Slippery Rock considers adding teeth to noise ordinance
SLIPPERY ROCK — The borough already has a noise ordinance on its books describing numerous “unlawful acts” of noise that could cause public disturbance, including excessive yelling and playing music through loudspeakers on public streets.
However, what the ordinance lacks is a specific maximum level of noise, in terms of decibels, that would draw a punishment. That may change by the end of the month, as the borough council is ready to vote on an amendment which would set the maximum noise level at 90 decibels.
For reference, 90 decibels is roughly the same amount of noise produced by a leaf blower or a particularly loud concert.
The idea came about at last month’s action meeting, after a resident complained that the massive 40-by-80-foot American flag at Slippery Rock Community Park is causing an inordinate amount of noise at night.
Borough solicitor Rebecca Black disputed the idea at the agenda-setting meeting Tuesday evening, Sept. 5. She cited noise studies which she says suggest that noise levels are actually lower when the flag is flying than when the flag is down.
“I don’t believe that there is a high noise level associated with the flag, and that’s not what the sound measurement studies have shown,” Black said.
Black and members of the borough council discussed whether to lower the maximum limit of 90 db for the proposed amendment, citing ambient noise as well as the noise ordinances in surrounding townships. However, all council members agreed to keep the maximum level at 90 db.
Violations of the noise ordinance can be punished by a fine of up to $1,000 or a jail sentence of no more than 10 days. However, according to Black, the borough hasn’t issued a noise citation for “at least a couple of decades.”
The amendment is expected to go to a vote at the borough council’s next action meeting Tuesday, Sept. 19.
