Resident urges board to reduce fire‑station siren volume after family distress

Sinan Turan told the Select Board on July 7 that frequent activation of the fire station siren near his Main Street apartment is causing distress in his household. "My name is Sinan. Last name is Turan," he said, describing family members becoming upset and saying he measured a peak of "98" (an on‑device reading) when the siren sounded.

Turan asked whether the town could reduce the volume. Board members acknowledged the siren’s long history and its emergency function; Chair Bob Jones said the chief had explained the alarm is active between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. unless there is an emergency.

Board members discussed tradeoffs between community noise and emergency notification. One member recommended checking with Chief Brown for any statutory decibel limits and suggested involving Turan and other nearby residents in a follow‑up meeting. "We can check back with the chief to see if there's a statutory state requirement," a board member said.

Members also noted the town is planning a new public safety building and that antennas will remain at the current central station site, which could affect future siren siting. The board asked staff to arrange a more in‑depth conversation with Chief Brown to review options — for example, whether decibel levels can be reduced, whether alternative alerting approaches are appropriate, and what statutory constraints exist.

What happens next: The board will consult Chief Brown about decibel standards and possible mitigations and will invite the resident to join follow‑up discussions. No change to the siren schedule or operation was ordered at the July 7 meeting.