North Huntingdon commissioners debate fine points of noise ordinance

As they develop a township noise ordinance, North Huntingdon commissioners this week focused on what should be considered quiet hours.

“I think the hardest thing to consider is what we designate as ‘quiet hours,’” said Commissioner Brian Blasko, who said he felt 7 a.m. was early enough to allow construction noise.

“I think 7 a.m. is probably a very standard time to start making noise,” township manager Jeff Silka said. “I think if we push it up, we’ll be impacting commercial development rather than addressing folks who like to mow their grass at 7 a.m.”

The township does not have a noise ordinance. It was repealed in 2019, Silka said.

Blasko was concerned about setting 10 p.m. as the beginning of quiet hours.

“There’s no one building in my neighborhood in the near future, but I think 10 p.m. is a little excessive (late),” Blasko said.

Board President Zachary Haigis said he looks at the 10 p.m. deadline from two angles.

“If they’re (construction firms) working later, the work is going to be over sooner and your time dealing with that nuisance is shorter,” he said.

Commissioner Eric Gass agreed with Blasko. “As a safety officer, no matter where you’re working, it’s night time at 10 p.m. and more accidents happen to personnel and equipment once the sun sets,” Gass said. “From a safety standpoint, I’d support Brian that 10 p.m. is too late.”

Commissioner Ronald Zona said he also did not support extending hours to 10 p.m.

Some residents asked — in the context of the covid-19 pandemic, when many residents may be working from home — about noise enforcement during daytime hours.

Police Chief Robert Rizzo, who worked on drafting the ordinance, felt it is a fine line to walk.

“I don’t want my officers to have to run around the 18,000 houses we have in North Huntingdon trying to determine what’s too loud at 1 p.m. on a Friday,” Rizzo said, adding that he felt some flexibility could be built into the rule to allow officers to deal with individual complaints.

Commissioners did not vote on the ordinance. Their next meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 and can be watched online at www.township.north-huntingdon.pa.us.