WESTBROOK – A new cab company is ready to drive Westbrook residents around the city – if it can obtain the license.

Abraham Lembarra’s application to operate a cab company, M.A. Taxi, will be in front of the City Council on March 4 for a public hearing and license approval.

“We have to go through the committee. If everything is fine, I will have a license,” Lembarra said.

Lembarra said his company has been in business for seven years and runs seven cabs in Portland, but is looking to expand his fleet of Lincoln town cars and mini vans by adding five new vehicles, including one specifically for Westbrook.

The cab company is also one of the few that takes credit cards. Rates are set by the city, $1.90 for the first tenth of a mile and 30 cents per each additional tenth of a mile, with no additional charges for the mini van.

Lembarra said if he does get a license, his plan would be to have cabs located at different corners of town, with the first spot by Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street.

Eventually, Lembarra hopes to operate multiple cabs in the city limits and even help the local business community by installing a small light-up billboard for advertisements on top of his cabs, like the ones in bigger cities.

“People see cabs all the time and usually read what’s written on them,” Lembarra said.

According to Lynda Adams, city clerk, taxis based in other cities that do not have a license to operate in Westbrook are allowed to drop off or pick up inside the city, but they can’t have round-trip fares.

The only other taxi business that is licensed inside the city limits is Westbrook Taxi. The company has been in operation for seven years.

“Westbrook’s not Portland, it’s not as easy as they think it’s going to be,” said Scott Anderson, a manager with Westbrook Taxi.

He said they don’t take credit or debit cards, but they do take care of their clients.

“Sometimes people are short and we’re usually really good about that,” said Anderson, who described times when customers would call for a cab going to Portland, usually around a $20 fare, but the customer would be a few dollars short and the drivers would deliver them to their destination anyway.

Westbrook Taxi owner Norma Bridges said she does have concerns a new cab company will hurt her business.

“I just think it takes away from my drivers who have been out here for years,” said Bridges, who has six drivers operating in Westbrook.