Cranston officials vow stronger enforcement after months-long rodent complaints at Poplar Drive apartments

Council members pressed city inspectors and Public Works officials on Sept. 11 about lingering rat infestations and damaged dumpsters at a multi-building apartment property on Poplar Drive and Midway Avenue, saying repeated complaints have gone unresolved for months.

Inspector Anna Marie Marchetti and Public Works Director Frank Correo told the council that the property management company has hired a licensed pest-control contractor, has set bait boxes and has been asked for documentation of treatment. Marchetti said inspectors have visited the site several times and found multiple burrows in concentrated areas — notably near dumpster locations and a mid-block area that abuts the Washington Secondary Cranston Bike Path.

Council members and the mayor described visible holes and damaged, plastic dumpsters that allowed rodents to access refuse. Councilman Bonanno and Council President Wall urged swifter enforcement, saying the city’s current process — notice, reinspection and municipal-court referral — has moved too slowly for commercial properties that continue to attract rodents. Wall proposed strengthening penalties in the municipal code so fines accrue daily and escalate to municipal-court hearings if conditions are not corrected.

Inspector Marchetti said the property had been cited for infestation and for defective dumpster enclosures; management reported a purchase order to replace a damaged receptacle, but officials said delivery and replacement timing was unclear. Director Correo said the city could consider an ordinance requiring more durable commercial dumpsters; he noted many businesses use lower-cost composite containers and suggested a new ordinance could require sturdier materials.

Council members discussed practical enforcement steps: setting explicit compliance deadlines tied to inspections, escalating to municipal court when deadlines are missed, and exploring stronger civil penalties for commercial property owners who fail to abate conditions that sustain rodent populations. A proposed ordinance (agenda item 8-25-02) to revise fines and enforcement language was introduced by Council President Wall and discussed at length; the committee moved to continue that ordinance to allow staff and the city solicitor to refine definitions and enforcement mechanics.

Council members emphasized that inspection and pest-control efforts must be coordinated with clearer timelines and stronger penalties for noncompliant owners, especially commercial landlords. Inspector Marchetti said the department is documenting treatments and following up; the council asked administration staff to bring clarified enforcement language and implementation logistics to the next ordinance meeting.

No municipal-court penalties were imposed at the Sept. 11 meeting. The council directed staff to return with revised ordinance language and administrative procedures aimed at faster compliance and clearer assignment of enforcement responsibility.