Brownsville council discusses illegal dumping
BROWNSVILLE — St. Mary’s Cemetery continues to be a sore spot for illegal dumping in the borough, and council members indicated they are willing to discuss options on how to address it.
Speaking on behalf of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Brownsville, Shannon Sealy reiterated the importance of addressing the issue. A caretaker is maintaining the property now, she said, but she feels it shouldn’t be their sole responsibility.
“I waste hundreds of dollars of paying a private caretaker to remove trash and take care of that cemetery, and I don’t think it is my sole responsibility as a business manager for the church to be responsible for that,” Sealy said at Tuesday’s council meeting.
License plate numbers and the description of vehicles suspected of illegal dumping are helpful in issuing citations to the guilty parties, council President Jack Lawver said. Because it is on private property, the borough is restricted with what action it can take unless people are willing to report the illegal activity. Witnesses also are instrumental when it comes to prosecuting guilty parties, he added.
“It’s an ongoing problem,” Lawver said. “It’s an aggravating problem.”
Councilwoman Tracy Sheehan Zivkovich offered to have a discussion with Sealy and anyone else who wants to be involved to see what steps can be taken.
“We got to have the conversation and have the right people at the table,” Zivkovich said.
In other business, the proper procedure for filing a complaint against the police department was explained. Only when a complaint is signed in front of the police chief will it be considered a formal complaint, according to Mayor Lester Ward. he said he is aware of one complaint since last month’s council meeting.
A few residents, including William Lewis, questioned the procedure to ensure they were taking the correct steps. Anyone who files a complaint will receive a letter detailing the findings from the investigation, Ward said.
Having filed complaints in the past, resident Tyrone Smith said he doesn’t feel he has received the proper attention for his complaint.
“I would not keep coming here month after month if these things hadn’t happened to me,” Smith said. “Until I feel I have justice, I will continue to come.”
Also dissatisfied, Albert DeSalvo offered to pay for a lie detector test for Ward and the police department to take, which Ward declined.
In other matters, council:
n Explained the borough’s burning ordinance permits burning on Saturdays from dawn to dusk. Neighbors are encouraged to report any burning that may be offensive, according to Lawver. Fire departments are likely to visit a residence following a complaint of that kind, and the police department will be notified if the fire isn’t extinguished.
n Announced the Halloween parade will be held at noon Saturday, Oct. 26. Lineup will be at 11:30 a.m behind Bill Brown Electric on Brownsville Avenue and the parade will end at the South Brownsville fire hall. Trick- or-treating is set for 2-4 p.m. that day.