2019-01-16-NAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Noise Advisory Committee 2 • Suggested including a few lawn-care companies in the discussion • Suggested going to Chief Corr to get his initial views on enforcement. Dan: • We need more information about the experience of other jurisdictions with enforcement. • Chief Corr does not yet have experience with this. • A permitting system might reduce the need for police enforcement. Lee: • Who would do permitting? Joe: • The DPW now sells permits to leave yard waste at Hartwell;perhaps this could be expanded to permit lawn care. Lee: • Expressed skepticism about the practicality of enforcement. • E.g.,police would be called but would not get there in time. Dan: • The practicality of enforcement is an empirical question, and we don't yet have enough real information about it. • It isn't necessary for police to arrive in time in each instance. Police miss the vast majority of speeding incidents, but the risk of getting caught nonetheless reduces the incidence of speeding. Nick: • We have information suggesting that the limits have in fact worked in Arlington. Discussion of next steps Lee: • Committee has insufficient staff to complete this by March, 2019 for a vote by Town Committee. • Because of staffing constraints and problems with enforcement,proposed dropping the initiative. Dan: • Proposes that we no longer aim for the March 2019 Town Meeting • Proposes that we instead focus on gathering additional data that we can use to determine whether to go ahead with a proposal to the Town Meeting in 2020. Lee: • If continuing, we need to differentiate the effects of quantified noise limits from those of simply prohibiting gas-powered blowers. Dan: • We need a list of communities that have experience with limits of various kinds. Nick: • It would make sense to arrange public meetings in the meantime to see whether there is sufficient support