Westminster Common Council Moves Closer to Approving Recycling Bins on Main Street

With council members Damian Halstad and Robert Wack on vacation, the 29-minute Common Council meeting focused on recycling cans on Main Street and three proposed business expansion projects.

Council member Dennis Frazier revisited the idea of placing recycling bins on Main Street. He said that since the last meeting, he has done some research and found that other towns, using the same trash cans that Westminster does, have found an aesthetically pleasing way to add recycling bins to the landscape.

Council member Tony Chiavacci said he favored the recycling bins and asked Public Works Director Jeffrey Glass to find out the cost of both purchasing the bins and emptying the bins.

“I just want to make sure it’s in the budget,” said Mayor Kevin Utz.

Steve Horn, interim director of Planning, Zoning and Development, gave the first council meeting presentation on the new 50-inch tv installed in the corner of the room.

“With this new technology, we can at least graphically represent what is happening in the city,” Horn said as he pulled up a Powerpoint presentation to show three business proposed expansion projects in Westminster.

One is at Goodwill Industries, which will be completing a “beautification project” to its facility on Rt. 140. Horn said the drop off pad will be relocated to the other side of the building (next to the BB&T) and a canopy will be added. Additionally, four new loading docks will be added and the traffic circulation will be changed accordingly. Drivers will no longer be able to exit that parking lot back onto Rt. 140. 

Taco Bell will also be undergoing a transformation that will include expanding to increase the number of seats and adding a drive through. Horn said the restaurant, located at Rt. 140 and Rt. 97, will close for some time as the renovations are completed.

Giant will be adding a 4,148 square foot gas station to the parking lot of its store on Rt. 140 and Center Street. According to Horn, there will be four fuel pumps and an attendant kiosk.