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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-22-NAC-min Town of Lexington Noise Advisory Committee(NAC) Minutes of Meeting June 22,2021 A meeting of the Noise Advisory Committee ("NAC") was held via Zoom videoconference on Tuesday June 22, 2021, at 7:00 PM.A quorum of four members was present. NAC Members Present: Dan Koretz (Chair), Vicki Blier, Nick Afshartous, Stewart Smith, April Wang Others Present: Mark Sandeen Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting The Committee reviewed the draft minutes from the NAC meeting held on June 8, 2021 as posted on Slack. Motion Dan moved to approve the Minutes as presented and the Motion was seconded by Vicki. Following a roll-call vote,the Minutes from the June 8, 2021 Meeting were approved unanimously. 1. Reconsideration of Spring Seasonal End Date established during the NAC's June 8,2021, Meeting Dan indicated that Vicki had raised an issue following the June 8th meeting regarding the end date for permitted use of GLB's for Spring Clean-ups. During the previous meeting,the Committee passed a motion recommending that the end date be established as May 301h each year. Vicki noted that it had been her intention at the last meeting to suggest that the end date for Spring Clean-ups be designated as the Friday immediately prior to the Memorial Day weekend each Spring. She and other members of the Committee generally agreed with the fact that a quiet Memorial Day was important to Lexington residents. Motion Vicki made a motion to reconsider the Spring end date on the basis that Memorial Day weekend be considered a "quiet weekend".The motion was seconded by Dan and, following a roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. The Committee then discussed the choice between recommending a fixed end date which would Fall each year prior to Memorial Day, or a floating date (i.e., the Friday preceding Memorial Day weekend) that would change from year to year based on when Memorial Day appeared on the calendar. Mark suggested that a fixed date would be simpler. He also observed that Memorial Day weekend would never fall prior to May 22nd in any given year. Other members of the Committee expressed differing views. The Committee considered both proposals. Motion Nick made a motion to amend the end date for GLB Spring clean ups from May 301h to May 22nd each year.The motion was seconded by Stewart and following a roll call vote the motion was carried on the following basis: For Against Nick Vicki Stewart Dan April 2. Review of Draft Materials for Select Board Presentation and Follow-up Communication to Landscapers Dan noted that one of the primary objectives of the Meeting was the review and evaluation of: • A Draft Memo Updating Landscapers on the NAC's recommendations • A Draft Memo to Select Board Chair detailing outreach efforts • A Draft Presentation to Select Board by NAC • Revisions to draft Bylaw Draft Memo to Landscapers. Dan presented the draft memo outlining the proposed changes to hourly and seasonal limits.The Committee reviewed and discussed the content of the document. Motion Stewart made a motion to approve the draft memo as presented.The motion was seconded by Vicki and following a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously. Draft Memo to Select Board Chair Dan presented the draft memo summarizing the steps the Committee has taken to obtain input from landscapers and other town residents concerning the proposed lawn equipment restrictions.The Committee reviewed and discussed the content of the memo. Motion Stewart made a motion to approve the draft memo as presented.The motion was seconded by Nick and, following a roll call vote, was approved unanimously. Potential Fall 2021 Town Meeting The Committee then discussed currently available information as to whether a Special Town Meeting would take place during the Fall of 2021. It was noted by various Committee members that if a Fall Town Meeting did not take place it will be important to identify revised potential start dates for seasonal and hourly restrictions following enactment by the Town and approval by the State Attorney General. Mark noted that it appeared a Fall Town Meeting in 2021 is unlikely. He agreed to keep the Committee apprised. He also suggested that the Committee pick a date (either September 15th or May 22nd)which could be changed if a 2021 Fall Town Meeting were scheduled. Dan noted that it would be his preference if the start date was not longer than 6 months following enactment of the new regulation. Nick also agreed that 6 months was reasonable. Mark advocated for picking specific alternative dates depending upon when the proposal reaches Town Meeting. The Committee then considered two alternate scenarios. If a Fall 2021 Town meeting took place,the Committee considered May 22, 2022, to be a suitable starting point for the new regulations to become active. If a Town meeting did not take place until Spring 2022, then a suitable starting point for the new regulations would be September 15, 2022. Motion Dan moved that, depending upon the enactment date of the new regulations concerning hours and seasonal limits (i.e., at either a Fall 2021 Town meeting or the Spring 2022 Town Meeting)the proposed restrictions start as of May 22,2022 or September 15, 2022, respectively. the Motion was seconded by Nick and, following a roll call vote,the motion carried unanimously. Revisions to Draft Bylaw The Committee considered revisions to the draft bylaw regulating lawn care equipment based on the recent developments and the Committee business conducted during the Meeting. It was unanimously agreed that Dan would revise the current draft bylaw to reflect the changed dates and other matters as discussed and approved during the Meeting. Draft Presentation to Select Board from NAC Dan presented draft materials for review by the Committee which would accompany his verbal presentation at a future Select Board Meeting. He noted that the background to Committee's work was now contained in a slide. He also noted the distinction between GLBs and "other" landscape equipment. Nick advised that he needed to leave the meeting at 7:55 pm. Motion Stewart made a motion to approve the Select Board presentation materials as discussed.The motion was seconded by Vicki and approved unanimously by a quorum of Dan,Vicki, April, and Stewart. 3. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.