City to consider toughening garbage regulations

The city of Avon will consider increasing penalties for the improper storage and disposal of garbage.

In a June 5 work session, the city agreed to send an ordinance to increase penalties for residents back to committee for further study.

Avon Law Director John Gasior said he rewrote the penalty section of the amended ordinance to reflect increased penalties to property owners who keep garbage containers on their premises in public view from the street or adjacent properties.

The issue stems from a March 2016 service committee meeting following numerous complaints from residents about the problem.

“I think what we wanted to do was make it clear,” Gasior said. “We didn’t want the containers to be seen from the street.”

Avon wants to reduce the visibility of garbage containers on property in addition to discouraging home owners from placing them in areas which could block sidewalks or other public thoroughfares.

The ordinance also would prohibit residents from placing garbage containers or bulk trash outside for collection before 6 p.m. on the evening before the collection date.

The proposal would allow for penalties up to a fourthdegree misdemeanor, which could include a sentence of up to 30 days in jail.

A citation would be the city’s last resort following multiple verbal and written warnings and fines before taking the step of seeking to impose jail time, Gasior said.

Fines most likely would be minimal and believes it is good policing to have the extra incentive of a jail term built into law, he said.

“I can’t imagine the ultimate sanction being imposed,” Gasior said. “But it’s always good to let someone know that that’s a possibility.”

Council agreed to send the proposed changes back to the service committee for further review.

Avon Ward 2 Councilman Dennis McBride agreed with the changes and was ready to see the legislation move forward without further review from committee.

“If you’re worried about prison terms, it’s most likely not going to happen,” McBride said. “And if you’re worried about that, if you don’t cut your grass or if you have building code violations or you have housing violations, those all carry fines and then days in jail.”