May 6, 2015
Council cuts fees for noise permits
Commercial businesses in Cortland will pay less to hold some outdoor events after the city Common Council voted Tuesday night to lower noise ordinance application fees.
A public hearing on the amendments was held before the council meeting, but no one spoke for or against theamendments.
The council voted to amend the city’s Code and Charter section on noise permits as it relates to application fees, in addition to when commercial businesses can amplify noise.
Businesses looking to acquire noise permits for such events will see the application fee reduced to an annual fee of $100, down from $250 per event. They also have the option of paying $25 per event.
The applications, which must include the date, location, time and people running the event, have to be submitted on or before the Wednesday prior to the council’s regular meeting for review and approval.
If approved, the permits would allow businesses to amplify music from a fixed location during the hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Previously, the cutoff time was 6 p.m.
“The goal here is to allow businesses to participate more in terms of hosting or having events ... to continue to make the business district an attractive place,” Mayor Brian Tobin said during the meeting.
The proposal was introduced to the council last year by Alderman Tom Michales (R-8th Ward), who argued the changes would make it easier and more affordable for smaller businesses to hold events while attracting more people to downtown Cortland.
Michales was absent from the meeting, but the motion still passed by a 4-1 vote, with Alderman Julie Bird (D-1st Ward) voting against the changes.
After the meeting, Bird said she voted against the motion because she disagreed with businesses being able to have permits effective until 10 p.m. throughout the week and had concerns about how the potential increase in events could affect the Cortland Police Department.
“I think we should have limited it (times) to Thursday, Friday and Saturday or Friday and Saturday,” Bird said. “Plus ... with all the extra events, there’ll be more police that will have to be on duty to keep things in order.”
Alderman Katy Silliman (D-2nd Ward) voiced similar concerns regarding the time extension for how long permits would be in effect, but city attorney Ric Van Donsel said during the meeting the council retains the right to attach certain conditions before permits are approved.
The changes will take effect once the amendments are on file with the state Department of State.
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