The Noise By-Law Review Committee was established late in 1998 "to review our current noise bylaw and to make recommendations as to any changes needed to better protect citizens or to make it more enforceable." Specific charge was given to the Committee to review the regulation of construction noise under the existing bylaw, and to recommend an alternative, "consistent with the approaches that provide the best protection for residents in other communities."
At the beginning of this year the Committee presented its recommendation for revision to the noise bylaw at a public meeting. The revisions were described and comments were accepted from those in attendance. The Committee’s proposal was reviewed in light of these comments and the bylaw was further revised. Most notably, a provision was included to limit the noise level permitted for maintenance equipment. (This modification arose out of concern about noise from leaf blowers.)
The Committee’s proposed revisions to the bylaw were presented to Town Meeting in April. Several amendments were made during the discussion period and two were adopted. These include a provision for measuring the noise due to maintenance equipment when it is not possible to measure at a distance of 50’, and a provision that allows the Board of Selectmen or the Planning Board to establish a construction plan for large-scale development that is more stringent than the existing bylaw.
In August the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts approved Article 23, the Belmont Noise By-Law.
After passage of the bylaw Guy Carbone respectfully resigned from the committee.
The Committee has also made a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen concerning the equipment and training necessary for adequate enforcement of the bylaw.
The Committee was officially dissolved in January of 2003.
Respectfully submitted,
Gladys Unger, Chairperson
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