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NOISE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes 20 March 2012 A duly posted meeting of the Noise Advisory Committee (NAC), held in Legion Room, Cary Hall, was called to order at 7:30 pm by Chairman Tony Galaitsis with members Bob Earsy and Mary Hosmer Fanucci, and Planning Board liaison Richard Canale present. Also present in the audience were: Mr. Mike Bowers, representative of Boston Properties, 191 Spring St, Lexington; and citizen Mr. Phil Jackson. Minutes of previous meeting (1/23/2012) On a motion duly made and seconded, the NAC approved the minutes unanimously. Discussion of proposed Nighttime roofing work at 191 Spring St. Speaking on behalf of Boston Properties Inc., Mr. Bowers discussed the proposed night -time roofing project to be conducted at 191 Spring St, and asked for an exemption from Lexington's Noise By -Law, Section 804A, which states that "Motorized devices and equipment engaged in construction shall be prohibited from use between the hours of 8:00 pm and 7.00 am...". The proposed operations will involve the use of circular masonry- cutting saws for the removal of the old waterproof asphalt layer from the existing roof. The cutting would begin around 4:00 or 5:00 am and would end around 7:00 or 8:00 am, and followed by quieter activities. The project is expected to last approximately 60 days after allowing for the possibility of a few rainy evenings, when no work would be done. The stated justification for the petition was that the noise generated by the asphalt cutting noise would disturb daytime employees in the building and especially the executive personnel at the top floor. Highlights from the subsequent discussion include the following: • All agreed that daytime construction noise, especially from the cutting saws, could be disruptive to building occupants • All agreed that such daytime disruption for building occupants should not be traded for nighttime sleep disruption, if any, of Lexington residents • NAC members thought that the construction noise transmitted to nearby residences might be sufficiently mitigated by a) the intervening hill to Old Spring St area, and b) the large 2,500+ ft distance to Shade St area. However, the NAC also felt there should be some conditions, in the event of resident sleep disruptions complaints • The NAC also remarked that the Noise By -Law Special Permit Forms require individual abutter notification, which was not conducted • Mr. Bower stated that a) His organization might accept a conditional permit that would shift the construction to regular daytime hours in the event of sleep disruption complaints, and b) He would be happy to conduct the abutter notification, and revisit the NAC in the next meeting. The NAC accepted the offer stating that the notification may be limited to the Old Spring St residents only The NAC decided to continue the hearing and issue its recommendation during the 4/10/12 meeting after receiving feedback, if any, from nearby residents. Discussion of proposed Noise -By -Law (NBL) Updates