Eight is Enough???

Eight is Enough?

The only question the Board of Health must decide is whether 8 hours is the right amount of time to protect the public’s sleep health.

Below are examples of municipal “quiet hours” ordinances, setting precedence across the country, where communities have set certain periods for securing and promoting the peace and quiet for the greater assurance of resident's health and welfare.                                 While reviewing, I've found that the number of communities regulating 9 or more hours for peace and quiet far exceed those specifying only 8.

1. Bloomington IN

For fixed source noise are from 9:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=829

2. Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan

Quiet Hours in all five boroughs from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. http://nycquiethours.com/

3. Seattle WA 

10:00 P.M. & 7:00 A.M.  https://www.seattle.gov/police/prevention/neighborhood/noise.htm

4. Virginia Beach VA 

10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientID=10122&stateID=46&statename=Virginia

Even in Mashpee, our neighboring community, the town has an ordinance (§120-1 Excessive or Unusual Noises) that makes it unlawful to cause or suffer or allow between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. any unnecessary loud, excessive or unusual noises.

It’s a given that Wind 1 & Wind 2 wake folks up.  Turning the turbines off 8 hours during the period most people sleep, Selectmen acknowledged the sleep disruption impact caused by the turbines.  

Monday November 4, the Board of Health will access the effectiveness of the Selectmen’s decision.  It's hoped that the Board will attend to the protection of the public’s health, and not challenges beyond the Board's purview (i.e. fiduciary concerns).