HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-04-NAC-minNOISE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
4 August 2009 Meeting
A duly posted meeting of the Noise Advisory Committee (NAC), held in the Legion
Room, Cary Hall, was called to order at 7:30 PM by Chairman Tony Galaitsis with
members Jeanne Krieger, Ted Page, Robert Earsy, and Steve Kropper present. Also
attending was Colin Walsh.
Mr. Walsh represented the movie - making company Fighter LLC, who submitted a
petition for an exemption from the Noise by -law during the filming of a short episode in
Lexington's Flick Theater area for the movie "The Fighter ", starring Christian Bale. He
provided an overview of the filming process and related activities. The Fighter LLC will
set -up their equipment, execute the filming and remove their equipment from
approximately 4 pm 8/19/09 to 4 am 8/20/09. They will operate three electric generators
with a noise rating of 50 dBA at 50 feet. Collin pointed out that these generators are very
quiet. Furthermore, the generators will not be near any houses during the Lexington
filming; therefore, no residents would be affected by the generator noise.
In its deliberation, the NAC recognized that there may be tourism benefits to having such
occasional productions in the town, and that an exemption from the Noise by -law for the
Fighter LLC filming would be a one -time event.
After a duly made and seconded motion, the committee voted to recommend an
exemption from the noise bylaw to the Selectmen, as it would not have any significant
noise impact.
Jeanne Krieger commented that the process requiring an NAC meeting for a Noise -by-
law special permit is currently burdensome and should be amended. There should be a
meeting only if the planned activities involve long -term or permanent noise events. A
meeting should be called after communications between the Selectmen, town office staff,
and the chairman of the NAC to determine on whether there is a possibility of significant
noise impact. If the town staff and the NAC chairman believe it will be a noisy event, the
Selectmen will forward the appropriate paperwork to the NAC for a review and
consideration of an exemption from the noise bylaw, and the Selectmen and NAC will
determine together if the abutters should be notified.
After a duly made and seconded motion, the committee voted unanimously to amend the
process, allowing the NAC chairman to determine whether a full NAC meeting is
required for future cases, after informal review of each case with the town staff.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM.
[Submitted by T. Galaitsis on 12/1/09]