The dude who owns this car has been ordered by Petty Harbour council to remove it from the Town’s recreation centre parking lot. Town of Petty Harbour photo
By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh
Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove council revisited its course of action August 24 to deal with a long-abandoned vehicle in its recreation centre parking lot.
Council decided at its Aug. 10 public meeting to issue a 72-hour removal notice on the Honda Civic, licence plate JAE 682, after it was parked there since winter. The thought at the time was to have the vehicle towed after the notice ran its course.
However, CAO Mandy Dinn told council at the Aug. 24 public meeting that none of the towing companies contacted had space to store the vehicle.
“There’s lots of towing companies that will take it, but nobody that has an impound with space available. They can tow it wherever council wants them to tow it, it’s just we assume the liability once it’s towed somewhere,” Dinn explained.
Councillor Kayla Parsons asked if the vehicle could just be disposed of because the removal order had been issued and the car is considered abandoned. Council directed Dinn to seek legal advice on appropriate next steps.
Town staff undertook research to find the owner, consulted with authorities, and determined the vehicle was abandoned before bringing the matter to council on August 10.
“The vehicle was no longer active and was owned by a person renting in Petty Harbour,” Dinn told council at the time.
Dinn reported the owner said he had sold it to somebody else for parts. She also told council the police will not take action.
The Town posted the 72-hour notice to the vehicle and shared it on social media on August 12. If not removed by the owner, the notice stated it would be towed with all resulting costs coming at the owner’s expense.
