Date: Fri 23-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

council-anti-littering

Full Text:

Council Approves Anti-Littering Ordinance

BY KAAREN VALENTA

Legislative Council Wednesday evening unanimously approved an anti-litter

ordinance after a public hearing in which several residents strongly urged its

enactment.

"I've tried for 10 years to clean up Washington Avenue with very little

success," said Robert Qubick, who lives at 21 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook.

"I am strongly in favor of this ordinance."

"My wife and I are new residents as of last November and we are appalled at

the amount of litter on High Bridge and Swamp roads where we often walk with

our baby. There is too much [litter] for us to pick up," complained Robert

Katrinak of 5 Avalon Way.

The new ordinance, which takes effect in 15 days after publication, is

designed to fill the gaps left by a state anti-litter ordinance which covers

state property and state roads only. That state statute does not deal with

local roads or municipal property, and, according to many residents, is not

enough of a deterrent for would-be litterbugs.

Newtown's ordinance covers everything from illegal dumping to providing enough

trash receptacles in commercial parking lots. It seeks to control debris from

garbage trucks and mud deposited on the streets by the tires of vehicles

emerging from construction sites.

"Contractors already are required to have an area of trap rock to catch the

mud before it is deposited on the streets," Ordinance Committee Chairman Will

Rodgers explained. "This [ordinance] piggybacks on the Planning & Zoning

regulations."

Although the police department would be the primary enforcement agency, the

ordinance also empowers the town's P&Z and building department officials to

cite violations.

"I'm very much in favor of this ordinance," First Selectman Herb Rosenthal

said during the hearing. "Quite frequently I get complaints from residents. I

have spoken to P&Z and building officials. Now they have some ability to

insist that contractors keep their sites clean. Some of (the contractors) are

very poor at doing it."

Residents also can file complaints about littering. Forms will be available in

the town clerk's office next month. Complaints will be forwarded to the police

department for action, Mr Rodgers said.

In addition to public property, the ordinance also seeks to protect bodies of

water, private property, and vacant property. Simple littering will cost

violators $90 for each day of the offense, payable to the Board of Selectmen.

The ordinance was requested three years ago by residents of New Lebbon Road

who had become fed up with the illegal dumping that took place along their

road. Dumping is a major component of the proposed ordinance and dumping

violators will incur an addition fine of as much as $500.

If property owners do not comply with orders to clean up litter, the town will

have the authority to clean it up and send the bill, with an eight percent

interest charge, to the owner.

According to the proposed ordinance, the selectmen are empowered to appoint a

litter enforcement agent who will carry out the provisions of the ordinance,

but Mr Rodgers said there is no intent at this time that such a person would

be hired.