Neighbors cite repeated late-night disturbances at TELUS; commission asks licensee and landlord to explore sound mitigation

At a public hearing Oct. 15, residents told the Northampton License Commission that loud music and late-night congregation linked to TELUS and its satellite bar at 150 Main St. have disturbed nearby residents for years.

Residents and a city councilor described repeated weekend noise, vehicle stereos in the adjacent parking lot and shouted disturbances lasting into the early morning. Meg Burstyn read a letter from a long-term resident, Maureen Sutter, who said she now sometimes leaves her home on weekend nights because of noise and vibration and that prior complaints appeared not to have resolved the problem.

Northampton Police shift commander Brian Letzizen told the commission police monitor the site frequently and have driven regular “bar checks” on Friday and Saturday nights. Letzizen reported there were 289 calls for service at that location in a roughly two-year window starting July 1, 2023; many were proactive bar-monitoring visits (about 175 of those calls), with other entries including disturbances, arrests and follow-ups. He said some calls documented fights or intoxication but that the establishment’s staff generally cooperate with officers.

Representatives of TELUS explained their crowd-control staff, door procedures and on-site practices, and said they try to manage capacity and safety. License-holder representatives pointed to a staffing model that includes door personnel and lighting cues to signal capacity.

After hearing from residents, the police and the license-holder, commissioners discussed next steps and voted to request that Sirius Hospitality Group LLC d/b/a TELUS and its landlord undertake a sound study to identify mitigation options. Commissioners emphasized the request is meant to explore remedies — and to follow up; the motion passed unanimously.

Commissioners and several councilors said parking-lot activity and after‑hours gatherings raise issues beyond the commission’s direct authority and suggested separate city forums or council subcommittees could examine those public-space enforcement options. Police said officers generally attempt to disperse crowds when present and that continued patrols and bar checks reduce incidents.

The commission asked for an update at a future meeting on the progress of any study and landlord/licensee engagement.