Committee forwards resolution to raise dumping fines after residents detail chronic littering, illegal use at Copacat Reservoir

The City Council Committee on Health and Environmental Affairs on Feb. 18 heard residents and city staff describe chronic littering, illegal dumping and late‑night activity in the Copacat neighborhood and voted to file a resolution to revisit illegal‑dumping penalties and to send a letter to the traffic commission about parking hazards near Blossom Road.

The discussion drew residents who said they routinely collect mattresses, construction debris, tires and other waste near the Copacat Reservoir and nearby trails, and city staff who said enforcement and access constraints have limited the city’s response. Committee members voted to forward a resolution asking the ordinance committee to reexamine dumping fines, to send a letter to the traffic commission about parking where buses are blocked, and to table further measures until the public safety committee reviews related enforcement and access issues.

Why it matters: residents said the dumped materials threaten the reservoir shoreline, complicate vehicle and emergency access and create recurring cleanup costs for the city. Committee members said stronger enforcement, clearer fines and better coordination with state and utility partners will be needed if public access increases during upcoming utility work.

Sarah Riley, identified as a resident and volunteer who organizes cleanups, told the committee she collects ‘‘mattresses … truckloads of garbage with toilets in them and plumbing supplies and construction debris’’ and that she also retrieves tires and spent fishing gear from the water and woods. ‘‘I’m not a policy maker. I’m just a volunteer. I clean up garbage. I chase off the dumpers. I coordinate with my EPOs,’’ Riley said.

Michael LaBosse, the city watershed forester, told the committee that some of the waste is ‘‘legacy trash’’ dating back decades—sand and gravel operations and pre‑reservoir activity—and that opening cleared shorelines could attract more users and more litter. ‘‘When National Grid clears up to 500 feet along the water … we’re gonna have more of the littering, more of the use, more of the dumping,’’ LaBosse said, noting National Grid has a replanting plan but that increased public access can damage new plantings.

City staff said enforcement resources have been limited but are increasing. ‘‘The city does currently have two environmental police officers,’’ said a city staff member who reported that one officer is now in the police academy and two more are scheduled for academy training in April, which would bring the department to a five‑officer complement if all complete training. The staff member said the staffing increase could be fully in place by the summer and would be used to evaluate whether enforcement is reducing dumping and other illegal activity.

Committee members and staff also reported other enforcement and response constraints: the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife regulates fishing and hunting on state lands and has limited patrols in the area; many of the unpaved roads beyond the last residence are difficult for standard patrol cars to access; and the Department of Conservation and Recreation responds to large forest fires because its vehicles are designed for off‑road response. City staff said the Department of Community Maintenance (DCM) will assist with removal of large items when needed but that a city policy requiring construction debris to be taken to authorized disposal facilities (including costs and distance to New Bedford) creates a perverse incentive to dump illegally.

The committee recorded several near‑term actions: a motion to file a committee resolution asking the ordinance committee to review and revise Illegal dumping penalties was made, seconded and approved; a motion to send a letter to the Traffic Commission documenting parking locations that impede school buses (the triangle around Blossom, Indiantown and Yellow Hill was cited) was made, seconded and approved; and a separate motion to table additional action until the Public Safety Committee reviews related enforcement and access issues was made, seconded and approved. Committee members said minutes from the meeting and the resolution will also be shared with the Public Safety Committee.

Members discussed non‑enforcement options as well. City operations staff and councilors described agreements with National Grid to install cameras in some locations and suggested the utility has signed paperwork with the police department to support camera monitoring. Staff also raised an idea from the Department of Community Utilities to create an on‑site ranger or outreach educator who could engage visitors, support environmental education and reduce misuse through presence and information.

Council and staff acknowledged tradeoffs: some long‑time neighbors opposed gating roads because they said regular lawful use by hikers, hunters and other visitors provides ‘‘eyes and ears’’ that can deter criminal activity; others said limited off‑road access prevents police cars from reaching remote areas. Committee members said road maintenance, off‑road vehicles for first responders and cost of equipment would compete with other city priorities.

The committee did not adopt a new ordinance at the meeting. Instead it approved filing a resolution to send the dumping‑fine issue to the ordinance committee, directed staff to prepare a traffic letter for the Traffic Commission, and tabled further committee action pending the Public Safety Committee’s review. The committee chair said the notes and resolution will be forwarded to Public Safety for further consideration.