Abington Select Board Addresses Rat Infestation Concerns and Approves Park Safety Measures
Residents report increased rat sightings across town while police chief secures approval for 7 p.m. closure and parking restrictions at Island Grove Park to combat after-hours incidents.
ABINGTON - June 23 - Abington residents are reporting a significant increase in rat sightings across town, with particular concerns in North Abington, prompting the Select Board to schedule a follow-up discussion with the Board of Health in September.
Donna, a 29-year resident of North Abington, told the Select Board Monday night that rats are "running around my backyard like they're squirrels," describing the situation as unprecedented in her nearly three decades living in town.
"I've lived in my house for 29 years this month. I've never once seen a rat in the town, anywhere in the town," she said. "It's disgusting."
Donna expressed frustration with the Board of Health's response to the issue, saying health officials appeared dismissive when she raised concerns at a recent meeting. She suspects backyard chicken coops may be contributing to the problem.
"I think that the chickens that we have in the town, people have a lot of chickens and a lot of coops, and I don't know that they're being maintained or cleaned or inspected," Donna said.
Select Board member Amanda Zompetti confirmed the problem extends beyond North Abington, noting she has observed rats in her wooded area near the commuter rail despite never seeing them before. Zompetti suggested the Summer Street construction project may have displaced the rodents.
"I have seen a big uptick since the Summer Street project had started," Zompetti said. "Speaking of the high school, we have them inside the high school."
Donna revealed that rats have been found inside Abington High School, raising additional health concerns for students and staff.
Chair Roger Woods said he has also witnessed the rat problem firsthand and committed to having Town Manager Scott Lambiase coordinate with the Board of Health for an action plan to be presented at the board's second September meeting.
In a separate matter, the Select Board unanimously approved new safety measures for Island Grove Park following a presentation by Police Chief John Bonney about escalating after-hours incidents.
The board approved a no-parking restriction on Park Avenue after 7 p.m., with exceptions for residents parking in front of their homes. The board also voted to establish a 7 p.m. closure time for the entire park, replacing the previous "dusk" restriction.
Chief Bonney detailed several concerning incidents that occurred over the recent weekend following the park's reopening. On Saturday evening, officers responded twice to remove approximately 40 people from the pool area after it had closed at 5 p.m.
"At 6:15 later on that night, units did another search of the area," Bonney said. "There were approximately 40 people in the pool, and it had closed at 5. So trying to get all them out, they were less than cooperative."
The situation escalated Sunday morning when officers conducting an overnight check at 12:14 a.m. encountered four masked men at a table. One fled on foot, another was arrested on a robbery warrant, and three vehicles were found with detached plates and no insurance.
"So we've had now four criminal offenses out of there during off-peak hours over the weekend," Bonney said. "Those people from Rockland, Stoughton, and Fall River."
The chief emphasized that the incidents involved non-residents and created safety concerns that required mutual aid from neighboring communities, stretching police resources thin.
"During this time when we were enforcing sort of the people getting out of the pool, we had to rely on Whitman, Rockland, and Holbrook for mutual aid responses because we were so tied up for other calls for service in the community," Bonney said.
Rachel Collins, Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, supported the police chief's recommendations, noting that teenage lifeguards should not be responsible for removing trespassers.
"It's coming down to our 16-, 17-, 18-, 19-year-old lifeguards to try to get rid of people out of the pool. It's not fair to them. They don't get paid to do that," Collins said.
The meeting also featured several other significant agenda items. Plymouth County Commissioners presented the town with $511,865 in ARPA funds for municipal building HVAC improvements, plus an additional unexpected check for $22,469.53.
Commissioner Chair Jared Valanzola praised the town's collaboration and noted that communities receiving these funds avoid borrowing costs and interest payments for essential infrastructure projects.
Veterans Agent Adam Gunn provided updates on multiple initiatives, including the upcoming Abington Heroes banner program honoring local veterans, a new wheelchair-accessible transportation vehicle funded through community donations, and Purple Heart street sign toppers recognizing 36 deceased recipients.
The Abington Summer Concerts Committee announced its 21st season lineup, running July 6 through Aug. 24 at the Catherine and Joseph Nisby Bandstand. The free concerts are entirely funded through community donations and sponsorships.
Melissa Cook presented the Teen Center Initiative Committee's mission to create safe spaces for local youth, citing CDC statistics showing 40% of students experience persistent sadness and hopelessness. The committee seeks town support in identifying potential locations for teen programming.