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Board grants morning noise-ordinance variance for downtown maintenance
Summary
The East Lyme Board of Selectmen granted Parks & Recreation a variance to use trimming and blowers on Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue from 5:30 a.m.–7:00 a.m., biweekly April–October, to reduce safety and vehicle‑damage risks; the variance takes effect five days after the vote.
The East Lyme Board of Selectmen on July 1 approved a variance allowing Parks & Recreation crews to perform trimming and blower work along Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue between 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m., biweekly from April through October, in order to minimize hazards and conflicts with daytime traffic.
Parks & Recreation Director Jerry Lock told the board the early window gives crews time to do street-edge maintenance before parking and pedestrian activity increase. "The ask is that the park and rec department requested variance for trimming and blowing activities along Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue from approximately 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.," he said. The director acknowledged the work will be noisier than current ordinance limits and that the town’s police department does not routinely use sound meters to enforce decibel thresholds.
Why it matters: Board members balanced resident concerns about early-morning noise with safety and property-protection issues tied to doing maintenance during hours of heavier parking and traffic. Several members said the variance should be limited to the downtown/business district rather than a blanket early‑morning exception for residential areas.
The board moved, seconded and approved a motion adopting the variance as described; the chair noted the variance will become effective five days after the vote, allowing residents time to register concerns. Members asked staff to monitor complaints and return to the board if early implementation proves problematic.
Next step: Parks & Recreation will proceed with early-morning maintenance under the variance; staff and the public will monitor impacts and the board can reconsider if complaints increase.
