Latest news with #KATC
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Kingston city council votes to eliminate taxi commission
Social Sharing Kingston's city council will eliminate the regulator overseeing local taxis, a move that will see the municipality assume the responsibilities of the embattled organization. The decision comes after much discussion over the role of the Kingston Area Taxi Commission (KATC) and whether the organization had met its duties of financial accountability and transparency. "This is a systemic problem," Coun. Brandon Tozzo said Tuesday, during a council meeting which voted to eventually eliminate the KATC. "It's because the institution started in the late 1980s. And we keep coming back to this issue again and again. And I think it's the institutional design," he said by way of explaining what he saw as intractable problems with the KATC. Recently the councillor called for the KATC to be dissolved, announcing in a letter he'd stepped down from his role on the regulatory body. At the heart of the debate are missing audited financial reports, as well as perceived conflicts regarding its governance structure. Despite years of requests, the KATC has "continuously failed" to provide any financial information, according to a report by the city's chief administrative officer Lanie Hurdle. In the days preceding Tuesday's meeting, the commission had provided its 2022 numbers, with promises that other missing years would be complete by the first quarter of next year. It had hoped councillors would delay the vote, allowing for more discussions to take place. "We're not saying don't go down this path," Simon Chapelle, the KATC's secretary, told CBC News on Tuesday. "What we're saying is, give us an opportunity to address the inaccurate assessments and comments that have been made on social media and to the public" At the meeting some councillors raised concerns over how much work it'll be for Kingston to take over oversight duties. "I really don't want this to cost taxpayer money and I really think we need clearer details on that," said District 1 Coun. Gary Oosterhof. "I believe this is a lot more work than we're letting on." Oosterhof likened the KATC to an airplane on a runway, about to take off. "And then we abort the flight," the councillor said. "They have demonstrated considerable ability and readiness to do their work." Others cited concerns regarding whether the end of the KATC would risk a break in service, especially for the accessible taxi program, which offers those with mobility issues an affordable way to get around. City staff said work would be done to ensure a smooth transition. At Tuesday's meeting, Kingston Mayor Bryan Patterson aired his support for the recommendations. He said his decision was guided by conversations with the mayor of Loyalist Township, the other major stakeholder in the KATC. "This is not, in my view, a framing of, 'Oh, because there were problems, we just decided to close it down,'" Patterson said at the conclusion of council's back-and-forth. "I actually would frame it differently. I just think that there's an evolution that's taking place." The mayor had said his decision-making was not based on the mistakes of the past, but on what model he believes will be best for Kingston's future. Tozzo says he's happy a decision was reached, with a motion to defer the vote failing to secure enough support to pass. "It's just fairly clear that there were operational issues with the organization," he said over Zoom on Wednesday. "And that six months wouldn't really change that opinion for most of us." While the city will issue a notice of its intention to withdraw from the KATC, it won't be officially dissolved until September 2026.
CBC
08-08-2025
- Business
- CBC
Report calls for Kingston to terminate taxi commission that hasn't provided financials
Social Sharing A Kingston, Ont., councillor has resigned from the city's taxi commission and is calling for it to be dissolved, saying that despite trying multiple times to get financial information from the board, he has "no idea where their money is going." In a statement Thursday, Kingscourt-Rideau Coun. Brandon Tozzo said he stepped down from the Kingston Area Taxi Commission (KATC) on July 31, adding it's now three years behind on its reporting. "It's just been a complete and utter lack of financial accountability," he said in an interview with CBC. "Trying six times to get any sort of financials and getting none, I think that speaks to me as having more red flags than Soviet Russia." Tozzo's comments come as council is set to consider a staff report raising concerns about the KATC's missing financial reports for 2022, 2023 and 2024. The document, written by CAO Lanie Hurdle ahead of the Aug. 12 council meeting, states that despite years of requests, the regulator that oversees local taxis has "continuously failed" to provide any financial information. It recommends councillors dissolve KATC and have the municipality take over its role as of September 2026. Joseph Dowser, chair of the commission, said he wasn't available for an interview, but in an email called Tozzo's comments a "misrepresentation." He argued KATC has made "real progress on transparency and accountability" and should be able to provide all outstanding audits by early 2026. "We've asked council to defer the vote to allow for proper dialogue," his email read. Providing annual financial updates is a requirement for partnerships with the city, Hurdle's report reads. But despite the fact KATC previously committed to submitting the documents by the end of the year — including sharing the 2022 numbers by sometime in July — the CAO said that, as of the writing of her report, that hadn't happened. Commission operates in a 'vacuum' Tozzo pointed to that missed deadline in his statement, adding the commission refused to provide year-to-date statements, bank records or employment contracts when he began asking for them in May. He noted KATC has the authority to create bylaws and has been operating in a "legal and accountability vacuum." He also called on it to be "dissolved," stating Kingston and Loyalist Township are the only jurisdictions in Ontario with an independent taxi commission. In a letter to Kingston's CAO dated Aug. 5, a lawyer for the commission said it now has a draft of its 2022 financial statements — with the KATC receiving them a few days late due to summer-related delays. "We further suggest that before any report from the CAO is finalized, it would be in everyone's best interests to ensure a more transparent and balanced process that includes consultation more broadly with the KATC and necessary stakeholders, to enable that Council receives a fair and accurate report," the letter reads. Hurdle's report recommends council terminate the KATC's contract for administering taxi bylaws as of Jan. 1, 2026. It also calls for the city to develop a new accessible taxi program, do everything required to transition cab oversight to the municipality by September 2026 and to notify the province of its intention to withdraw from the commission. The council agenda includes letters from the region's two taxi services supporting the move, which they said will lead to increased transparency and "positive changes." Chair says paper, ledgers used for past reports The report follows a June 3 meeting where Dowser appeared before council and acknowledged there was "a question regarding our financials." At the time, he blamed the approach taken by previous commission members for the holdup, noting the entire commission — staff and board members — had since changed. "The problem is they did everything by paper. Instead of having a computerized program … they had a large ledger book for each segment of the industry," he explained. Dowser also faced pointed questions from those sitting around the council table, including Portsmouth Coun. Don Amos. "I have due diligence at my end to make sure taxpayer money is being spent the right way," Amos said. "I have no idea what your books look like. None. And it's [been] three years." Responding to Amos, Dowser said the audited reports were a top focus, adding he was "on the phone weekly to get this stuff faster to you." Asked by Lakeside Coun. Wendy Stephen about the big changeover at KATC, Dowser said it came down to "accountability" and staff with decades of experience choosing to leave rather than changing their approach. Dowser also told councillors he'd been taking on the staff role of office manager, while juggling his duties as head of the commission at the same time. Stephen took issue with the dual roles, explaining she felt the governance body and staff should be separate. "I don't think it's appropriate to wear both hats, because then it means you're supervising and governing yourself," she said. "And that can be really difficult in terms of accountability and transparency."
USA Today
02-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New York Giants WR Malik Nabers honored as Grand Marshal at Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade
New York Giants WR Malik Nabers honored as Grand Marshal at Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers was scheduled to attend the Gervonta "Tank" Davis vs. Lamont Roach fight in Brooklyn over the weekend but instead returned home to Youngville, Louisiana. "I was at home and got a call. I was told we have to meet with the mayor, and I said, 'The mayor of who? The Youngsville Mayor,'" Nabers said, via KATC. Nabers quickly changed his plans and met with Mayor Ken Ritter, where the athletic standout was informed he would be honored as Grand Marshal at the Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade. "Malik Nabers is a true success story," Ritter said in a news release, via "From his roots in Acadiana to his achievements on the national stage, he has made us all proud. We are thrilled to welcome him home to Youngsville and celebrate his accomplishments as the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade. His dedication and perseverance serve as an inspiration to young athletes across our region." As part of the celebration, Nabers was given a key to the city. "I want to thank all my family and friends. I also want to thank the mayor for giving me this opportunity," Nabers said. "This is one of the big accomplishments in my life, and I want to thank the city of Youngsville for supporting me through my journey." The significance of the honor was not lost on Nabers, who cares deeply about his hometown community. "I'll always be able to see another fight. It's not going to be that many opportunities where I can receive this kind of accolade in my life," he said. "It's a big accomplishment to have something like this, to see where you came from and to be recognized by the mayor and the city. "I want to help the next generation figure out that this is possible. You just have to sacrifice. You don't have to sacrifice a lot to get where you want to get and make your dreams come true." As a rookie, Nabers set multiple league and franchise records, recording 109 receptions for 1,204 yards, and seven touchdowns.
