENSING a grumbling about the number of vehicles offering tours. From our communication with the people of Cape May. there is more than they want to see." Carroll said. Two of the vehicles he referred to are operated by MAC. One is a bus with a trolley body, and the second is a tractor-drawn train. In addition. Cape May Carriages operates three horse-drawn open carriages which are rented to individuals who want to tour the city in that manner. THE LATEST tour vehicle to take to the streets of this Victorian resort is a 1929 Ford Model A open touring car owned and operated by Rob Elwell, 19, a freshman at Trenton State College. Elwell has obtained a city mercantile license, and has begun renting the car for weekend tours. Carroll said he hoped the city would limit the overall number of licenses for antique cars because they "cut into our income base and effect the maintenance of the Physick Estate." MLAC maintains the Physick Estate, where it has its offices, largelyon revenue raised through the two tour vehicles. Mayor Arthur Blomkvest said he would

B ^ ziA ROB ELWELL Has Model A; Will Tour

have no problem in limiting future licenses. "I'M VERY MUCH in favor of the carriages, and I don't want to see them stopped because they are an asset to the town for everybody," said the mayor. On the question of the pace of vehicles and their slowing effect on other traffic, Blomkvest said, "It'? sort of a shame because that's what we are — a tourist community. It gets to me that some people are upset because they can't get past and are in such a big rush. I would hate to see us cut back." Blomkvest suggested the problem might be solved by the city finding places where the slow-moving vehicles could pull over and permit others to pass. CITY MANAGER Fred Coldren said he feels the "quality of tours should be reviewed because some are not up to par. "Maybe we ought to license the spielsters because they're not always accurate," said Coldren. As a result of the discussion, City Council has authorized preparation of an amendment to city licensing regulations that restrict tour vehicles. The amendment, which will receive a public hearing on June 2, limits the number of motorized vehicles that can be operated under a license to three, and the number of horse-<lrawn carriages to five. Charged With Escape ERMA — Charles E. Harris, 24, of Eldora, a county jail inmate was arraigned in Superior Court last week on charges of escape from official detention and theft of a motor vehicle after he allegedly

j aHH ' m Dor.. Ward SUNNING — Lisa Schaefer. 20. daughter of Mrs. Carol Schaefer of Cape may. oils up on the Cape may beach. Lisa works for her mother at the Mooring Guest House here.

left his work detail at the county airport here and drove away in a county-owned truck. Superior Court Judge Paul Porreca set Harris' bail at (5,000 cash.

' • TOO MANY? — Cape May Council May restrict licenses for touring vehicles like these (clockwise from t®P left): MAC'S tractor-trolley. 1929 bus May JKW