Councillors debate ’accessible’ parking areas

Mike Thibodeau, Special to the Post

Deputy Mayor Charlie Wright says the minutes of the Nov. 7 council meeting did not reflect the point he was emphasizing.

But other councillors disagreed and said they did.

At the Nov. 7 meeting Wright questioned the need for handicap accessible parking spaces in the new parking lot built west of the parking lot with the new town hall.

Last week Wright said his view is those spaces should be built close to the town hall "not across the street."

But Councillor Rick Atkin disagreed saying those special spaces were always part of the overall plan.

The trail was always a component of this building and that's what a delegation of people told council during talks about the new town hall, said Atkin.

He said the new parking, built on the west side of Queens Ave. helps with the overflow from the town hall, and will eventually serve as a starting point for the trail along the old C&O railway when it is built.

Mayor John Paterson said he too agreed with Atkin's view the spaces are "there to use for the walkway."

Wright, who is a member of the town's accessibility committee said he was only asking that if new facilities are being built "let's look at where we put them (parking spots)."