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License commission presses for sound-study updates after venue complaints; Gambo music remains shut
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Summary
Commissioners heard updates on sound studies for several downtown venues. Sirius/TELUS will schedule an ATC study; Gambo Oyster Bar said music stopped after a threatened lawsuit despite acoustic studies suggesting limited neighbor impact; a Hayes noise complaint prompted commissioners to request updates rather than schedule a hearing.
The Northampton License Commission spent substantial time on noise and sound-mitigation issues involving several downtown venues, the commission's members said they prefer continuing dialogue and receiving firm study results before escalating to a formal hearing.
Amanda, representing Sirius Hospitality/TELUS, said she was finalizing dates with ATC (an audio company) to complete a formal sound study and offered to place a decibel reader outside the club over a weekend for preliminary readings; she said she will provide equipment specifications and study results to staff. Commissioners asked that the Telus update appear on the December agenda.
Cassidy, owner of Let Me Be Lucy LLC (d/b/a Gambo Oyster Bar), said music at Gambo had been shut down within 48 hours of the previous meeting after a complainant threatened to sue; the landlord instructed no further music. Cassidy said she commissioned two studies'one by John Fryermouth, PhD (Clark University) and one by DDS Acoustical Specialties'that recommended modest remediation (acoustic baffling and HVAC duct work) and found neighbor exposure at levels comparable to refrigeration noise. Cassidy said the landlord would not allow immediate remediation and she is looking for alternate locations.
Eric Bennett, a resident and the complainant regarding Hayes on Main Street, told commissioners he lives on the fourth floor of a nearby building and said strong bass and vibration from late-night DJs sometimes continued until 1 or 2 a.m., making it difficult for his children to sleep. Anya Wood (Hayes'owner) said she had stopped using the subwoofer, kept windows and doors closed when possible and is pursuing paneling and other mitigation measures but faces limits imposed by her landlord.
After hearing both sides, commissioners declined to schedule a formal hearing at this time and asked for written updates and study results at the next meeting so the panel could reassess whether a hearing is necessary. Several commissioners emphasized avoiding escalation while keeping pressure for a tangible resolution.
