DPW employee Brett Mussenden
shoots area where trash violation has been pinpointed.
KEARNY –
The Town of Kearny is sending out spies to capture evidence of weekend trash law violations with the aim of keeping its main business streets looking clean.
Actually, the “spies” are easy enough to spot.
DPW employees who operate the mechanized sweepers used to rid sidewalks and curbsides of debris are on the watch for prematurely placed items and deploy cameras acquired by the Health Department to document the infractions.
As detailed by town ordinance, “On a commercial street, no refuse or garbage shall be placed on the street from 10 a.m. on Saturday through 5 p.m. on Sunday.” The same restriction holds true on holidays.
“Commercial street” is defined by the ordinance as the following: “Kearny Ave., Midland Ave. from Kearny to Davis Aves. and Elm St. from Midland Ave. north to the existing railroad tracks.”
Residents and business owners are reminded that in connection with trash pickups made on weekdays, no trash receptacles may be placed at curbside earlier than six hours prior to designated collection times and empty receptacles must be removed from curbside not later than four hours after collections, as prescribed by the same ordinance.
For the past couple of weeks, the town has been sending warning notices but soon it will be giving tickets, according to Health Director Kenneth Pincus.
“My goal is to clean up the garbage on the street,” Pincus said. “If that means issuing violations, that’s unfortunate but since I don’t have the manpower to clean 24/7, I have no choice.”
And, Pincus said, if a summons is written, it will be served upon the owner of the property where a violation occurs, as provided under a newly adopted ordinance. “It’s easier for us to enforce the law this way,” Pincus said. “It just makes sense.”
Aside from aesthetic considerations, there are plenty of health-related reasons to justify the crackdown, Pincus said. Leaving trash out exposed – even if the stuff is in leakproof containers or securely tied heavy duty plastic bags – can “lead to harborages for animals, disease from birds, not to mention that it smells, leaks and attracts nuisances,” he noted.
A few weekends ago, his department delivered 12 warning notices, with photos attached, reflecting violations stretching along virtually the entire stretch of Kearny Ave., from Johnston Ave. to the Belleville Pike, he said.
Once enforcement starts and summonses are issued to violators, offending property owners will have to show up in Kearny Municipal Court where, according to Pincus, if found guilty, they can face fines ranging from $100 up to $2,000, at the discretion of the judge, or up to 90 days of community service.
Pincus said he would prefer to see compliance with the law instead of people paying penalties. “I just want to make the town presentable,” he added.
– Ron Leir
