Pub owner vindicated by noise test
CANSO - You will have to forgive A.J. Taylor for feeling as though the noise bylaw controversy in Canso was targeted at his business.
The owner of A.J.'s Pub said after last night's Canso council that he felt vindicated that the volume of the music coming from his establishment is within the level permitted in the town's proposed noise bylaw.
Earlier in the evening, at its regular monthly meeting, council received a report on the noise level at A.J.'s Pub from Shaun Smith, the by-law officer for the Town of Antigonish. Canso council had asked Smith to do a reading as part of what Mayor White called an education process so that the people would have a better idea of what constitutes excessive levels of noise. Smith conducted the test on Monday afternoon.
Using a decibel reading device outside the building, Smith tested the noise level coming from the pub with the front door open. For testing purposes, the volume of music being played inside was set at the maximum or 115 decibels.
The readings from the surrounding properties with the door open were, 65-67 decibels at a Ed Dort's driveway and 54-56 decibels at power pole in front of Dort's property. Across the street on Riel Parker's property, the levels were read at (67-69 decibels). Smith then took a reading near councillor Paul Horne's property, 47-49 decibels, and at Perv Richardson's driveway located behind the bar, which came in at 68-70 decibels.
Smith reported that all the readings taken at the pub fell within the maximum of 75 decibels which is outlined in the by law. He also noted that the co-operation from Taylor throughout the process was "exceptional".
Councilor Horne said he was satisfied with the testing process as conducted by Smith.
When Mayor White opened the floor to questions from the public, one person asked Smith if he had taken any readings from the compressor at the Canso Arena which, according to residents, can be very noisy, especially in warmer weather. Smith said he did not. Asked by The Journal on Tuesday why he didn't take readings of the arena, Smith said that he was asked only to take noise readings from the A.J.'s Pub.
All of this has left A.J. Taylor feeling both vindicated and targeted. Although he says he is pleased he passed the test, he is still irked that his establishment was the only one tested.
Mayor White said that the testing done by Smith will serve as a guideline as what decibel levels mean in terms of noise. He also noted that council may revisit the bylaw with residents in the future to make sure that it meets their satisfaction.
