HAMPTON — Questions on the March town meeting vote to amend the town’s entertainment ordinance are aimed at giving residents more control over entertainment-related noise from businesses that have angered local neighborhoods. increase. Town manager Jamie Sullivan said Section 34, which was developed after an incident in which many residents complained about a loud music concert at a business on the west side of town, would allow the town’s Amending the current Recreational Activities Ordinance. This is intended to control loud disturbances to public peace and tranquility, remove ambiguity that has made enforcement problematic, and clearly indicate to entertainment venue owners what is and is not permitted. purpose. The amendment was drafted by a panel of residents and business stakeholders from both Uptown and Beach. The commission included Sullivan, Select Woman Amy Hansen, Police Chief Alex Leno, former Police Chief David Hobbs, residents James Scully and Mallory Leduc, and business owners Al Fleury and Andy Hart. Reno said if a rowdy patron left a beach bar and disturbed the neighborhood early in the morning, police could deal with it fairly easily by arresting him for disturbing the peace. Reno said the current ordinance leaves a lot to be desired, so he and Hobbs discussed it with the committee. “I explained that whatever they did, they wanted it to be enforceable.
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How noisy is it in the Hamptons?
According to Sullivan, the former Hampton police chief, the problem with the current recreational ordinance is the decibel standard for noise levels. Under current ordinances, it is illegal for him to exceed the boundaries of a licensee’s property for 30 seconds at a level of approximately 75 decibels.
Police stations have decibel readers, but the constant fluctuations in volume, especially music, made it difficult for police to enforce the 30-second requirement, he said. To remedy the situation, Sullivan said the proposed amendment sets the noise level violation to 10 seconds.
New ordinance limits time for recreational activities
Sullivan said the proposed amendment would limit music playback and other sound-related activities to certain days and times.
According to the amendment, recreational activities are not allowed from 1:00 am to 12:00 noon on any day of the week. Outdoor entertainment is permitted only from 12:00 PM to 11:59 PM on the beach and industrial area.
In addition, recreational activities are prohibited in the downtown area of Route 1 Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 PM to 12:00 PM or Friday and Saturday from 11:59 PM to 12:00 PM.
Outdoor entertainment was only permitted from Memorial Day to Columbus Day (the town’s main tourist season) and, if permitted, only from noon to 11:59 p.m.
Sullivan said under the revised ordinance, electors must approve any recreational activity expected to attract more than 1,500 people. Sullivan said venues such as his company at Smartine’s Brewing and the Casino Ballroom will be included at this time.
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New rules for issuing entertainment licenses
This amendment removes previous language relating to the power to regulate and issue entertainment licenses and simplifies it while maintaining that such duties are in the hands of the electors who set license fees.
It stipulates that “no person shall engage in or provide recreational activities in the premises or premises without first obtaining a license from the Board,” and the Board sets the standards. It also adds that any temporary license granted is “valid for a specified period” of the temporary license.
The lengthy provision regarding the “assignment” of licenses was removed by the amendment, and entertainment licenses issued by elected persons can only be “assigned to another person with the approval of the Board of Directors or deemed void”. It contains a simple sentence.
The proposed amendment would allow the board to hold public hearings when complaints are made “from the public” about people with licenses for recreational activities. Current ordinances stipulate that complaints that trigger a possible board hearing must come “from an avatar.”
This amendment will allow licensees to have an opportunity to mediate with the complainant to reach an agreeable solution before the license is suspended or revoked.
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Ordinance definition change
For the first time, the amendments defined where recreational activities could take place and confined them to town zoning districts. South, north and historic districts of the town centre. And all properties in the industrial area of town.
To the current list of establishments where recreational activities are permitted, the amendment would include language to include those with “a valid on-site liquor license issued by the state or a dance hall license issued by the town.” to add.
In addition, add “outdoor activities” to the clauses regarding selected persons who issue “temporary entertainment licenses”.
Registered voters will have the opportunity to discuss this Amendment and other warrant provisions at the deliberation session, the first session of the Town Meeting, which will be held in the Hampton Academy gymnasium on Saturday, February 4 at 8:30 a.m. Registered voters will be able to vote on all warrant articles at the second session of the Town Meeting, which will be held at Winnakanet High School on Tuesday, March 14, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
