Barre City Manager Confirms Ordinance Inspired by Inquiry from Taxi Operator Tara

Barre will soon have its first-ever public nudity ordinance, which will go into effect in late April.

During a March 24 meeting, the Barre City Council introduced the first reading of a public nudity ordinance. During that discussion, Mayor Thom Lauzon noted that Barre has gone more than 200 years without a public nudity ordinance and this would mark a change in that.

At an April 7 meeting, they held a second hearing of the ordinance, which the council unanimously adopted. It will be enacted by late April.

Barre City Manager Nicolas Storellicastro confirmed to The Bridge that the ordinance was prompted by an inquiry from “Tara,” who operates a taxi while naked in St. Albans. He said Tara called the clerk’s office and the police department in March asking about applications and permits.

Tara told The Bridge she has no interest or plans to operate in Barre. She said she was merely doing her due diligence in the event she would need to drive a client to Barre. “I drive a cab nude in St. Albans and I have signs on my car telling people I’m a nudist,” she said. “I call different places to make sure there are no ordinances. For each city, you have to have a taxi license so I wanted to get registered. What is wrong with me calling the city hall or the cops? I was only being safe.”

Tara said she is houseless and sleeps on the streets. She claimed her vehicle is inoperable and requires thousands of dollars of repairs.