Exterminators return to Providence court amid new bedbug concerns
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Providence District Court is open Friday, after pest control crews returned to the building Thursday night–combing all six floors for bed bugs, and treating any areas where they were found.
“The gradual remediation, our concern is that things aren’t happening as quickly as our members would like to guarantee their safety and the safety of the public,” said Jim Cenerini, a union representative for Rhode Island Council 94.
The plan now is to bring in dogs on Saturday to find any bugs that may have been missed. Court employees were filled in on those plans at a special meeting Thursday afternoon, and on why treatment has not targeted the whole building.
“Can we basically carpet bomb the entire building? And not only were we told that we could not, but we were told we’ve got to do it on a case by case basis,” said Rhode Island State Court administrator Joe Baxter.
Court officials say only five bugs in total have been found so far, but union officials tell me their members have not only fund up to five bugs at once, and one employee was bitten as recently as Wednesday.
“The situation isn’t resolved until our members and employees stop getting bitten,” said Cenerini.
For DCYF workers, who aren’t direct employees of the court but spend a lot of time there, it’s even more frustrating.
“I think some sort of communication from the judiciary to those other departments on this is what we’re doing, this is how we’re responding would be helpful,” said Kathy McElroy, union president for Local 580, which represents many DCYF workers.
Meanwhile, visitors to the court wonder why there still aren’t any notices posted to warn them.
“I don’t know that people would need to know anything at the front door that wouldn’t allow them to come into our building when there is not going to be any danger to anyone who’s in the building,” said Baxter.
DCYF has taken steps to inspect its buildings, vehicles, and the Rhode Island Training School just in case.
Two unions have already filed health grievances against the court.
© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2018
