The city’s new trash ordinance that went into effect earlier this month has found a large percentage of residents not in compliance, but with tickets now being issued, it’s expected that more and more people will “get the message” and start complying.
Catinazzo, who is coordinating enforcement of the ordinance for the city, reports that most non-compliant residents are guilty of not using “rodent proof” bags when they leave their trash for collection on the sidewalk curb.
Catinazzo reports that so far this month, the city has hit violators with approximately $9,000 in ticket fines.
He said he believes that a higher level of compliance can be achieved more quickly if the trash collection company would begin to refuse to take trash left out in illegal bags.
At this week’s city council session, the executive director of the Revere Housing Authority (RHA) conferred with councillors about trash problems in the city’s public housing projects.
Catinazzo identified the RHA project areas as being the worst for trash violations in the entire city, contending that their trash has created rodent situations in areas that never before had any such problems in the past, especially in the Sargent Street neighborhood.
Linda Shaw, the RHA chief, said she was upset by public criticism of the housing authority from some council members over the trash issue when she wasn’t even in attendance to defend the RHA.
On the opposite side of the coin, remarks Shaw reportedly made last week in The Revere Journal – calling the new trash law an “unfunded mandate” – rubbed more than one member of the council the wrong way.
Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto was one of those who took exception to Shaw’s “unfunded mandate” comment. He maintained that the new law was enacted to combat the city’s ongoing battle with rodent problems.
Zambuto said Shaw’s unfunded mandate remark “is offensive to me and the taxpayers of Revere”.
Shaw said she was offended herself when the councillors chose to criticize the RHA without first meeting with her to discuss the matter face-to-face.
But she added that the RHA is now better informed about the new trash law. Originally, she thought that residents needed rodent proof bags stored in a barrel with a cover, and she misinformed her tenants about that, which caused many unnecessary complaints being registered at city hall.
Ward Five Councillor John Powers said Shaw could help straighten things out by sending a copy of the law to all her tenants. He also called for the city to include a copy of the law with the next water bills that are sent out to property owners.
Saying she now has a clearer understanding of the law; Shaw said the RHA will strive to work more cooperatively with the city from now on.