Resident urges council to act after years of loud backyard parties; council asks 30 days to propose fixes

A resident, Dan Lisagorski, told the Borough of Old Tappan council that a neighbor’s backyard sound system has repeatedly disturbed his household since 2022 and measured much higher volume than officers recorded at his home.

"They're playing it at around a 100 to a 110 decibels," Lisagorski said, and told the council officers who visited his property had measured 65 decibels at his house while the music was noticeably louder near the source. He asked the council to take action to avoid another summer of nightly disturbances.

Mayor Thomas Gallagher acknowledged the complaint and said the borough had received Lisagorski’s letter, added that the police chief and borough attorney would review possible tweaks to the noise ordinance, and asked staff for a proposal within 30 days. Council members and staff cautioned that enforcement is often limited by evidentiary rules: "The operator needs to be certified and all of the sound pressure meters need to be certified every so often," a staff member noted during the discussion, underscoring that calibrated equipment and trained operators are required for legally defensible readings.

Council members discussed alternatives including adopting a model state ordinance, clarifying allowable hours, and adding objective guardrails so officers could issue enforceable warnings or citations. The mayor asked for a practical plan that balances cost (for any meters and training) with enforceability. A progress report and proposed ordinance language are expected at the next meeting.