Resident reports illegal dumping at Rum Cove; state cleanup program could remove debris in June

During the public‑comment portion of the Dec. 29 Westport Island Select Board meeting, board member Charlotte reported a small pile of illegally dumped trash at Rum Cove that board members say appears to sit on the wrong association lot and has likely been present for years.

Charlotte said state forest rangers inspected the site over the summer and advised that the town could apply to a state cleanup program that typically schedules such cleanups in June. The program, Charlotte said, will bring a truck and dumpsters to remove material but asks for local volunteer support to handle logistics and on‑site assistance.

Board members asked whether the state program would cover other illegal dumping sites; Charlotte and others said the program generally applies where debris is clearly the result of illegal dumping rather than routine landowner activity. The dumped material at Rum Cove was described as wood, debris and some mattresses; the board noted there was no identifying mail or receipts found on the site to trace the source.

The board agreed to consider adding the Rum Cove site to the program docket for the June cleanup and asked staff to track the matter so volunteers could be organized if the state accepts the site for removal.