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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-07-NAC-min.pdf 1 Town of Lexington, MA Noise Advisory Committee (NAC) Minutes of Meeting, April 7 2026 The meeting of the Noise Advisory Committee (“NAC”) was held remotely via Zoom on Thursday April 7 2026 and called to order at 7:02 PM. Members present: Barbara Katzenberg (Chair) (BK), Benjamin Lees (BL), Joseph Lehar (JL), Laura Rosen (LR). Elaine Rudell (ER) Also present: Joe Pato (Select Board liaison). Agenda 1) Discussion: About NAC membership and determining everyone’s interest in continuing 2) Captain Barry Police Department visit: a) Hiring of Philippe Takuna as code compliance officer. Speaks Spanish and Portuguese, has other jobs in construction/ride share. Captain Barry cautiously optimistic it will work out b) Q1 9 GLB complaints (Code 455(, one for using GLB for snow which doesn’t count as a violation. 211 GLB complaints since March 2025—a handful of citations. If you get a citation for any bylaw you can appeal it and it goes to Concord District Court. Assumption by Capt Barry is most are dismissed. Citations go to property owner, but they do keep track of landscaper repeat offenders c) Q1 8 other noise complaints (937), mostly loud music 3) Guest: Louis Zaczkiewicz Example of landscaper with Newton sticker on truck. Gives example of local landscaper (John’s Landscaping). Goes from one neighbor to the other. Have contacted John’s. have contacted neighbors and for a while they used electric but then returned to their GLBs. Very frustrating. Check out Google Review on John’s Landscaping. (City of Newton Registered Leaf Blower User #xxx). Louis volunteered to investigate what the process is 4) Update on developer response to 475 Bedford Street multifamily housing comments Planning Department had put in a requirement that developer would do the predictive study. The developer hired an acoustic specialist to do the study. The gist: they did ambient noise measurements, did an analysis of equipment which would raise the level above what is allowed, so they are planning to do baffling to mitigate. 5) Drone delivery: are there any opportunities to regulate potential noise from drones locally? Not too much appetite to pursue now, legal landscape not yet settled. Table as a future issue. 6) January Minutes Move to Approve by LR, seconded by JL: unanimously approved 7) Begin full review of Noise Bylaw (Chapter 80) for possible future changes https://ecode360.com/10535055#10535055 BK reminds responsibility of NAC is to review bylaw, monitor its effectiveness, make suggestions for improvement in article to Town Meeting. Will begin following month 2 8) JL: tennis backboard noise-most issues have been resolved, but people using backboard with soccer balls (not tennis balls), time of day. Maybe a sign? NAC could make the request of Recreation Department if asked. Committee Membership Chair-Barbara Katzenberg, Benjamin Lees, Joseph Lehar, Laura Rosen, and Elaine Rudell Joe Pato, Select Board Liaison The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 PM BK, Clerk