There was a lot of noise to be heard 60 decibels to be exact at a public hearing Thursday, June 11, about the new laws Colonie officials are considering regarding legal noise levels in the town.
While the topic was debated for more than two hours Thursday, the Town Board decided not to act on the laws, which would have lowered the noise limit at night and created a daytime limitation.
Those who spoke at the hearing argued against the current nighttime level of 75 decibels, saying that constant exposure to 75 decibels or more of noise could contribute to hearing loss. Many also supported a daytime restriction, citing daytime parties that can cause a disturbance and damage their quality of life.
Several exceptions to the laws that are being considered were discussed at the meeting, including the noise caused by snow plowing in the winter, stricter rules and even a fine for dog owners whose animals bark for more than 15 minutes, and trucks that are loading and unloading at a warehouse.
Democratic Councilman Bob Becker said the laws simply clarify definitions of the existing law and include more restrictions so that the residents of the town are able to enjoy the quality of life they pay taxes for.
Colonie Police Chief Steven Heider told the board that while he supports lowering the limit of the current decibel allowance and recognizes that noise issues can be a nuisance for some residents, he would like the board to strongly reconsider some of the new restrictions on the table before passing a law that is nearly impossible to enforce.
According to Heider, the police department receives about 350 noise complaints per year, usually involving loud parties. Heider said the calls come typically from the same 200 properties.
`We really don’t have a lot of complaints,` he said.
With a decibel meter, Heider demonstrated that speaking at a normal volume and measuring from the back of the meeting room, the noise level was at 60 decibels.
`Under the current law, someone is not able to go and have a conversation on their deck,` said Heider.
He warned that it would be difficult to come up with a decibel level that would satisfy everyone’s idea of what is acceptable noise, `unless you make it so that we cannot talk or exist outside our houses.`
He did think the town should look into setting decibel limits for apartment-type housing throughout the town.
Joe Lombardo, a Colonie resident who lives on Purtell Avenue, told those at the meeting that he and his neighbors `have no tool to stop` the noise that is coming from the bar that he and Mo Hannah live behind.
`It’s like someone’s playing a radio that you can’t turn off,` he said.
Lombardo said that if bar owners would shut the back door, perhaps the noise would not be as loud at his home. Several times, he said, he has gone over to the bar and asked the owner to shut the door, only to find it open again by the time he returns to his home.
Heider said the police cannot force the bar, by law, to close its door.
In response to Lombardo’s comments, Town Attorney Michael Magguilli said, `Bar owners have rights, but the homeowners have rights as well. We have to come up with some type of balance.`
The subject will now come to another public hearing on Thursday, July 16, at which point the board will have to vote on the measure.
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