Village To Tighten Law To Clean Up Main Street

Westhampton Beach officials are poised to ensure that Westhampton Beach's main street garbage cans stay free of residential garbage, by revamping existing legislation.

According to Paul Houlihan, the village's building and zoning administrator, the town's current littering ordinance does not provide a definition of residential garbage, preventing the village from policing the dumping of residential trash in Main Street cans.

Houlihan says there have been a number of instances where garbage cans on Main Street were overflowing with garbage other than ice cream wrappers and food wrappers.  The same is true at the village's marina.

"There have been complaints by business owners of residential household garbage going into public cans," said Houlihan.

Trustee Hank Tucker surmises the trash is coming from summer renters.

To remedy the issue, the village is expected to add a definition of residential garbage to chapter 103 of the village code at it's next meeting. The definition will include verbiage that states that residential garbage is trash that originates from private homes.

Under the ordinance, the village can fine violators up to $250 for littering.