Councillors here are hoping a noise bylaw will help quiet things down and keep the peace.
Following complaints lodged recently, council has endorsed a Minto noise bylaw to deal with excessive noise in the municipality.
The bylaw states that “no person in the town of Minto shall create, cause or permit any unusual noise or noises likely to disturb the inhabitants.”
For the purpose of the bylaw the following are deemed to be unusual noises or those likely to disturb inhabitants.
– the sound or noise from or created by any radio, phonograph, television, public address system, sound equipment, loud speaker, or similar device or devices, or any musical or sound producing instrument of whatever kind when such device or instrument is played or operated in such volume as to annoy or disturb the peace, quiet, comfort or repose of any individual in any dwelling house, apartment house, hotel or any other type of residence.
– the grating or grinding or rattling, screaming, screeching or similar noise or sound caused by the operation of a motor of any kind by reason of the condition or disrepair or maladjustment create the unusual noise
– crying, shouting or loud speaking in or adjacent to any public street or place or near private swimming pools.
Those contravening the provisions of the bylaw are subjected to a fine of $5,000, exclusive of costs.
Mayor David Anderson thanked those involved in the drafting the bylaw. “We should have everything we need to enforce excessive noise.”
However, some on council wondered if the restrictions themselves might be a bit excessive.
Councillor Tammy Reiner wondered if the bylaw could be applied to the instance of a crying child and that perhaps it could be enforced following three complaints over a specific period of time. That, she said, would clear up whether it is a one time instance or re-occurring.
Clerk Barb Wilson said that the instance of a crying baby was not really considered in the bylaw.
She said the bylaw was more to deal with crying and screaming.
“Most people would not consider a crying baby a nuisance.”
Wilson added, “I would hope that someone with a crying baby would not have to answer to our bylaw enforcement officer.”
Reiner explained that she simply does not want to see the bylaw used maliciously.
Wilson said bylaw enforcement officer Tim Lewis has a great deal of common sense and he would use discretion in the enforcement.
Further, she said, with the process involved, the caller is not anonymous.
Deputy-Mayor Judy Dirksen still had concerns that the bylaw might be too strict.
She wondered if the bylaw could be used in arguments between neighbours.
Dirksen said if kids are in a swimming pool, chances are they will be noisy.
She hopes there would be a chance to revisit the bylaw if certain aspects of it create issues.
