Aspinwall extends garbage contract, appoints new zoning board members

Aspinwall has extended its garbage collection contract with Shank Waste as it pursues other contract and vendor options.

Council voted to approve the extension with the Lower Burrell-based hauler on May 8.

The contract now runs through June 30.

The borough was in its final year of a three-year contract with two optional years, and it was set to expire May 31.

Borough Manager Melissa Lang O’Malley said the extension was necessary to keep service as the borough seeks bids for a new contract.

The current one is for weekly unlimited collection with residents paying $24.62 per month for the service. Billing is handled by the garbage company.

O’Malley said there have been no problems with Shank Waste’s service.

“They’ve been easy to work with,” she said. “We want to get the best deal we can.”

Bids are due by June 5 with a contract to be approved at the June 12 meeting.

In other business

• The borough’s zoning hearing board’s new members were sworn in to their new roles by Mayor Joseph Noro.

The new members are Dave Weber, Beth Murdock and Patti McCaffrey. Their terms expire January 2028.

• Council approved a $40,000 contribution to Foxwall EMS.

This is in addition to the already budgeted $41,000 bringing this year’s total donation to the borough’s official ambulance service provider to $81,000.

• Aspinwall farmers markets have begun.

They are organized by Freedom Farms and scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays in the municipal lot along Commercial Avenue.

Market vendors earlier this year included Kyle’s Cakes N’at, Hart Warming Candles, Polska Laska, Keystone Cultures, Oakmont Olive Oil Co., Yovi food truck, Lolev Brewery and By the Wayside Coffee.

More information is available on the borough’s Facebook page.