BY JOHN DUNPHY
Staff Writer
SAYREVILLE — Officials want residents to know that being a whistle blower can pay dividends.
That’s the message the Borough Council wants to send to residents who spot anyone dumping illegally, vandalizing or trespassing.
Through a rewards program expected to be voted on by the council in the coming weeks, anyone who blows the whistle on those responsible for illegal acts might be able to collect a monetary reward for their effort.
“[There are] several different ordinances on the books related to dumping, vandalizing and trespassing,” said Councilman Stanley Drwal. He said some of those obscure ordinances already hold potential rewards of anywhere from $100 to $500.
Borough Attorney Judy Verrone is looking at those ordinances in an effort to streamline the rewards people can receive if they report those specific illegal acts. Rewards can potentially be between $500 and $750.
With the added incentive, officials believe more people will be turned in, since those who spot them will be less inclined to turn a blind eye. Anyone found guilty would be fined accordingly and also would have to cover cleanup costs.
“It’s actually cheaper for us to pay for the rewards,” Drwal said. “The fine would basically pay [for] the reward, and the person [who did the illegal action] would have to pay for the cleanup anyway.”
Drwal, noting that he was previously unaware the borough had rewards for the whistle-blowing, said the idea to look at the rewards came from several residents who have already witnessed people dumping illegally.
“One person had observed three trucks come into one area to dump in one day,” he said. “I think [the rewards program] will help us prevent a lot of this in the future.”
He said police have been able to successfully capture some violators, but in a borough the size of Sayreville — 16.3 square miles — it is hard for police to catch them all.
Drwal added that anyone found dumping in an environmentally sensitive area, such as wetland or watershed areas, would not only have to ante up to the borough, but could also face state fines up to $10,000.
Streamlining the rewards program comes on the heels of an effort by Drwal to revitalize the Julian L. Capik Nature Preserve on Bordentown Avenue, which had remained unkempt and largely unused for several years. Last summer, in its inaugural season, the Sayreville Conservation Corps removed eight garbage trucks filled with trash from the preserve, some of which came as a result of illegal dumping.
Drwal said he expects the council to introduce the updated rewards program within the next few weeks.
“We’re hoping it will stop or at least slow down this type of problem,” he said. “Once [the rewards program] becomes known, it will put a lot more eyes out there.”