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Pawtucket resident urges action on neighborhood rodent problem; council pledges code enforcement check
Summary
At the April 23 Pawtucket City Council meeting, resident Fred Davis reported a yearlong rodent problem in his neighborhood and asked the city to step up enforcement; the council president said he would ask Code Enforcement to focus on the area.
A Pawtucket resident told the City Council on April 23 that a rodent problem in his neighborhood has persisted for at least the past year and that the issue is getting worse.
Fred Davis of Manistee Street said he has hired a private exterminator after rats tried to nest under his shed and said neighboring properties with overgrown yards appear to be providing food and shelter. “It’s gotten to the point where I had to hire an exterminator to come and try and eradicate the problem,” Davis said during the public-input portion of the meeting.
Council President Mercier responded that the matter falls to the city’s Code Enforcement division and that he would speak with staff and ask them to concentrate enforcement efforts in the areas Davis named — Greenlane, Manistee and Gloria streets. “I will speak to Code Enforcement and ask them to concentrate on that area,” Mercier said.
Why it matters: Persistent rodent problems can pose health and sanitation risks and often reflect gaps in property maintenance or enforcement. Davis said he thinks the problem is spreading and urged the city to be more diligent about policing properties that provide cover and food for rodents.
What was said and what happens next: Davis described signs of nesting near his yard, the limits he encountered with private bait boxes and confusion over whether city crews could place bait boxes. Mercier said he would notify Code Enforcement and asked staff to pay special attention to the blocks Davis identified. The council did not vote on a formal action; the meeting record shows the exchange took place during the public-input segment and concluded with the president’s pledge to follow up.
Background and context: Members of the public raised similar concerns about property maintenance and neighborhood services in prior council meetings. At this session, Davis identified the problem as ongoing for about a year; he did not provide a citywide count or an exact list of affected properties. The city’s Code Enforcement office enforces property-maintenance and nuisance standards under the Pawtucket Code of Ordinances and handles complaints about overgrown lots and refuse that can attract pests.
The council did not set a date for a staff report. Residents seeking action on similar problems were advised at the meeting to file complaints with Code Enforcement so staff can inspect and document violations.
