[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Falmouth Special Town Meeting 4-14-2015, Art. 18, approved 7-16-2015. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the location, siting,
and maintenance of collection containers for used clothing, shoes,
books and other items as approved by the permitting authority to protect
public health and safety, including preventing rodents, vermin and
blight.
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION — A duly organized and
existing legal entity which has received a formal designation under
Section 501(c)(3) of the United State Internal Revenue Code and maintains
an office or facility within the Town.
A duly established and generally recognized religious denomination
and its active place of worship.
Any bin or other container where a member of the public may
donate or otherwise dispose of used clothing, shoes, books or other
items as approved by the permitting authority, including a trailer
or mobile container used for such purposes.
Any goods or item, the collection of which is not specifically
authorized in this chapter.
Collection containers for reusable clothing, shoes, household
goods and books, only, are permitted within the Town of Falmouth and
only in the locations specified in this chapter; collection containers
for other goods or items or at other locations are prohibited.
A collection container shall be fully enclosed with a pull-down,
self-closing door located on the front section. It shall have a footprint
of no more than twenty-five (25) square feet and a height of no more
than six (6) feet, measured from the bottom edge to the top edge of
the front and rear sections. Dumpster-type containers are prohibited,
regardless of dimensions.
Any existing collection container for uncollectible goods or
items or which does not comply with specifications contained in this
section shall be removed within thirty (30) days following the effective
date of this chapter; any existing collection container located in
a nonpermitted location or improperly sited shall be removed and/or
relocated within ninety (90) days following the effective date of
this chapter.
This chapter shall not apply to:
Collection containers are permitted in the following locations:
A.Â
Private property located on an improved lot within a Business District 2, as defined in Chapter 240 of the Falmouth Town Code and designated on the Town's official Zoning Map; a collection container is not permitted on an unimproved or vacant lot and no more than four (4) containers are permitted on an improved lot.
B.Â
A church may place and maintain up to four (4) collection containers
on church property for its own charitable work, provided they are
screened from view from public ways.
C.Â
A charitable organization may place and maintain up to four (4) collection
containers on its property for its own charitable work, provided they
are screened from view from public ways.
D.Â
The Town Waste Management Facility, in the discretion of the Director
of Public Works.
E.Â
Fire stations, at the permission of the Fire Chief.
F.Â
Schools, at the permission of the School Superintendent.
Placement of a collection container pursuant to § 105-5 shall require written application to and issuance of a permit from the Town Manager; all existing collection containers which otherwise comply with this chapter shall comply with this section within thirty (30) days following the effective date of this chapter.
The application pursuant to § 105-6 shall include:
A.Â
Legal name, principal business address and legal identification of
applicant.
B.Â
Name, address, telephone number and email address for contact person.
D.Â
Description of collection container, including a sketch or photograph.
E.Â
Listing of collectible items.
F.Â
Pick-up, inspection, and maintenance schedules.
G.Â
Legal address of property where each collection is to be located,
along with a sketch plan showing container location and compliance
with the requirements of this chapter.
A.Â
Collection containers shall not be sited within the layout of any
private or public way and shall be sited so as not to obstruct traffic
sight lines or distances and not to otherwise impede the flow of traffic
or pose a safety hazard to pedestrians.
B.Â
Collection containers shall not be sited within any setback or buffer required by Chapter 240, of the Falmouth Town Code.
C.Â
Collection containers shall be placed upon a concrete pad or asphalt
paved surface.
D.Â
Collection containers shall not utilize or obstruct any parking space
required for minimum zoning compliance or any space designated for
trash dumpster placement or snow storage on an approved site plan.
A.Â
A collection container shall be kept clean and in good repair and
its site shall be kept clean and free of debris at all times. Without
limiting this requirement, no container overflow and no disposal of
uncollectible goods or items shall be permitted.
A.Â
Placement of a collection container 1) for uncollectible goods or
items, or 2) which does not comply with conditions in the permit issued
or 3) in a nonpermitted location: three hundred dollars ($300); each
day shall constitute a separate offense.
B.Â
Failure to obtain a permit for a collection container where one is
required: one hundred dollars ($100); each day shall constitute a
separate offense.
C.Â
All other violations:
First offense: fifty dollars ($50).
Second offense: one hundred dollars ($100).
Third and subsequent offense: three hundred dollars ($300).
In the case of continuing violations, each day shall constitute
a separate offense.
The property owner and the collection container owner shall
each be responsible for compliance with this chapter and shall be
liable for any violation.
|
In addition to the Falmouth Police Department, this chapter
may be enforced by the Falmouth Building Commissioner and the Falmouth
Board of Health Agent.