Town Meeting Member Complains of Rats in Neighborhood

Framingham Town Meeting member George Lewis went before the Framingham Board of Health and Framingham Selectmen last week complaining of rats at the Conigliaro Industries property in South Framingham.

Conigliaro Industries recently went before Selectmen requesting an expansion of its business and license to buy and sell junk metal. Framingham Selectmen unanimously said no.

Lewis, who is elected to serve Precinct 18, told Selectmen while driving over the Fountain Street bridge last year he noticed a rat on the sidewalk. He said he later went back to the area and took multiple photos and video of “rats scurrying among the dirty mattresses and rusted springs” on the property.

Editor’s Note: Copies of the photos Lewis gave to Selectmen are attached to this report.

Lewis said the town has “the responsibility to protect citizens from disease.”

He asked Selectmen to investigate and get rid of the “rat infestation.” Selectmen suggested the complaint was best handled by the Framingham Board of Health, whom Lewis went before the night before.

Interim Framingham Health Director Roberto Santamaría said Lewis made a presentation before the Framingham Board of Health last week.

Santamaría said his office is investigating the complaint.

The Framingham Board of Health did have a report about rodents in that neighborhood last year, said the interim director.

Santamaría said residents in that neighborhood should cover trash cans and make an extra effort not to leave food outside, to avoid attracting rodents.

Santamaría said that Lewis’ photos can not be considered evidence in this current investigation and that his department will need to find their own evidence of rats. Lewis’ photos were taken last summer. During winter months, rats tend to burrow and are harder to spot.

According to the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, “rats and mice can spread a variety of diseases, including rat bite fever, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection, and in other parts of the country, hantavirus infection and plague. While occurrence of any of these disease in humans in Massachusetts is rare, rodent feces in food can spread Salmonella and rodents may harbor ticks, fleas and mites that can bite humans.”

If a Health Board identifies a rat problem it can send a “written order to the owner of the affected property requesting abatement and offer professional guidance for long-term preventive alterations to property and structures. If the owner fails to cooperate, the Health Board may abate the problem by bringing legal action against the property owner.”

Massachusetts General laws considers a rat problem under its nuisance section. A property owner in violation could be subject to a $1,000 fine.