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North Providence resident raises concerns about dumping near Knights of Columbus; council refers matter to ordinance committee
Summary
Resident reported large locked white bags dumped in woods near a schoolyard adjacent to the Knights of Columbus; the council asked staff and police for follow‑up and referred a possible anti‑dumping ordinance to the ordinance committee.
Kathleen Ayoze told the North Providence Town Council on May 6 that she found large sealed white bags placed in the woods near the Knights of Columbus and a nearby schoolyard on Bassett Street. Ayoze said she saw a man in the woods filling the bags and later photographed the secured bags but did not wait for the police to complete their response.
Ayoze told the council she is concerned the bags could contain hazardous material because they were placed near an area used by children. Lieutenant Guindon and Mayor Charles A. Lombardi said the town would follow up with the police department and investigate ownership of the parcel; Lombardi noted power lines run through the lot and that Rhode Island Energy owns portions of the land used for utility access.
Councilman Martone moved to refer the complaint and the concept of strengthening a dumping ordinance to the ordinance committee; the motion received a second and passed. The council said town staff and the police department would be asked to examine the evidence and report back; Ayoze provided photos to the lieutenant after the meeting.
What happened: A resident complaint about possible illegal dumping prompted immediate police follow‑up and a council referral to the ordinance committee to consider creating or strengthening anti‑dumping penalties.
What remains open: The contents of the bags were not determined in the council meeting. The property owner was discussed as possibly being Rhode Island Energy, but ownership was not fully resolved on the record and the police department will continue the investigation.
Quotes: “We have special needs kids that play in that school yard. I have no idea what’s in those bags,” Kathleen Ayoze said. Councilman Martone asked that the matter be sent to the ordinance committee for possible revision of the town’s dumping penalties.
Ending: The council voted to send the matter to the ordinance committee and asked the police to investigate; staff and the committee will report back at a future meeting.
