During the regular monthly meeting of Port Hawkesbury Town Council last night, a taxi licence application was approved for Strait Area Transit to provide wheelchair transportation, while an
application from a local taxi business will be discussed at the committee-of-the-whole meeting on September 21.
After Town Councillor Jason Aucoin declared a conflict and temporarily left the meeting, CAO Terry Doyle said SAT was using a bus that was covered under their licence agreement with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, and to stay within the confines of their licence, SAT needs a taxi licence to use smaller vehicles to transport those with mobility issues.
Doyle said they are waiting for updated information from SAT, but he recommended approval of their request, considering the need in the town.
Town Councillor Hughie MacDougall said he raised this issue a month ago, but he cautioned that this is only for those with accessibility needs, and does not allow SAT to ferry people around Port Hawkesbury.
Noting that this matter was dealt with years ago in a “verbal agreement” with SAT, Town Councillor Mark MacIver said this will avoid having an entity which receives public money competing with private taxi operators.
After council unanimously approved that motion, it decided to table an application from Mark and Theresa Kavanaugh, who have taxi licences in Inverness and Richmond counties. The CAO said the company is applying for licences for two drivers.
Doyle said the application is almost complete but there is more information that is required with regards to inspections and insurance.
Because they deemed the it incomplete, councillors decided to discuss the application at the next meeting.