By Jeff Trotman
Hire car drivers staged a protest on October 20th, calling for the removal of a $20 increase in the toll on cars crossing the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge but the Linden IMC will not consider the demand.
The hire car drivers’ concern and actions caused heated debate at the October statutory meeting of the Linden IMC on October 22nd, when the IMC Chairman, Orrin Gordon, stated that he had received a letter on October 20th from the Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon, asking him to attend a meeting on October 21st on the matter.
Gordon said he could have ignored the letter but because one of his own was involved, he was placed in a box that was contrived since IMC member Gordon Callendar was at the meeting with the Regional Chairman along with hire car divers. Gordon said the hire car drivers said that they were unable to pay any increase in the bridge toll and they wanted some consideration to be given to them. He said the hire car drivers also raised two other issues, including payment for parking on Pine Street. He said it was suggested that the hire car drivers form themselves into an organized body in order to hold discussion with the town council.
The IMC Chairman stressed that the town council worked hard to obtain additional revenue sources to ensure that its workers receive increased wages