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28 Rat Infestation The Electronics Center 28 Pleasant Street Northampton, MA 01060 (413) 586-2270 email: ElectronicCTR @aol.com Ernest Mathieu Public Health Administrator Board of Health City Hall Main Street Northampton, Massachusetts March 6, 2004 Dear Mr. Mathieu I am writing to corraborate the fact that there is a rat infestation problem behind my store at 28 Pleasant Street. The problem has been ongoing for some months now and I am glad to see progress in the installation of new trash compactors. I am hopeful that this will eliminate the problem, however I am still concerned that the improper disposal of trash around the compactors by unauthorized individuals will continue without proper enforcement and the rat problem will continue. I think improper disposal is the biigest problem facing this issue. C-1C E • 1\ 11.1:1 L , U March 10, 2004 Ernest Mathieu Public Health Administrator Board of Health City Hall Main Street Northampton, MA 01060 Dear Mr, Mathieu: Our firm rents fifty percent of the building at 30 Pleasant Street, specifically the whole of the second and third floor space. I am writing to notify you of the problems we have encountered due to the serious rat infestation within the building and surrounding areas. Rats infested our garage at the back of the building and destroyed documents to make their bedding. They nested in the walls; tearing insulation, breeding and filling the area with droppings. And there they died. The source of sustenance for the rate population is the overflowing garbage and waste that is routinely found in and around the dumpsters, both in the alley and parking lot areas abutting our building. The inevitable increase in their population lead just as inevitably to the nauseating fumes of their rotting carcasses. We had to move personnel from offices in the back of the building and lost the use of conference space that we are obligated to pay for in our lease agreement, regardless of our ability to use it. The garage had to be emptied and the contents that were not damaged beyond use are now stored miles away, costing this firm hundreds of dollars in rental charges and incalculable inconvenience. I know from conversations with other tenants and the landlord that this problem is not unique to us, nor is the City unaware that rats are a major concern in the downtown area. I also know that departments within the governmental structure are empowered and obligated to act to alleviate the problem and require those contributing to it to cease. Contracting a pest control company has provided a temporary fix. Please do what you must to ensure that violators of the city health regulations comply with dumping ordinances and sanitation standards. Warm weather is just around the corner and the rat population will gladly grow if their food sources remain plentiful. Christopher B. Milne President Gage-Wiley& Co., Inc. Page 1 of 1 lie Mathieu m: Ernie Mathieu it: Tuesday, March 09,2004 5:35 PM 'Karen Bouquillon (wastenot @city.northampton.ma.usy 'Efn hmp @eileenflsh er.com' bject. FW. rats wen, i you please respond or call Jody on this matter and give her an update. We were just talking about this ct the other day. k you Karen. )riginal Message n: Store Northampton [mailto:Efnhmp @eileenfisher.com] ::Tuesday, March 09, 2004 2:55 PM Ernie Mathieu ject. rats • Ernie, ailed you a number of weeks ago to ask about the power source for a trash compactor slated to be installed e Strong Avenue parking lot.The next day I went outside and there were several men out back working on power source. However, since that day no progress seems to have been made in activating the compactor or wing the trash bins that line our alley. ie called Dave Duseau at Duseau Trucking who has the contract for the compactor. We had all hoped that the power source would come the Tong-promised clean-up of the Strong Avenue lot and the alley leading i there to Pleasant Street. He has been unavailable, but hopefully will answer my call tomorrow. at Eileen Fisher share all the concems voiced in Jeff Dwyer's email to you dated March 5th, Spring is just ind the corner,and with warm weather, rats will emerge.Thanks for keeping us up to date with what progress nay expect from the Northampton City parking commission. :erely, Jody Riseman Assistant Manager, Eileen Fisher 3/9/2004 10/2004 ieu Jeff Dwyer jjpdwyer @dwyerogrady.com] Friday, March 05, 2004 3:40 PM Ernie Mathieu Rat infestation in Strong Ave. parking lot hieu ilth Administrator iealth sn, Massachusetts Mathieu: r returning my telephone call last week. I appreciate your quick response. I am rty manager for the Querencia Trust owner of the building located at 26 34 St. in Northampton. and pest control personnel whobuilding service clients within the.downtown Ten informed by p 7 areas in the city are suffering this is apbadl situation and poor public .come >r its shopping and restaurants, se past several months, the tenants in the Querencia Trust ustcproperty,at 26-34 Print pperty St. including Eileen Fisher, The Electronics Center, nda Garden, Arif the Tailor, and Gage Wiley Co. , Inc. have experienced repeated with rats in and around the building. Upon investigation and through consultation uteman Pest Control, I learned that the cause of the rat infestation at the ceptacleps and spilled garbageu around the trash collection lot caused by open Avenue parking collection area, Tits within the building spent large sums of money to remove dead rat carcasses to :er walls and ceilings.and employees of erep unable tot forced at work. In several cases, ie tenant's stores, P neopen closed until the situation could si el cleaning After sanitation)proceduresceiling s and i n open, for d the dead rats removed, exten ?aired before the walls and ceiling could be replaced. Insurance does not ream arse iness owners for their losses. is the y way t control experts explained that eliminating the rat's expensive and onlyowayy inate the rats. Repeated baiting, trappi nsp in the alley which leads from So long as rubbish and spilled garbage remai aroun t St. to the parking lot and spillage the ratsn will continnueh to havet a r food supplyr. They a rot is allowed to accumulate, T exert., reinfest the building and other properties in and around the Strong Avenue I lot, and the costly cycle will continue. sou make a sincere effort to monitor the condition of both the alley and the area ading the trash collection area in the Strong Ave. parking lot to keep it free of Lating rubbish and garbage? I understand onsibilityI ordthet understand that parking lots rests with the City's parking rking Authority, the Board of Health, the DPW and the City's Police Department have of ity to ash collector. Wouldn youdplease notifyn the person)in authorrity at each of performance the ati- umping these City ments as wll as the serious problem for all oft they property mowners h and businesses around the Strong and ollction Strong .arking lot. you for your attention to this situation, and I look forward to hearing from you ruing a resolution to this problem. rely, Page 1 01 1 rnie Mathieu uesday, March 09,2004 5:35 PM Caren Bouquillon (wastenot @city.northampton.ma.us)' =_fnhmp @e ileenfisher.com =W: rats lease respond or call Jody on this matter and give her an update.We were just talking about this other day. Karen. al Message--- ire Northampton [mailto:Efnhmp @eileenfisher.com isday, March 09, 2004 2:55 PM Mathieu rats e, you a number of weeks ago to ask about the power source for a trash compactor slated to be installed ong Avenue parking lot.The next day I went seems and have were ever In men iv out b the compactor on or t outside and there were several me out back working on sr source. However, since that day no progress the trash bins that line our alley. ailed Dave Duseau at Duseau Trucking who has the contract for the compactor.We had all hoped that power source would come the long-promised clean-up of the Strong Avenue lot and the alley leading re to Pleasant Street. He has been unavailable, but hopefully will answer my call tomorrow. lileen Fisher share all the concerns voiced in Jeff Dwyer's email to you dated March 5th is just and with warm weather, rats will emerge.Thanks for keeping us up to date with what progress expect Spring 1 the corner, ton City expeoct from the Northamp Y P arking commission. ffy, Jody Riseman Assistant Manager, Eileen Fisher 319/2004 10/2004 nieu fo[info @rockwellmanagement.com] iesday. March 09, 2004 6:29 PM rnie Mathieu '.E'. Apartment#211 Page 1 ot I are all set. Paul will be meeting you for this. We will let you know if there are any -Original Message-- northampton.ma.us] nt:ues ay , March 09, ty 2004 11:45 AM Info@rockvvellmanagement.com ibjed: Apartment #211 ear Debbie, nave set up a reinsertion time with Todd Topier to inspect his apartment. It is set for March 17 at :45pm.Could you have a maintenance person there to meet me for this. Call me if any questions. Ernie M. 1/2004 Dwyer ppdwyer @dwyerogrady.com] Jeff Wednesday, March 10,2004 11:33 AM Ernie Mathieu Re: Rat infestation in Strong Ave.parking lot t heard from her since we spoke last week. The same day that I talked with Bouquillon. During my telephone conversation with in ordinance, and she told t he swa the copy of with oa me passed ma anti-dumping 9 an to me via e-mail. Additionally, she explained that ained that the City provide the new ed th a copy of it Ave. lot to the Duseau firm to p and id the space in the lieong the lease contract between keep the area believed that Duseau' s if they didn't P forward to o she told me she that she'd penalties for uillon told me fined provisions and P trash. Ms. Bouq the Duseau firm 1ma copy clean and free of request which resulted in these au firm inth RFP bid haven't received 1 a copy of the oxigof the lease document. I e lease and a copy getting a considerable amount of pressure from the action regarding this problem if we can't see ;t ay''-ng with this. I'm 9e m counseling patience, but to take some form of problem. I' :he building the past year. action and co-operation g to relieve the p getting very angry at the apparent inaction during Trust in Road 39 New Hampshire 03605-0239 -9347 - voice -5373 - fax rady.com wlwyer @dwyexog c emathieu @city.northampton.ma.us> ed,Ernie Mathieu" ff w Max 2004 11:00:12 -0500 com> ff Dwyer"a" infestat@on in S y' Ave. parking lot RE: Rat infestation in Strong DPW about this and she was going to get to Karen Eandu given at an update. Did She? Ernie TM with you and give y riginal Message-- erogrady.com] Jeff Dwyer [mailto:]pdwyer @dwy Friday, March 05, 2004 3:40 PM :pie t att info Strong Ave parking lot , ; Rat nfestation in t Mathieu c Health Administrator of Health Hall Street Massachusetts rampton, Mr. Mathieu: week. 1 appreciate Your for returning my telephone call last ks 1 manager for the Querencia Trust ton. e. S am the property t d and a have nd building located at 26 3s Pleasant St. in Northampton. nd the building has serious rat infestation, Il,y pest control personnel who service clients within the many areas in the city are suffering similar problems. at has become famous for its shopping and restaurants, 3 situation and poor public relations. months, the tenants in the Querencia Trust St. including Eileen Fisher, The ast several m Panda Garden, 26-34 Pleasant Cat Print Shop, repeated Center, Panacea ly Salon, C°Inc have experienced rep and and Gage around C t. , Upon investigation .tor, inutd the estl Cont. p I learned that the h rats in and a Control, food Minuteman Pest is the presence of a ;ultation with at the building by open trash e rat infestation Avenue parking lot caused Y he Strong Avenue P around the trash collection area and spilled garbage ; within the building spent large sums of money to remove arcasses from their walls and ceilings. The smell of customers to leave the tenant's stores, work. In several cases, the sts forced potential the =_cl were unable t to remain at eliminated. After citing until the open, nn could dead rats removed, walls and nd ceiling were torn open, and the ro cedures were required before the the business nd sanitation p does not reimburse ,uld be replaced. Insurance _- their losses. food explained that eliminating the rat's the rats . Repeated baiting, control experts n s epensive remedy. So long as the only ensive and temporary remedy. leads from and poisoning is expensive nd spilled t parking lot ns spillages in and around the in the lot and spillage to accumulate, the St. to the parking lot is allowed located in the parking They will reproduce, continue to have otheoroproperties sti in and around the Strong the building a costly cycle will continue. arking lot, and the both the the condition of Strong effort to trash area in the u make a sincere the trash collection garbage? ,d the area surrounding of accumulating rubbish and g lot to keep it free for the cleanliness of the :king t ' p Further, I ;t and that the responsibility s arking authority. the DPW with the A th' p the Board of Health, tth lots rests Authority,have, to enforce and that the Parking the s dinane Department as as to authority performance of City' person in authority at melon ordinances as well as to monitor the o tleseo C. Would you please notify the P collection company well as the trash and it's a serious problem for all ' these City departments as AVe parking Us rat infestation exists, Strong property owners and businesses around the you for your attention to this situation, and I look forward to a resolution to this problem. g from you concerning Dwyer ee ncia Trust Box 790 - Key, FL 32625 -586-4236 ragc . w eu e Mathieu rsday, February 05, 2004 9:03 AM er Skaza '. Strong Ave parking lot garbage me an update on the status of this project? Should I be directing my inquiries to another 4essage--- r eileenflsher.coml Berg tmailto:Efnhm2004 m eil PM asday, February 04, ithieu :rake; Randall Neely rong Ave parking lot garbage n Fisher are still waiting for the horrendous garbage problem in the parking lot behind our store @ 24 greet to be cleared up. Department had assured you that ;poke hook up would be ins you told d y December 15th f humanly Ipossib e.that Peter al hook up would be installed Monday e, David Duseau told me that the garbage compactor was all ready o He was just waiting for the he said,the garbage cads lining our alley and the open dumpsters out behind our to 9 to operate it.Then, Id be removed. tow,this parking lot and numerous businesses bordering the lot were plagued with rats throughout last en the rats were poisoned,they ran inside our building and died in their nests, causing a horrible smell th hazard which persisted for months. actually been promised that the open dumpsters would be gone before Thanksgiving, but nothing was in a dead rat ourselves,after it sat on the ground next to the open dumpster for several aw we are fearful that if no action will be taken we ill s n be infested fe ds`with st border tin. At one e point red d bagging tese lot.Whatpbetter often for hungry rats?nh food garbage that you can give would be welcome. you,Jody Riseman 0/2004 word Page 1 ott e Mathieu irsday,April 08,2004 3:12 PM :re Northampton' : rats riginal Message-" ton mailto:Efnhmp @eileenfisher.com] r: Store Northampton Thursday, April 08, 2004 2:36 PM Ernie Mathieu tandall Neely Strong Avenue Parking just true their sect: rats garbage compactor installed and working in d don't think it would have happened without you. I really want to thank you for all your help in getting the g e, kin Lot. 1 o the area 1 r d and keep in that Duseau will be rue this Is a major keeping o eye on the trash cean.situation, hoping and the compactor relatively clean.Some days are better than others. But, all in all, movement. ain,thanks so much from all of us at Eileen Fisher, dy Riseman Yagc i V, e Mathieu rsday, February 05, 2004 11:09 AM hmpmgr @eileenfisher.com' er Skaza r: Strong Ave parking lot garbage mod, to start work on that project today. today by Mr. Skaza that the crews are planning 4essage--- Mathieu , laay, February 05, 2004 9:03 AM aza V: Strong Ave pa rking lot garbage live me an update on the status of this project? Should I be directing my inquiries to another II Message-'-' r @eileenflsher.com] Ira Berg [mailto:Efnhmp m 9 inesday, February 04, 2004 6:08 PM Mathieu n Croke; Randall Neely Strong Ave parking lot g arbage teen Fisher are still waiting for the horrendous garbage problem in the parking at behind our store @ 24 :Street to be cleared up. if human) e spoke in mid-December you told me that Peter Skaza of the Parking Department had assured you that rical hook up would be installed Monday December 15th time David Duseau told me that the garbage compactor was all ready to go. He was just waiting for the he said,the garbage carts lining our alley and the open dumpsfers out behind our ity to operate it.Then, could be removed. the lot were plagued with rats throughout last I know,this parking lot and numerous businesses bordering Nhen the rats were poisoned,they ran inside our building and died in their nests,causing a horrible throughout smell 3alth hazard which persisted for months. promised that the open dumpsfers would be gone before Thanksgiving,but nothing was s actually to been p sten.A several a dead rat ourselves, after it sat on the ground next to the open dump Now we are fearful that if no action will be taken we a bage from eall the terestaurants l that border Athe nStrong ;sorted to mps bagging with food garbage What better habiittat for hungrylrats?!I help that you can give would be welcome. /2004 Page 2 of2 )dy Riseman (413)-585-1118 /2004