A law established last summer that requires garbage to be stored in sealed containers has helped stabilize Hoboken’s rat problem, but two councilmembers say their constituents are paying the price with expensive tickets for minor slip-ups.
An ordinance, sponsored by Council President Jen Giattino and Councilman Ruben Ramos up for introduction Wednesday, would reduce the penalties for violating the rules for garbage and recycling to either a warning or half of the current, steep fines.
“I definitely see a lot of complaints about the original ordinance and the way it was being administered,” Ramos said. “I think a lot of things that we pass have unintended consequences, (and) we’re trying to address (them).”
The ordinance passed by the council last year requires all city properties to store trash in sealed containers with properly fitting lids, part of an effort to contain the city’s rat population.
Currently, those who are convicted or plead guilty in municipal court to such actions would be fined $250 on the first offense; $500 on the second offense; and $1,000 on the third and subsequent offenses.
Under the new proposal, first offenses will result in only a warning. Recycling violations would result in a $200 fine on second offense and a $400 fine on third/subsequent offenses; doing the same for garbage would lead to a $300 fine on second offense and a $500 fine on third/subsequent offenses.
City rules states that placing garbage containers outside for collection before 7:30 p.m. is prohibited. Addresses on Washington Street are also prohibited from leaving containers outside before 9 p.m.
Other garbage/recycling violations include accumulating garbage on the sidewalk next to private properties, discarding food in public or private properties or sweeping litter from buildings or lots into a public space.
Ramos and Giattino said that some residents have been unfairly fined for garbage left on their properties by neighbors. Then there is the hassle of having to appear in municipal court. Giattino recounted going to court with a constituent ticketed for violations to experience it for herself.
“She got a ticket because her neighbor put their garbage out too early, but they put the garbage can in front of her house,” Giattino said. “Although the address on garbage can was her neighbor’s, she was the one who (got) the ticket. Why should someone have to go to court for that? That’s insane to me.”
The councilmembers added that they see the garbage container ordinance as a positive contribution in the city’s fight against the rats. Giattino said she thinks the current penalties are a “money grab,” while Ramos doesn’t want it to become a “gotcha.”
Hoboken spokeswoman Marilyn Baer said that Mayor Ravi Bhalla “looks forward to reviewing the proposed ordinance amendments and hearing feedback from the community to ensure rodent mitigation efforts and connected quality of life improvements are not adversely impacted.”
