Band practices could be exempt from state noise law

Board of Education also pursuing county exception

Although the proposal stems from Liberty High School’s request for a county exception, the proposed legislation would cover all schools in Carroll County.

In August, a sound reading of Liberty’s marching band showed the band spiked above the county’s 65-decibel limit set in the noise ordinance though the band was not cited. The reading was taken after Eldersburg resident Scott Friedly who lives near the school said practices were disrupting the sleep of his two infant children and that his family had to turn their television’s volume up to an ‘‘unreasonable level.”

Friedly said in October he was more concerned about the time of the practice than the noise. The practices would sometimes last past 9 p.m.

Other options were considered to mitigate the sound, such as planting tall trees and plants; however, those options would create hardships and security concerns and would cost about $130,000, according to the school’s request.

Most of the eight people who testified at Saturday’s public hearing favored the exemption.

Diane Thompson of Eldersburg said she lives near Century High School and can hear the band and more.

‘‘I can hear the fans during the ball game just as loud as that band,” she said. ‘‘I appreciate the support for the school.”

Her concern was more about the impact the noise has on the students who play the instruments.

Donald Hoffman said he hears both Century and Liberty high schools’ marching bands from where he lives and doesn’t mind.

People who live near schools should deal with the activities that are associated with schools, he said.

However, Del. Susan W. Krebs (R-Dist 9) of Eldersburg suggested that the time of practices could be curtailed.

The Board of Education will still seek an exemption from the county noise ordinance in case the state bill does not pass.

Carroll County’s Board of Commissioners will host a public hearing on the exemption at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 in Room 003 at the Carroll County Office Building, 125 N. Center St., Westminster.