Massillon City Council sets special meeting to discuss noise regulations

MASSILLON – A special meeting is set for next week to talk specifics on a proposed noise ordinance that would target residential and business sections of the city.

Councilman Mark Lombardi, R-Ward 1, has been spearheading a conversation among City Council members to pass legislation that aims to cap decibel levels within industrial areas and residential neighborhoods.

The goal is to pass a "fair policy" and not target factories and businesses that create routine or sporadic noise during the day or night, Lombardi said during council's work session earlier this week. It also attempts to keep neighborhoods calm and peaceful regarding excessive noise.

Council members Julie Harwig Smith, R-Ward 5, and Holly Bryan-Huth, D-at large, suggested that having a professional sound study conducted in parts of the city might be prudent before passing a noise ordinance.

"This (legislation) needs to have that kind of teeth to it for it to matter," Bryan-Huth said.

Massillon council mulling noise proposal that would be 24/7 policy

The noise proposal being considered by City Council has varying decibel level limits for day and night hours. Weekday and weekend hours would vary, too, in industrial and residential regions.

Development Director Ted Herncane said setting a full-time policy in the city doesn't make sense, at least from an enforcement viewpoint.

"There are 168 hours in a week, and our Code Enforcement Office is open for only 40," he said. "So if (council) wants code to enforce it, they can't do it 75% of the time. This would fall to the Police Department , which works 24/7."

Businesses that operate 24 hours a day would have trouble conforming to fluctuating decibel limits during the week, Herncane added.

Feeling the noise: Massillon Councilman wants discussion about decibel levels in the city

"Their production process is the same whether it's 10 a.m. or 10 p.m.," he said. "I think this proposal needs rethought. In general, it's bad for business to have a regulation like this."

A Health, Welfare and Building Regulation Committee meeting to discuss the noise proposal is slated for 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Massillon council chamber, 1 James Duncan Plaza SE.

Members are looking at Canton's decibel level regulation as a model, but anything passed by Massillon officials is not likely to mirror the neighboring city's law.

Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com . On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE

Public meeting

WHO : Massillon City Council's Health, Welfare and Building Regulation Committee

WHEN : 5:30 p.m. Monday

WHERE : Massillon council chamber, 1 James Duncan Plaza SE

WHY : To discuss a city noise ordinance proposal

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon City Council sets special meeting to discuss noise regulations