Possible Saugus rat infestation source to be moved

SAUGUS – The Cliftondale Square trash bin that neighbors claim is the source of their rat infestation has not yet been moved, but town officials say it could be soon.Lincoln Court neighbors claimed recently that they have $100,000 worth of property damage from rats because of a trash bin next to their property that is shared by Dunkin? Donuts, Subway and Banana Splitz. In a letter to the business owners, attorney Marc Chapdelaine asked owners to move the bin by June 27, or face possible litigation.Chapdelaine said Wednesday that he had heard from the owners.?They said they are working on it, but the Dumpster is still in place,” said Chapdelaine. “We are waiting to hear from the town as to where they want to put the dumpsters.”Chapdelaine said he heard from another neighbor on Smith Road that the person also had a rat problem that could be traced to the trash bin.Department of Public Health Director Frank Giacalone said Thursday that he had been to the businesses in question and inspected the trash bin but had not yet visited the homes of complaining neighbors. After visiting the trash bin, Giacalone said the area was clean, with no trash or bags on the ground, which made it “difficult to pinpoint” from where the rats were coming. He added that he?s heard complaints from that area of town in the past because rats were attracted to the shrubbery and grass in the area. Giacalone did add that the trash bin in question needed to be repaired because it was not adequately plugged.Giacalone said the town was looking to move it to a more “impervious part of the parking lot.”In the meantime, said Giacalone, Dunkin? Donuts has already made rodent control efforts, and he asked landscapers to trim any grass along the lot?s fence to keep rats away. The neighbors will be asked to keep any water sources, bird feeders and trash covered so as not to encourage more of an infestation.Giacalone said he will be setting up a meeting with the business owners and the neighbors to hear concerns.?I?d like to see residents and businesses work together,” he said. “The owners want to do whatever it takes to work with neighbors to do the right thing.”The meeting may not be soon enough for the neighbors.?They?re angry,” said Chapdelaine of his clients. “The summer is going by, and they are still dealing with this rat problem and the Dumpster is still there.”