Does Milford Need a Noise Ordinance?

When a post on the Downtown Milford Connecticut Facebook page asking about a noise ordinance netted 25 comments we figured it was a topic people had something to say about. So we got in touch with town officials to get the inside scoop and created this article to further the conversation.

To start, does not have a noise ordinance. The city does have laws on the books that pertain to noise, though.

For instance, clerk Taft Clark reports that there are "courtesy hours" during which building and construction related work should take place. Those hours are:

• Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While there is no noise ordinance on the books, spokesman Jeff Neilsen says noise complaints are "pretty common."

When police receive a complaint, officers will go out to investigate. "There's a lot of things you have to take into account," he notes. That includes things like proximity of houses, the time of day and information from the complainant.

Based on that information officers will take appropriate action, ranging from a warning to a citation.

"There are ways for police and zoning to deal with neighborhood instances of loud noise presently and we have to exhaust those remedies before we craft new legisation which may have unintended consequences," says Milford Mayor Ben Blake.

Blake, who cites how an attempt to enact a noise ordinance about six years ago never made it out of committee, says that the scope of any ordinance would have to be appropriate and, again, only put in place if there is a "real, real need."

"As long as there's some sensible legislation I don’t have anything against it," he says. "I don’t want it to over reach. I don’t want it to be law with unintended consequences."

So what did residents have to say on Facebook?

Nancy Mierzejewski: "I wish there was one because we have dogs next door and in the neighborhood that bark starting as early as 4:30 a.m. non-stop!!! Please I wish they would pass one!!"

Lynne Halpin Costen: "Tough to enforce any noise ordinance if police dont carry decibel meter. I believe there was discussion of one regarding construction activity a few years ago."

What do you think?