Noise bylaw irks businessman
Canso - A new noise bylaw was passed by Canso Town Council on Monday night by a very tight 4-3 margin. In so doing, council has also touched a nerve with a local business.
At the monthly session of council, members of the community were invited to express their opinion on the town's proposal to limit the level of noise to 75 decibels from 7 pm to 7 am. The noise bylaw allows for exceptions such as the Stan Roger Folk Festival and other non-profit organizations that may hold dances or weddings
A.J. Taylor, who recently purchased the local pub, feels that his private business will be unfairly affected by the new bylaw.
He says he is being singled out despite co-operating with local residents to ensure that noise levels are kept to a reasonable level. He also says that the establishment has no history of any problems with noise.
Taylor says he is most upset with the fact that no one seems to know what constitutes 75 decibels. "They are voting on a by-law where they admit they don't know what the decibels are," said Taylor. "I know there are provincial laws out there (to regulate noise) so why do they need their bylaw?"
When asked how much noise 75 decibels represents, council was not able to respond precisely.
The discussion of the bylaw centered largely on the question of what constitutes an unreasonable noise level. Those who did make statements did not appear overly concerned with the existing level of noise in the town. About 40 people attended the meeting.
Many seemed surprised, when mayor Ray White noted that a telephone dial tone emits a noise level of about 80 decibels, which is more than the acceptable limit under the new bylaw. White was quick to remind the audience that the 75 decibels was the level 100 feet away from the origin of the noise.
Following the meeting, mayor White said the noise bylaw issue has come up a couple of times over the years, most recently in early spring.
White says that councilors have received complaints, as have the RCMP. "We will probably order a decibel meter and meet with the people so they know what the parameters are," he said.
White also says he expects a common-sense approach will be taken. If it makes sense to make a change for the hours of enforcement or the decibel levels, there is enough flexibility for council to do so.
