The town council of Westover will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 19 to consider adopting the U.S. Highway 280 Overlay District Regulations as recommended by the town’s planning commission.

The council will also hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 3 to consider amending the town’s zoning ordinance as recommended by the planning commission.

The public hearings were set at the council’s regular Tuesday, April 5 meeting.

The planning commission recommended the approval of the U.S. Highway 280 Overlay District Regulations and all official maps pertaining to it.

The commission also noted, &uot;It is necessary to amend the zoning ordinance to ensure the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of the town …&uot; and it is &uot;further necessary to provide specific development standards to steward growth within the U.S. Highway 280 corridor, consistent with the standards of our neighboring communities.&uot;

The council voted to draft resolutions adopting both.

All of the actions were approved unanimously in the absence of Councilmember Susan Wooten.

In another matter, the council approved an amendment to an ordinance on the levying of a privilege, license or excise tax on persons, firms or corporations storing, using, consuming or engaging in the business of selling at retail tangible personal property or conducting places of amusement in the town and providing for the collection of those taxes and penalties for violation of the ordinance.

The council approved annexation petitions for 14 acres from Benjamin Alan Widener, 12 acres from Thomas E. Perkins and Terry L. Perkins, and 57 acres from Kermit W. and Gwen F. Ingle.

Mary Hedrick, administrative assistant of the Harrison Regional Library, reported that the library to be located at town hall had a total of 634 items.

Mayor Mark McLaughlin reported that the municipalization of the fire department is ongoing. He said the town has learned that tornado sirens and homeland security grants are available through the fire department.

In other actions the council:

* Approved a motion to pay expenses for the mayor, council and clerk to attend the 2005 Alabama League of Municipalities Convention.

* Approved a motion to purchase 500 lapel pins for the town from Key to City at a cost of 90 cents each. The pin will include the town logo, established 1901, Westover on the top and Alabama on the bottom.