The City Council will this month embark on a campaign to rid the city of derelict objects which occupy the parapets and reserves.
Scheduled to commence on May 31, the campaign will especially target derelict vehicles abandoned around communities, which the city noted are often used by criminals to pounce on unsuspecting citizens. The Mayor and City Council also pointed out that the practice of keeping these vehicles on public spaces not only damages the shoulders of the road, but provides ideal breeding grounds for rodents and other vectors.
“The Georgetown Mayor and City Council is concerned with the manner in which derelict vehicles are placed on parapets, reserves and other thoroughfares. The Council will commence an aggressive campaign to rid the City of these objectionable structures. Derelict vehicles placed on parapets and reserves pose a serious threat to life and limb since they often block the view of pedestrian and vehicular traffic which can result in accidents,” the Council stated.
The M&CC noted that according to The Municipal and District Councils Act chapter 28.01 section 10 (1), “no person shall leave, place or store, or cause to be left placed, or stored, any vehicle, cart, dray, barrel, box, dust-bin, tree trunk, branch, limb, or other thing upon any street, parapet, pavement or footpath, or in any other way encumber any street, parapet or pavement with any vehicle, car, dray, barrel, box, dust -bin or other things”.
As such, it was noted that it is within the City Engineer’s power to remove any such item, and to obtain from the offender the cost of removal that was incurred by the Town Clerk, in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Anything coming into the possession of the City Engineer…and remaining unclaimed for a period of one month after the date of its removal may be sold or otherwise disposed of by the Council; provided that where it is reasonably necessary to effect a sale or disposal of such things by reason of it being in a dangerous state to the health of human beings, animals or plants or by reason of it being of a perishable nature, the sale or disposal of may be affected at such time as determined by Council,” M&CC pointed out.
The release stated that the Council is in the right to deduct from any proceeds obtained, any expenses it incurred as a result of the removal and sale or disposal of the articles, and any amount in excess of the expenses shall be retained by the Council for a period of three years, and, once not lawfully claimed, be paid into the consolidated fund for public use.
