Holyrood approves boardwalk vendor over mayor’s objection

By Mark Squibb

Holyrood Mayor Gary Goobie this week voted against a food vendor licence for a hot dog stand on the beach, citing concerns about pedestrian safety.
He was the lone member of council to do so.

The application was for a hot dog and drink stand to be situated near the boardwalk, similar to a hot dog cart that was stationed near the boardwalk some summers ago.

Deputy Mayor Michelle Woodford moved that the application be approved, provided the vendor supply the Town with a copy of a Service NL food vendor license. Councillor Sadie King seconded the motion.

Mayor Goobie quicky made his objection known.

“I’ve been struggling with this application, and I’m not going to support it tonight simply because the volume of traffic at the boardwalk area, particularly on the weekends, is incredible,” said Goobie. “There’s not a lot of room there, and I’m noticing cars even now having difficulty trying to get in and out. There’s a tremendous amount of traffic in that area on the weekends when the weather is nice. We have before discussed even an alternative parking place, because of the vehicles coming down over the big hill and