City nabbing illegal dumpers; OK is sought to continue fines.Byline: Nick Kotsopoulos WORCESTER - The city wants to make permanent a pilot program that has allowed it to prosecute To follow through; to commence and continue an action or judicial proceeding to its ultimate conclusion. To proceed against a defendant by charging that person with a crime and bringing him or her to trial. several illegal dumpers and collect more than $5,000 in court judgments. Through the pilot program, which has been in place since 2005, the city has had several successful prosecutions and obtained permanent injunctions permanent injunction n. a final order of a court that a person or entity refrain from certain activities permanently or take certain actions (usually to correct a nuisance) until completed. against those violators from any future dumping within city limits. A key component of the program, which expired Dec. 31, has been using surveillance cameras, allowing the city to obtain video proof of those involved in illegal dumping, as well license plate numbers. Because of the success of the program, City Manager Michael V
Michael V the Caulker or Kalaphates (Greek: Μιχαήλ Ε΄ Καλαφάτης, . O'Brien is seeking permission from the City Council to file legislation that would make permanent Chapter 117 of the Acts of 2005, which allows the city to establish fines and penalties for illegal dumping and also permit it to retain the revenues from those fines to pay for more enforcement. Before the pilot program, fines for illegal dumping were set by the state and the city did not receive any money from them. Half of the fines collected were deposited in a state conservation trust fund, while the other half went into the state's general fund. Through the pilot program, the city has brought six illegal dumping cases to the Worcester Housing Court. The city prevailed in each, winning monetary judgments and permanent injunctions against the violators. So far, the city has received slightly more than $5,000 in judgments in those cases. The city won an additional judgment of $1,970 but has been unable to collect it because of an individual's financial situation, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. city officials. "The collected money provides a source of funds, instead of tax levy funds, to continue the fight against illegal dumping," said Robert L. Moylan Jr., commissioner of public works The Commissioner of Public Works heads one of the departments in those local governments in New Jersey that operate under the Walsh Act form of municipal governance. This is a standalone position in Walsh Act municipalities with a five-member commission. and parks. "We have found this to be a valuable tool to use in prosecuting illegal dumping cases." Under the pilot program, the city has been able to fine up to three times the amount of cleanup costs through civil cases. If the city pursues a criminal case, the punishment is a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 and/or imprisonment Imprisonment See also Isolation. Alcatraz Island former federal maximum security penitentiary, near San Francisco; “escapeproof.” [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 218] Altmark, the German prison ship in World War II. [Br. Hist. for up to seven days. The city has been able to prosecute cases of illegal dumping on or within 60 feet of any public or private way. Mr. Moylan said the pilot program has been very well-received by Judge Timothy F. Sullivan and Judge Diana H. Horan, of the Worcester Housing Court. Mr. Moylan said, "The types of items that are dumped are usually bulky bulk·y adj. bulk·i·er, bulk·i·est 1. Having considerable bulk; massive. 2. Of large size for its weight: a bulky knit. 3. Clumsy to manage; unwieldy. items such as couches, televisions and furniture, but can also include bags of trash, building and remodeling remodeling /re·mod·el·ing/ (re-mod´el-ing) reorganization or renovation of an old structure. bone remodeling debris. "The Department of Public Works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. and Parks has found this to be a valuable tool to use in prosecuting illegal dumping cases. (We) strongly recommend the permanent establishment of this law." |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion