Mayor Pat Patterson told the Oxford Board of Aldermen Tuesday that he is considering proposing a moratorium on new taxicab companies opening in Oxford.

“We’ve got 30-plus cab companies and more than 150 drivers,” Patterson told the EAGLE Wednesday. “That’s just about as much as we can manage right now. It’s becoming a safety issue and I think we need to get a better handle on this.”

Patterson said he’s still working on the wording of the resolution for the moratorium and is planning to present it to the aldermen during the Sept. 20 meeting.

Patterson said he isn’t sure how long the moratorium would be.

“Six months, maybe a year, I just don’t know yet,” he said. “At least until we can get a better handle on it.”

The moratorium, if passed by the aldermen, would not affect currently permitted cab companies operating in Oxford.

The Board of Aldermen meeting is held at 5 p.m. at City Hall on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Check www.oxfordms.net for meeting agendas.