Ventnor front end loader moves a trash receptacle on the beach.
VENTNOR Following a public hearing Thursday, July 12, the Board of Commissioners approved revisions to the city's noise and nuisance ordinances exempting the Public Works Department from noise restrictions during the performance of any work being done on behalf of the city.
Residents who live near the Public Works building on Cornwall and Winchester Avenue stated that the noise ordinance is unreasonable and interferes with the quiet enjoyment of their homes.
Public Works is responsible for buildings and grounds maintenance, street repairs, water and sewer operations and maintaining mechanical equipment and vehicles. During summer months, workers start working on the beach at 6 a.m. so it can be cleaned by the time the beach opens at 10 a.m.
Residents complained that the back-up beeping of the vehicles leaving the Public Works yard wakes them early in the morning every day all summer long. Since the ordinance lifted the recited noise time restriction of 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. for Public Works only, they asked for assurances that work would not start earlier than 6 a.m., barring emergencies.
The noise generated from that facility, although valuable, is really intolerable before 8 o'clock, 40-year resident Anthony Sarnese said.
Mayor Beth Holtzman said there is a small window of time to do everything we have to do in a beach community.
Beach cleaning and trash removal must be done in the morning to ensure beachgoers have a clean beach to enjoy, she said.
We are trying to make the city beautiful and clean, Holtzman said. I understand that it's an inconvenience, but as your mayor, you are going to have to live with it.
Administrator Maria Mento said there are no changes planned to the department's normal schedule, and that the ordinance simply codifies what has been a routine operation for years.
The ordinance previously did not have an exemption for Public Works, she said.
There are no plans to operate any differently or start earlier than they currently do, she said. If there was an emergency, they wouldn't be in compliance with the ordinance.
Commissioner Tim Kriebel said the back-up beeping on heavy equipment is required by federal law.
Sarnese said the noise is more tolerable during the winter months when windows are shut and workers start their day later.
Resident Paul Giegerich, who has lived on Derby Avenue for 15 years, said the city should specify the department's hours of operation in the ordinance, and that residents are concerned that operations will start even earlier.
No one objects to emergencies, but that does not describe what beach cleaning is, Giegerich said. The revised ordinance does not reflect the hours you said here verbally. I would like some assurance that they won't start at 5:30.
Holtzman said that except for emergencies, work schedules are restricted to hours recited in the Teamsters union contract.
Solicitor Tim Maguire said the beach cleaning time hasn't changed for years, so it doesn't make sense to put an earlier time in the ordinance.
It would make a heck of a lot more sense, rather than preparing an ordinance for something that might happen, you wait to see if it ever does happen and address it at that time if there are complaints, Maguire said.
You're giving them total discretion to set their own hours. I don't know why you can't say not before 6, Giegerich said.
He said the best solution would be relocate beach cleaning operations to another area of the city.
If you put it somewhere else, those neighbors would complain, Holtzman said. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of land.
Tony Morgano suggested the commission consider ways to reduce the noise, such as sound proofing barriers.
We can look into that, but it would cost a lot of money, Holtzman said, who added that taxpayers want their taxes reduced.
Maguire suggested the vehicles in the lot be configured so they don't have to back up when leaving the yard in the morning.
