Date set for Liberty band noise exemption request

Board of Education still seeks exemption from state ordinance

Liberty High’s request, through the Carroll County Board of Education, marks the first request for a variance from the county’s noise ordinance, said County Attorney Kimberly Millender.

Carroll County passed an ordinance in 2005 that outlines how much noise in decibels is considered a violation and at what time. It restricts construction noise, noise or vibrations caused or generated by people, and restricts the noise of non-commercial all-terrain vehicles.

The school asked for the exception after a sound reading showed the band spiked above the county’s 65-decibel limit set in the noise ordinance, though the band was not cited.

Eldersburg resident Scott Friedly, who lives by the school, requested the reading in August 2007 because practices were disrupting the sleep of his two infant children, and the family had to turn their television’s volume up to an ‘‘unreasonable level.”

Since the reading by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Office of Environmental Compliance has investigated what could be done to accommodate Friedly and the marching band.

However, adjustments, which include planting tall trees and plants, would create hardships and security concerns and would cost about $130,000, according to the school’s request.

Because the noise is sporadic and the sound ‘‘is not unreasonably objectionable to the average person,” the Board of Education filed for the exception on behalf of Liberty High, according to the request.

The Board of Education will still ask for an exemption from the state’s noise ordinance for all county band practices, said Dr. Charles Ecker, Carroll County Public Schools superintendent.

‘‘We’re hoping that passes but this is a stop gap measure in case it doesn’t,” he said.

Ecker said he is confident that the Maryland General Assembly would support the local bill.

Local bills will be up for public hearing hosted by the Carroll County Delegation to the General Assembly from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 19 in Room 003 at the County Office Building.

Friedly said in October that he does not want to support or denounce any of the recommendations because the school board, not he, must make the decision.