Sewer hike finalized in seven-minute meeting

Westminster completed the process last night to pass onto its retail customers a 20% sewer charge increase by a city council 4-0 vote in favor.  The vote came during a meeting that the mayor timed out at seven minutes, making the get together one of the shortest in memory for a group of city fathers who’ve been embroiled in one controversy after another going back several months.  The city’s elected officials, on recommendation from their administrator, have deemed a mid-government year sewer increase financially necessary to deflect an identical increase passed down by the three-city sewer authority.  The Joint Regional Sewer Authority, to help pay for millions of dollars’ worth of system repairs and projects, is trying to enhance its financial standings to qualify for loans and grants.