LH Approves New Noise Ordinance
By Scott Johnson
LOCK HAVEN – After weeks of delays and discussions, the city has a new noise ordinance.
At its meeting Monday night, City Council passed the new noise ordinance on its second and final reading 5-2. Council members Joel Long and William Mincer voted against, both citing the lack of a specific decibel level for a violation, leaving it up to the discretion of the city’s police officers.
Business owners Steve Gundy of Hangar 9 and Avenue 6 Pack and Sandwich Shop, and Nicholas Hawrylchak of the Broken Axe Brew House spoke against the new ordinance.
“I’m opposed to some of the wording and fines and what constitutes a violation,” said Gundy, who noted the music licensing fees his and other businesses have to pay. Meanwhile, Hawrylchak said the ordinance may impact the night life of the city as owners are trying to bring entertainment here. Instead, he said he would prefer an actual decibel level reading in the ordinance.
The city has modified the ordinance somewhat since it was first introduced earlier this year, including the provision for amplified noise permissible for up to 250 feet away from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. City Manager Greg Wilson noted 250 feet is equivalent to about a half of a city block downtown. “It’s a pretty significant distance and is longer than the distance that a food truck has to be away from a restaurant in the city,” he said.
Gundy said the 250-foot distance is not unreasonable, but noted between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., the distance would go down to zero feet.”The zero feet after 11 p.m., that’s my problem,” he said.
Louie Anastos, owner of Stella A’s, said he sees both sides of the argument, but added an ordinance would enable a buffer between the city and Liquor Control Enforcement.
Dan Vilello, a board member for the Sons of Italy in Lock Haven, said his organization is pleased with the noise ordinance, noting the Sons now has an outdoor patio. “We believe it helps businesses with bringing people into the community,” he said, adding he sees the new, active entertainment scene in Williamsport, where he works. “The music in Williamsport is blended up and down the streets. It is very vibrant.”
Vilello said he also “truly trusts” City Council on its decisions on the personnel it hires and officers would be able to use their judgment to ask a business or residents to turn down their music or noise if it is unreasonable beyond 250 feet, instead of immediately citing them.
City Police Chief Kristin Smith added that a majority of the jobs performed by the city police officers involves discretion. She said she is a against decibel meters because that would entail additional costs, maintenance and calibrations as directed by the state.
After the vote was taken, Long urged council to continue to look at the ordinance and possibly amend it if problems are seen. That sentiment was echoed by Council member Rick Conklin.
Another large contingent of people attended the meeting to discuss the lack of maintenance on Sylvan Road, leading to several large potholes and unsafe conditions for the public. A total of 29 residents there signed a petition in the last few weeks stating their concerns about the road.
In a letter to Wilson from city Public Works Director Anthony Stopper, dated May 2, Stopper states their concerns are warranted and his department will start to fix the holes with hot patch in the next few weeks, and engineering and designing storm water management as temporary solutions. Further, Wilson said, the city will fix roads and install storm water management in the entire Sunset Pines area in sections over the course of the next three to four years.
“It depends on the funding we receive this year and the following years,” he said. “As long as we’re moving in a positive direction, that’s great,” said resident Bill Dodson.
Three owners of the 10 businesses on Second and Third avenues that would be impacted by the possible vacation of a portion of Third Avenue near Murray Motors also attended the meeting.
Owners Wayne Slaterback of Foresters Alignment, Gurney Wagner of New Look Kitchens and Micah Clausen of Optimal Realty all said vacating the area would have a negative impact on their businesses and possibly cause their buildings’ values to decrease in the future. Further, they said, it could possibly lead to more accidents on Second Avenue and large trucks going through the public housing units to access Woods Avenue.
Wilson said the city is considering vacating that portion of Third Avenue near Bellefonte Avenue to increase the size of the lot that is home to the future city garage and salt building, and increase space at Murray Motors for a possible expansion.
Conklin suggested the city have a meeting with representatives from Murray Motors and the nearby businesses before any final vote is taken on the vacation. Currently, City Council is scheduled for a second and final reading of the plan at its meeting on May 20 at 7 p.m.
Lastly, council unanimously approved the first permit for an exception to the open container law to the Lock Haven Arts Council for Aug. 17 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The exception would be for the Lock Haven Jazz and Arts on Main Street (JAMS) Fest that day on East Main Street from Jay to Grove streets.
Wilson said the application has been reviewed by him, the police chief and director of public works chief with no problems noted. He added the organization has certificates of liability and alcohol insurance, and security secured.
Council member Steve Stevenson who cast the lone no vote for the new open container law said he voted for this event because the Lock Haven Arts Council set the “gold standard” for how events like this should be run in the city.
