Council attempts to combat derelict donation dropboxes in East Providence

Amended ordinance would put requirements on both structure and property owners

By Mike Rego
Posted 1/21/21

EAST PROVIDENCE — In an attempt to combat a persistent nuisance of overflowing donation boxes across the city, the council at its January 19 meeting gave the first of two necessary passages to …

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Council attempts to combat derelict donation dropboxes in East Providence

Amended ordinance would put requirements on both structure and property owners

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — In an attempt to combat a persistent nuisance of overflowing donation boxes across the city, the council at its January 19 meeting gave the first of two necessary passages to a revised “Health and Safety” ordinance regulating the structures.

Co-sponsored by Council President/Ward 1 member Bobby Britto and At-Large Councilor Bob Rodericks, the law would clearly define the responsibilities for both the owners of the boxes, which typically are tied to some non-profit endeavor, and those who own the land upon where they are placed.

In introducing the amendment, Mr. Britto mentioned the recent placement of such a box in the Agawam/Mutter Athletic Complex parking lot off Pawtucket Avenue. Later in the discussion, City Solicitor Michael Marcello noted it is already illegal to have an unattended box on city property without approval.

Mr. Britto said the boxes become a problem because they are filled quickly. Donations then typically are left outside the structure and, in his words, the area around them “become dumping grounds.”

“People put them on the side and they keep accumulating bag after bag after bag,” Mr. Britto added, calling the resulting piles an “eye sore” to the neighborhood.

Among the key new requirements for having an approved structure are: unattended donation boxes shall be maintained in good condition and appearance with no structural damage, holes, or visible rust, and shall be free of graffiti; unattended donation boxes shall be locked or otherwise secured; and unattended donation boxes shall contain the following contact information in two inch type visible from the front of each unattended donation box: the name, address, email, and phone number of both the permittee and operator.

To have a lawful dropbox, parties will have to have a permit, costing $50 and including a $100 refundable deposit. Other pertinent aspects of that process include: a permit issued under this article shall be valid for one year and renewable for one‐year periods thereafter; the applicant has submitted a complete and accurate application accompanied by the applicable fee; the operator who will maintain or operate the unattended donation box is qualified to solicit donations of salvageable personal property pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws as amended; and the proposed location and placement of the unattended donation box on the property
owner’s real property is in compliance with all applicable laws and will not impede pedestrian, bicycle, site distances onto adjacent streets or vehicular traffic.

The ordinance also includes the following schedule of fines: first offense loss of the $100 deposit then another $100 for each subsequent violation, plus any cost incurred by the city for cleanup if needed; and if a permittee is found to have willfully violated or ignored the provisions of this article, or is found to have perpetrated fraud regarding the operation and use of the collection bin, the permittee shall be fined and will be deemed ineligible to place, use or employ a collection bin pursuant to this article, and may have any or all bins removed by the city.

In expressing her support for the proposal, Ward 2 Councilor Anna Sousa said having an ordinance of this kind was “a good tool for accountability” of the parties involved.

“It’s important to hold someone monetarily responsible because when they have to pay they usually change their behavior,” Councilor Sousa added.

The amended ordinance will soon be placed on the agenda of future City Council for second and final passage upon which date it will become law. That could happen as soon as the next scheduled meeting of the body set for Tuesday, Feb. 2.

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